To be positive, it shows Elway isn't content with what you've accomplished during the Fox era. That's a good thing.

I think after Manning does indeed retire that's when Elway's job truly begins though. I think Bronco fans would agree. Not a bad gig building a team around a future HOF QB. We'll see how good of a GM he is.

Except that most GMs would wait until Manning is done to change HCs. If Manning only has one year bringing in a new coach with a new system that all of them have to learn isn't the best way to get the most out of his last year. Even if he keeps the same offense they will also have a new DC and the players will have to learn it.

Of course if he already knows Manning is going to retire then this would be a good time for a change....

There was dissension among the coaches/Elway that was hidden from the public for most of the year until after the Colts game. Fox/DelRio against Elway/Manning/Gase and the Colts game indirectly really exposed this split. Elway probably wished he had replaced Fox with Gase after last year's SB debacle but Elway realized how much stability Fox did bring to the team and did not want to upset the applecart when Elway felt he was 'that close' to winnning a SB. However, when Fox didn't get his contract extended this last spring Fox and DelRio knew they were 'on notice' and Elway didn't want anymore excuses from Fox about not having enough defensive playmakers. So Elway went balls to wall on FAs and brought in Ware,Talib and Ward. The first big issues that split Fox/Elway was that Fox(regardless if he is a D guy) is a run first guy and you need to establish the physicality first before finesse in the air. Elway,Manning and Gase follow the Gillman approach that the pass sets up the run. Well, by 2/3rds of the season it looked like Fox was right because the Donks began to sputter because they were way too pass happy and almost abandoning the run entirely and D coords had a much easier time defensing the donkeys. They go back to running more and began to become more effective.

Now by playoff time you have 4 hard headed guys facing off against each other 3 against 1 Elway/Manning/Gase vs Fox as to how the game plan should go against the Colts. It was apparent Fox gave up on the offensive game plan to run more and just gave in to the regime and it showed because Gase/Manning were horrible that day and ran very little but when they did run Anderson was effective. They just didn't run enough and who knows how many times PM checked out of Gase's calls. The 2nd big issue that sealed Fox's firing IMO was Fox's lack of blitzing the whole game and having Talib cover the slot guy (Hilton) when Talib had never covered the slot all year and Fox did not make any adjustments whatsoever the whole game. There is no way that Elway was not privy to the Defensive game plan and I'm sure he told Fox his reservations about allowing Luck to get to comfortable back there. No way Elway was quiet at halftime and no way John doesn't call down to the bench by 4th qrt screaming for Fox to blitz more and get someone else to cover Hilton. It was one of two things here IMO either Fox didn't take Luck seriously enough like Elway did or Fox knew he was on the way out and did the passive/aggressive thing and just chose not make adjustments indirectly 'flipping the bird' to Elway and he will do it his way come hell or high water. After it was all over we got to see Fox's passive/aggressiveness against Elway unfold with his NFL gossip buddy and attention whore Jay Glazer and their relationship and how all that unfolded which really exposed the rift between Elway and Fox.

This is a LOT of speculation.

It is to some small degree. Good sources behind the scenes close to the team. Just sayin;)

It doesn't matter. It would be dumb for Elway to fire the entire Bronco's staff and bring in a new system with a 39 year old QB. Either he knows that Manning plans to retire or he's forcing him out.

I can all but guarantee that Kubiak wasn't hired to learn Manning's system and call plays for him for a year, then go back to his system in 2016.

He and Elway aren't that dumb.

....... So you're saying Manning won't be a Bronco in 2015?

I would be shocked if Manning was the starting QB for the Broncos in 2015.

This makes a lot of sense.

I'm really happy for them prayers* damn emogis or whatever you kids call them nowadays thanks for giving us the Western... I've lost my train of thought on this one a /help me out I'm Michael Scotting it

That's a bold strategy, Cotton. Let's see if it works out for them.

Kubiak?

http://i60.tinypic.com/dcy2hc.jpg

Kubiak has 3 winning seasons in 8 with one playoff victory.

Elway fires Fox in an effort to find "championship experience." He hires a head coach with a career .488 winning percentage and that has never made a conference title game. Hmm.

When the best qb you've ever drafted is Jay Cutler... That's a pretty poor qb drafting record. Not that ours is better, but they've never proven they can draft an elite qb either.

He was a first time coach, in year 5 of an expansion team...

Lots of guys fail their first time through as a HC. I don't think he's viewed as being the savior, walking through the door.