John Fox out as Broncos coach

[frylock]

The Denver Broncos and coach John Fox have mutually agreed to part ways, a source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

The move comes a day after the Broncos were eliminated from the playoffs by the Indianapolis Colts.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12156158/john-fox-denver-broncos-head-coach

[El Supremo]

1. Wow. That was fast. Who'll replace him?

Elroy?

He already is the mascot:

[madinmaryland]

2. The real question is when will they be bringing back Tebow.

I actually never saw that coming. WTF is going on in Denver?? Too much weed?

[El Supremo]

4. The whole city is on suicide watch. n/m

[madinmaryland]

5. All I can figure is that Fox did not want to go through a rebuilding job.

And he probably knew something about Payless not coming back. Will Ware come back?

[fizzgig]

7. you can feel the depression here

we should be used to it

[trumad]

3. unreal..

First Harbaugh...now Fox.

I guess winning ain't all its cracked up to be.

[madinmaryland]

6. So the next question will Jerrah let Garrett walk and hire Fox??

Basically his entire coaching staff's contract at the end of this season, as he was planning on the team having another so-so year. Who the hell knows.

[madinmaryland]

12. You are awefully fucking quiet tonight trumas,

Sucks to see it happen in Jerrah World doesn't it!!!!

NOT!!!

[bluedigger]

8. Head west, Fox.

I think there's an opening on the coast.

[fishwax]

9. I think both sides really felt it was time to part ways

Apparently the Broncos hadn't really considered changes until, the day before the game, some sources close to Fox started speculating as to whether he would be available if the Broncos lost. To me, aside from the obvious indication that he might be looking for an exit, it's not a great sign when people close to your head coach are floating "if they lose" balloons.

It's been a fun three seasons with Peyton, without a doubt, but it is definitely disappointing that they didn't perform better in the postseason these last three years. They're 2-3 overall, with two of the losses coming at home and the other in 1980s-style embarrassing fashion. I'm not overly-suprprised: Peyton's track record in the playoffs is what it is. (I was not a fan before he signed with the Broncos.) But, still, it's disappointing.

The key questions, for the Broncos and for John Fox, were: if Peyton comes back, is Fox the guy to guide him around the corner in the playoffs next year? If Peyton doesn't come back, is Fox the guy to get it done with someone new?

I came to like John Fox as a coach, though I wasn't happy when the Broncos hired him four years ago. The Broncos had just gone 4-12, and then managed to go hire a coach who had won even fewer games that year. So I wasn't optimistic. And to top it off our QB situation was disastrous. But Fox and his staff won my respect for what they were able to accomplish with that option fullback under center.

When the Broncos signed Peyton, there were plenty of people who thought it would turn out to be a disaster--but given what Fox had been able to do with Tebow and Jake Delhomme, I figured it was worth a shot to see what he could do with a good one.

It was pretty clear on Sunday that this particular window had closed. I haven't felt confident of our chances in the playoffs for the last month-and-a-half, but Sunday was a disaster.

[Jamaal510]

10. So...

Harbaugh with the 49ers: 44-19-1 and he's gone.
Fox with the Broncos: 46-18 and he's gone.
Fisher with the Rams: 20-27-1 and he's still there.

[rep the dems]

13. Then there's Marvin Lewis

0-6 in playoff games in *twelve years* as head coach. How he's made it this long is beyond me.

[JonLP24]

11. Peyton Manning clearly hinted to it or hinted to it because he mentioned a "certain coach" leaving

I'm just amazed my theory was confirmed this quickly and obviously after he made a cryptic choice of words.

"That's kind of what I've said all along," Manning said of coming back for 2015, referring to his pre-Christmas statements saying he would come back. "But I can't answer every what-if circumstance. What if you're not as healthy? What if certain coaches leave? I can't answer every what-if situation. I think I'll have to take some time to see how I feel, see how I feel physically."

http://www.milehighreport.com/2015/1/11/7529621/peyton-manning-retirement-rumors-broncos-2015

It is a reasonable statement for an old QB to make, coaches leaving, new system, rebuilding would they'd retire rather than grind it out for 1 more year. They likely wouldn't stay if a championship push seemed unlikely.

Maybe I looked far into something that wasn't there but a good follow up question would be to ask if he could answer just 1 "what-if circumstance" -- What if certain coaches leave? Would certain coaches leaving mean more likely or less likely that would stay"

The timing of John Fox leaving has to do with something more than just losing the divisional game. It doesn't happen unless some office politics are involved, I think this means Manning is coming back next year (provided he feels he is healthy for a NFL season)

[cascadiance]

14. Hmm... Denver is getting rid of a lot of Foxes now....

First it was Denver-based Dish Network getting rid of Fox News in its lineup...

Now the Broncos getting rid of this Fox!

[joeybee12]

15. Let me just say, John Fox is brilliant and Elway is an asshole...

Fox did a lot with very little, and by that I mean Teblow, and he was put in a terrible situation when meglomaniac Elway wanted Payless, who had maybe 2-3 seasons left in him...he had no thought of the future or rebuilding...Fox needs a team without a self-serving GM and that team will be very fortunate.

[fishwax]

16. he also did a little with a lot, once the playoffs rolled around

Fox and his staff did an amazing job getting to the playoffs with that anchor of a QB. The schedule certainly helped: Denver had a soft schedule, having finished last in the division the year before and playing in the worst division in the league that year. They won the division at 8-8, and their only win against a team with a winning record was against Cincinnati in week two, which was Andy Dalton's second game in the league.

Sorry, but I don't think most coaches would consider bringing in a surefire Hall of Famer with 2-3 good years (well, two outstanding years and one good half-year) left would be being "put in a terrible situation."

I especially don't think that Fox felt that way, having had to take the field for most of his career with the likes of Jake Delhomme and Jimmy Clausen and Tim Tebow. Fox was thrilled.

Denver may, indeed, pay in the next couple of years, although I'm really curious to see what Osweiller can do, and they have enough going for them that they aren't turning into the Raiders if Manning retires (which I hope he does). But that's not really relevant to Fox's situation. Fox didn't take the fall for the mortgaged future. He took the fall for the fact that Denver doesn't have much to show for it.

[joeybee12]

17. Payless is a choker...all three years the losses were due to him...

Entirely his fault. But asshat Elway wanted to sell jerseys.

[El Supremo]

18. The first year it was due to Rahim Moore.

[fishwax]

19. lol -- I get that you hate Elway, and I agree that Peyton sucks in the playoffs

but it's ridiculous to think that Elway doesn't want to win or that bringing in Peyton Manning three years ago wasn't a pretty logical way to accomplish that goal.

Selling jerseys? Jersey sales don't matter, since they go to the NFL and not the team. Besides ... Tebow sold jerseys, dude.

And, for the record, John Fox's record in games where Manning isn't his quarterback: 81-79.

[JonLP24]

21. I'm sure John Fox was just desperate to leave Denver

I could see being brought in with Orton & play Tebow billboards being a terrible situation but that didn't last long.

[hughee99]

20. I'm hearing Fox is going to the Bears.

If I were him, I'd rather have the Atlanta job.

[JonLP24]

22. Atlanta wants Dan Quinn

They're just waiting for the Seahawks season to finish to make the hire.

There #1 target was Todd Bowles but the Jets who were also interested in Dan Quinn became desperate out of fear of losing him to Atlanta they so called him back for a second interview and were (in my imagination) begging him to take the job. After that it was announced, news come out that Atlanta is targeted Dan Quinn.