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No Broncos GM likely; Jim Goodman gets final say

By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published January 12, 2009 at 8:52 p.m.

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ENGLEWOOD — With his new coach now in place, Broncos owner Pat Bowlen re-affirmed his intention Monday to keep the team's personnel department intact and not add a general manger to the top of the flow chart.

Bowlen had said when he fired Mike Shanahan that the new coach would not have final say on personnel matters, but once the new coach was hired, he might look at adding a general manager.

Asked Monday, during the introductory news conference for coach Josh McDaniels, if he now planned to hire a general manager, Bowlen said: "Right now, we've hired a head coach. I have no plans to hire anybody else."

Bowlen said he would consider adding people to the personnel department in various capacities if it was something McDaniels thought the team needed to do at some point, but as far as the final word on personnel, it now falls to Jim Goodman, the Broncos' vice president football operations/personnel.

Goodman, along with assistant general managers Brian Xanders and Jeff Goodman, will oversee the team's college scouting staff, pro personnel staff and salary cap management team.

"I'm obviously flattered and appreciate the confidence (Bowlen) puts in me," Jim Goodman said. "We're gong to try to do the best job we can to pick the players that help Josh win. And I think we've done a pretty good job of that the last three years. So we're just going to continue with that."

That was a point Jim Goodman made in each of the interviews with the seven candidates who interviewed for the job. He pledged to each the team's personnel department would make sure things work smoothly with the coaching staff to find players to fit the schemes the coaches want to play on both sides of the ball.

The Broncos have nine picks in the April draft, and their scouts are set to begin attending the college all-star games as well as on-campus workouts for this year's prospects in the coming weeks.

Asked Monday if a difference of opinions were to arise when it came time to draft a player or sign a free agent - such decisions once fell to Shanahan - McDaniels said Goodman would break the deadlock. But Goodman and McDaniels said they hoped to have as few disagreements as possible.

"Jim will make the call if there is an issue in terms of personnel," McDaniels said.

"I think we have all the talent we need in that area, and I don't intend to change that structure around (McDaniels) . . . ," Bowlen said. "We're embarking on a new course here with what I consider a great new football coach.

"I'm sure we'll have plenty of conversations about a lot of things. . . . But I like what we have in place."

Comments

  • January 12, 2009

    9:29 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    BroncoBrad writes:

    Not sure if this is a result of cashflow or if Pat just feels that they have a good personnel department with the two Goodmans and Xanders.

  • January 12, 2009

    10:01 p.m.

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    Bigg_Nuggets writes:

    What remains a mystery is who in the end is responsible for the past three drafts here in Denver. What I mean by this is whether or not players like Jarvis Moss were decided upon by Shannahan's over-ruling or if the brain-trust being left in charge was. Last year's draft was fantastic, but true defensive talent is still missing from a Broncos draft for quite some time. If the draft continues to be a black-hole for defensive talent then hiring a new coach doesn't solve th problem. The whole idea was to allow for more discussion and better overall decision making. I hope this "new" arrangement works, but it does seem strange that when one of the reasons you have shown poorly defensively is because of personnel decisions you decide to keep your personnel department mostly in tact. This is a head-scratcher. Has to be money related to some extent.

  • January 13, 2009

    2:13 a.m.

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    gylizard1 writes:

    Bowlen is dropping the ball on this one..no..lets call it a FUMBLE...Denver's personal decisions have been awful over the past few years..especially concerning free agency..and he is going to leave what they have in place? Doesn't sound like he is truly addressing one of the major problems this team has right now. Last year's draft was great..but the year before was BUST CITY with Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder both being big time flops. It just doesn't make any sense when you got someone who is the BEST in the business in Pioli out there ripe and ready to be plucked; plus..he already has the connection with McDaniels..C'mon Bowlen..if you are going to do it..do it RIGHT this time!

  • January 13, 2009

    5:32 a.m.

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    mt2ri writes:

    Goodman's quote does not sound like he's even confident with this decision. Bad move on Bowlen's part to save a few bucks.

  • January 13, 2009

    8:42 a.m.

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    puckwheat writes:

    "I'm obviously flattered and appreciate the confidence (Bowlen) puts in me," Jim Goodman said. "We're gong to try to do the best job we can to pick the players that help Josh win. And I think we've done a pretty good job of that the last three years. So we're just going to continue with that."

    There you have it: the Broncos' lack of success the last three years was all a result of Shanahan's poor coaching.

    ???

  • January 13, 2009

    10:41 a.m.

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    coachk writes:

    Were these guys, Goodmans and Xanders only in place last year. I think that is the case. If so, there first year was very successful. In prior years it was Ted Sundquist that held those cards with Shanahan as the final say. I think he finally got some better information for last years draft and acted upon it.

  • January 13, 2009

    11:14 a.m.

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    myerda00 writes:

    This is excellent move. Jim Goodman has the scouting/personnel staff on a great keel and IMO works very well with Brian Xanders who has the purse string duties along with capology.
    No change here will make for a smoother transition for Josh McDaniels.
    It was reported that Mike Nolan will be the DC. I was kinda pushing for Dom Capers. Either is giant leapes in experience over Slowik and/or Bates.
    Another point, when Josh stated that he will call the plays, that told me that Jeremy Bates is out. I really do not see that as a bad thing. The offense could get to the 20 then falter. Play calling or execution, I do not know but to continue all year long is ridiculous.

  • January 13, 2009

    11:19 a.m.

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    sirstv7106 writes:

    I thought Shanny had the final say? He always said we will take the best player available at the time. Which tells me why they would move around for offensive selections but not so good defensive ones. Shanny had the last say.

    I say give them a chance and wasn't Xanders a new hire this season?

  • January 13, 2009

    1:15 p.m.

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    Broncofan_in_Boston writes:

    A lot of good points here. I can't disagree with you guys.

    I'm not so concerned about Bates either. More b/c I don't want Cutler pouting, but I'm sure McDaniel and Jay will be fine. That is Josh's strong point.

    I'm mostly hoping that Bobby Turner sticks around. I'd like Dennison to keep coaching the line if they are sticking with the zone blocking scheme. McD could keep Dennison as OC/line coach and still call the plays. I guess we'll see. Jed Fisch? For continuity. I'm not sure I'm going to worry too much about the offense.

    It certainly seems like Sundquist and Shanny are under the bus here. Sundquist was just fired last offseason, right? In March before the draft.

    If the current braintrust is fine, then who brought in Niko, McCree, Manual, Colbert, Robertson, Boss and Darrell Jackson? That has to be the worst return on free agents since, well, last year.

    I guess it was Shanahan.

    And who gets credit for the great draft classes of '06 and '08?

    ??? I'm sure its not that simple.

    I'm feeling good about things. Not great, but good. I believe we will have another strong draft. It sounds like its going to be a very integrated, team approach and they are going to take plenty of input from the coaches and try to match players to their scheme.

    We certainly have not done that well defensively.

    I guess we need to wait and see on Nolan, b/c he's not even been offered the job. Reports had it as a done deal, but I guess they haven't talked about it yet.

    If nothing else, it sure is exciting. Change is always exciting.

    Think about it guys, if Shanny wasn't fired, we would all be b#tching and moaning about wanting to get rid of Slowik and praying they don't resign Webster or either safety, and whether Tatum Bell would be back to with the team in '09. This is pretty fun.