NFL

Denver owner says Shanahan's job secure

Despite team's struggles, Bowlen says ‘I’m not firing him’

updated 9:58 p.m. ET Dec. 12, 2004

DENVER - Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen came to the passionate defense of coach Mike Shanahan on Sunday, sticking with his stance that the coach will be in Denver as long as he wants.

“He’s got four years to go on his contract, and I’m not firing him,” Bowlen said after Denver’s 20-17 victory over Miami.

The Broncos came into Sunday’s game on a two-game losing streak and Shanahan’s future was a prime topic of discussion around the NFL during the week.

Former Denver tight end Shannon Sharpe criticized the coach for handpicking Jake Plummer as his quarterback and suggested Shanahan had too much power as both the team’s coach and personnel man.

Later in the week, inaccurate media reports surfaced that Shanahan had been contacted about the job opening at Notre Dame, and Bowlen was upset about that, too.

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“You don’t expect people to make things up,” Bowlen said. “Making things up is, in my mind, outside the rules.”

The Broncos improved to 8-5 and stayed tied with Baltimore for the AFC’s final wild-card spot.

Shanahan, in his 10th season with the Broncos, hasn’t won a playoff game since the 1998 Super Bowl.

Asked if the past week has been one of his toughest as owner, Bowlen said, “I think this is a tough sport. There are good times and bad times. But we won a very important football game and I’m pleased about that.”