# Is McDaniels Finally Done in Denver? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [November 29, 2010, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mcdaniels-finally-done-in-denver/562232 "2010-11-29T00:55:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bartman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@Bartman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bartman)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mcdaniels-finally-done-in-denver/562232/21 "2010-12-09T01:28:11Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Why did Mike Nolan leave, anyway? With Nolan and a decent GM, I think McDaniels could’ve been successful. You know, I don’t think I ever heard a completely coherent answer. Evidently it was “mutually agreed” between Nolan and McDaniels. My guess would be that McDaniels’ ego couldn’t handle anyone who wouldn’t be subservient. And Nolan couldn’t work for the egomaniac. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mcdaniels-finally-done-in-denver/562232/22 "2010-12-09T02:07:51Z")
> [@storyteller0910](#): > > Late to the party, but wanted to ask: how do you figure? > > Here’s my understanding of the situation - tell me where I’m wrong, because it’s kind of hazy in my memory now. > > 1. McDaniels gets hired in Denver, where Cutler is the established starter. > 2. McDaniels tries to trade for Matt Cassel, and is not successful. > 3. Cutler and McDaniels meet, and McDaniels does not give Cutler the impression that Cutler is McDaniels’ preferred choice at quarterback. > 4. Cutler decides he’d rather play for a coach that wants him. > 5. Cutler demands a trade, and gets one. > > Near as I can tell, neither guy did anything wrong, from the standpoint of getting what they wanted. Cutler wanted to be in a place where he could be the undisputed starter and have the confidence of his coach; McDaniels wanted a QB who wasn’t Jay Cutler. > > Both behaved in ways designed to get what they wanted, both were successful. > > The difference is that what Jay Cutler wanted was good for Jay Cutler - he has ended up in a much stronger situation than he would have been had he stayed with a coach that didn’t really want him. What Josh McDaniels wanted was bad for the Broncos - they’d be better off with Cutler (and Marshall and Hillis and Scheffler) than without. > > To me, the Cutler situation (and the Marshall situation and the Scheffler situation and the Hillis situation) is _entirely_ McDaniels fault because it is his _job_ to understand and manage people. Cutler’s job was to throw the ball, and he did that, and eventually he decided he could do it more effectively elsewhere. And McDaniels acted in ways that made Cutler want to leave. Whether you or I think Cutler “should” have wanted to leave is immaterial - a coach who behaves in a way that consistently drives off good players is a bad, bad coach. I think this is pretty accurate. However at the time it all happened Cutler was just a very unlikable guy. Not because of things he did on the field but because of his personality and demeanor with the media. He’s never been a problem off the field, he’s just smug and has a manner that makes you want to punch him. We all know people like this. McDaniels I thought came across as even more punchable and hateable from the get-go, but it seems I was in the minority. For most people it seems he was at least a blank slate and a guy trying to establish “leadership” in an organization so a majority of people sided with McDaniels. In retrospect people see now that Cutler was probably on to something, and had he simply been more diplomatic about it probably would have had everyone on his side. > [@Hawkeyeop](#): > > I’m not sure why everyone if harping on Cutler. Orton has been just as good since they got him as Cutler has been, and with the two extra draft picks, I have a hard time thinking it was a bad trade for Denver. The problem is the rest of the team. I think I’m about as well educated on the subject as anyone having watched pretty much every snap of Orton’s in Chicago (and many in Denver) and vice versa with Cutler. Cutler is a MUCH MUCH better player than Orton is. Mentally Orton is a little farther along and he suits McDaniel’s scheme better, but Cutler’s ceiling is miles beyond Orton. Orton will never be better than his is right now and can’t win without a potent defense and conservative system. He just doesn’t have the chops to carry a team. Cutler may not be able to either, but that’s till a possibility. Cutler’s still got his arrow going up. Considering what the Broncos got out of the picks the Bears got a fair deal. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mcdaniels-finally-done-in-denver/562232/23 "2010-12-09T02:52:18Z")
> [@Bartman](#): > > You know, I don’t think I ever heard a completely coherent answer. Evidently it was “mutually agreed” between Nolan and McDaniels. My guess would be that McDaniels’ ego couldn’t handle anyone who wouldn’t be subservient. And Nolan couldn’t work for the egomaniac. This is correct. McDaniels is just a very abrasive and childish personality. He publicly (in front of owner Pat Bowlen) read his assistant coaches the riot act after the LA Raiders loss, and got into a contentious argument on Monday with veteran team leaders (Champ Baily and D.J. Williams) about making the team run wind sprints the day after a game. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mcdaniels-finally-done-in-denver/562232/24 "2010-12-09T03:30:21Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > The Broncos have now lost 16 of 21 games. McDaniels has chased away both Cutler and Marshall, drafted Tebow, and now has been caught in a [Spygate II](http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81c739e9/article/broncos-disclose-violation-of-integrityofgame-policy). I know the story is that the guy acted alone, but I don’t buy it. Not to mention the way he basically trashed all the assistant coaches in front of Bowlen after the drubbing by Oakland. > > I haven’t liked the guy from day one. Are we going to get news of a firing tomorrow morning? No I think he will have a long fruitful career in Denver. In fact I guarantee it! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mcdaniels-finally-done-in-denver/562232.md?page=1)