Former Broncos' quarterback Jake Plummer said on Thursday that the firing of coach Mike Shanahan in Denver "was past due." "I thought it was past due," Plummer said. "I think he had done what he could do and was just tapped out as far as his coaching style wasn't motivating guys anymore."

The Broncos will abandon the West Coast offense under Josh McDaniels. "Our system is very unique," McDaniels said in a phone interview Wednesday. "There are not a lot of branches off a tree that uses this system. "The unique part about that is I know a lot of people associate what we did in New England with the passing game, but we were sixth in the league in rushing this year," McDaniels said. "It's the unknown or missing piece that not many people know about or talk about. It's not the same each week. It won't be the same. It doesn't fall into a specific category like the West Coast."

Bill Romanowski is eager to meet with the Broncos and new coach Josh McDaniels, but the team isn't nearly as interested in sitting down with the former linebacker. Romanowski says that he's been contacted by owner Pat Bowlen to come in for a meeting next week, but a public relations official had no knowledge of the scheduled meeting. "I'm going to profess my vision on how to better take care of the athletes," Romanowski said Thursday of his meeting with the club.

New Denver coach Josh McDaniels reached out to quarterback Jay Cutler on Wednesday and the two had a lengthy conversation about the team's offense. "We had a great conversation about where we're going, what we're going to do and some of the things we've done in New England in the past and some of the things they did here," McDaniels told Denver's KCNC-4. "We had a very, very lively conversation. I can't wait to meet him."

The National Football Post has just been informed that former San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Nolan has officially been hired as the defensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos. The Broncos continue their coaching overhaul as the Nolan hiring comes just one day after Denver hired former New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to be their new head coach.

Patriots' offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has agreed to become the Broncos? next coach, team spokesman Patrick Smyth said Sunday night, according to an Associated Press report. McDaniels, 32, replaces Mike Shanahan, who was fired December 30 after 14 seasons with three years and $21M left on his contract. ESPN was the first to report the hiring.

The Broncos have narrowed their list of head-coaching candidates, and it is believed that New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is leading the race. Denver chief operating officer Joe Ellis spent five and a half hours in Massachusetts on Thursday night, conducting a second interview with McDaniels.

Former Broncos' linebacker Bill Romanowski believes that he is the perfect candidate to become the team's next head coach. Romanowski sent Broncos' owner Pat Bowlen a lengthy PowerPoint presentation touting his credentials and outlining the fresh ideas he would bring to the job that Mike Shanahan held for 14 seasons before his stunning dismissal last week. "I can't stop thinking about this," said Romanowski. "This may be a complete fantasy, and that's all right ... At the end of the day, nothing may happen from it."

After interviewing seven head coaching candidates in six days, the Broncos spent Friday going over the credentials of the potential coaches. They are also deciding if more interviews need to be conducted. Owner Pat Bowlen hasn't indicated what his next move will be although he wants to name a coach as soon as possible.

The Broncos will not send a draft pick to the New York Jets after defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson played in roughly 50 percent of the defensive snaps last season, well below the 65 percent threshold that would have triggered a trade. The Broncos had acquired Robertson last April in return for a conditional draft pick based on playing time. One condition was if Robertson played in less than 65 percent of the defensive snaps, the Broncos didn't have to compensate the Jets.