Mon @ 8:20 pm – The Broncos have promoted running backs coach Eric Studesville to the interim head coach position. Given the fact that there really wasn’t a clear cut option to turn to once they dumped McDaniels, it’s hard to find fault with Denver’s decision to give Studesville the job.

That said, it will be interesting to see how the team reacts to having Studesville in control next week. If the players step it up over the next four weeks, Studesville’s coaching career will get a big boost in the right direction.

6:20 pm - Despite receiving assurances from team owner Pat Bowlen as recently as last week, Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels was dismissed from his position earlier this evening, making Denver the third club to fire their coach this season.

Both Minnesota and Dallas sent their head coaches packing earlier this year after they both failed in a major way to live up to the expectations placed on them before the season began. The Broncos were not expected to be a contender in the same sense that the Cowboys and Vikings were, but after back to back seasons in which McDaniels failed to show improvement, it was more a matter of when rather than if he would be released.

Denver should be looked at as being a prime destination for the head coaching class this off-season, given that they have young talent and have shown an ability to play well at times this year. With the right head coach in place, a quick turnaround is likely, and after working with two offensive minded coaches in McDaniels and Mike Shanahan before him, Bowlen may decide to go in a different direction by hiring an up and coming defensive coordinator instead.

That said, the prospect of having a premier head coach like Jon Gruden step in to take over his team may prove to be too attractive for Bowlen to resist, and it’s likely that Gruden will be on the Broncos short list of candidates at the very least.

Another name that should draw a lot of interest out of Denver is former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher, but luring him away from the east coast may prove to be difficult.

Other posts you may enjoy:

1. Denver steps back from commitment to McDaniels
2. Broncos staying the course with McDaniels
3. Opportunity at the U piquing Gruden’s interest?
4. Shanahan on hot seat in Washington?
5. Panthers setting sights on Grimm as next head coach?