Denver names Elway VP of football operations

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Elway will have full control of personnel decisions and will be responsible for hiring the coach.

Two ex-NFL stars with no operations experience have tried this so far.  One failed miserably -- Matt Millan.  The other quickly realized that the job was more than he could handled and quickly and wisely bowed out -- Dan Marino.   

What do you think the outcome of this hire will be? 

[jtex316]

I think it will be the same as Dan Marino.

Sometimes a great player is looked upon by fans and team executives as if he can do much more for the organization than he already has.

Being an all-time great player does not translate to being a good coach / co-ordinator / team executive. Being a player and being an executive are two completely different sets of talents, which, hardly anyone has the capability to excel at both. Normally, you either excel with your brains or with your brawn.

Michael Jordan - best NBA player of all-time, lousy team owner
Wayne Gretzsky - best NHL player of all-time, lousy team owner / GM
Magic Johnson - all-time NBA great, terrible NBA executive / coach
Phil Jackson - average / sub-par NBA player, all-time NBA great coach
Pat Riley - same as Phil Jackson
Bill Belichick - virtually non-existent football playing career, all-time NFL coach
Tony Dungy - below-average NFL CB, great / all-time great NFL head coach
Jon Gruden - terrible professional football QB, good to great NFL coach

The only guy that I can think of that has been able to be extremely successful as both a player and as a team executive is Jerry West. As a player, all you need to know is that he IS the NBA logo. As a Lakers executive, he helped built the 1980's great Laker teams and made probably the best trade ever in NBA history (Vlade Divac for Kobe Bryant).

Historically, Elway has the odds stacked against him.

[Brian Fein]

I think moves like this are made when fans start getting disgruntled.  Its an effort to bring the old die-hards back to their loyalty by bringing a team legend back into the organization.

I really don't think this means anything as far as team operations.

[Pappy13]

The other quickly realized that the job was more than he could handled and quickly and wisely bowed out -- Dan Marino.   

I don't think that Marino bowed out because he couldn't handle the job, I think he bowed out because he liked being a sports analyst better.  Once he realized what the job would entail, he quickly went back to the best job anyone ever invented - sports analyst.  You get to give an entire nation your opinion, but absolutely NOTHING is riding on it if it's wrong or complete BS.  You work what, 20 hours a week and then a couple more on weekends for half the year and have the rest of the time to golf or do whatever you want.  You get paid a crap load of money (if you are any good), have a whole team of people that make you look good on TV (hair stylist, tailor, make-up, etc). What could be better than that?

[Spider-Dan]

Larry Bird was a pretty good player and coach (but not too impressive as team president).  Bill Russell won an MVP and two of his championships were as a player-coach.

[Dave Gray]

A friend of mine (Bronco fan) posted on Facebook a quote about the new coach needing to have faith in Tebow.  I don't know the consensus on Tebow, but I just don't have any faith in him.  He will never be an NFL starting QB worth of a hill of beans.  The sooner the Broncos come to that realization, the better they will be.  But, as long as that is their focus, I feat that they are in for a long ride.

[AZ Fins Fan 55]

As a side note to that the Broncos came to AZ late in the season to play the Cards. All of the fans from the opening kickoff were pulling for Tebow to get in the game. There were a ton of Broncos fans at the game and the vast majority seemed to want Tebow to take the reigns. Honestly I could not understand it myself as Orton had a pretty decent year but he seems to be viewed as the savior in Denver!!!!

[CF DolFan]

^^^^Don't hate guys!!! 

Dave also thinks that Tebow is gay ... not that he means anything mean by it.  Personally I think Dave is 0-2 on Tebow.

On a serious note ...  I find it funny how easily huis teammates have rallied around him even when they had a failry successful QB already. It's amazing the influence that Tebow has over people. It's like being nice guy is a gimmick or something.

[MikeO]

Elway will have full control of personnel decisions and will be responsible for hiring the coach.

Two ex-NFL stars with no operations experience have tried this so far.  One failed miserably -- Matt Millan.  The other quickly realized that the job was more than he could handled and quickly and wisely bowed out -- Dan Marino.   

What do you think the outcome of this hire will be? 

Marino never had full control of personnel decisions. Which is why he quit. He thought he would have had it by taking the job. Wayne wanted him as a figure head, not as a GM or Czar.

[MikeO]

Elway spoke with Peter King and went on record saying he isn't high on Tebow.

which probably means they won't get getting rid of Orton (which is bad for the Fins as he was an option possibly)

[CF DolFan]

^^^^That's kind of funny.  I heard the opposite on mike and mike the other day. I would really question a football official who said publicly he wasn't high on one of his players.

[MikeO]

Peter King also reported that if Josh McDaniels goes to Minny as the OC, he could be a go-between and get Minny to trade for Tebow since Minny needs a QB.

Elway back-tracked on his comments today. Elway first said to Peter King  “I don’t think Tim Tebow is a good NFL quarterback at this time.”

Today Elway said..“I think he’s a very good football player, and if anyone can turn themselves into a great QB, Tim can.

Elway has been on the job for a week and has already put his foot in his mouth and backtracking on comments. Not a good sign for Denver