Woody Paige of the Denver Post isn’t too big on Josh McDaniels’ choice of Mike Nolan to fill the Broncos’ vacant defensive coordinator position.

It must be downright discouraging and demoralizing for somebody who has served as a defensive coordinator, then head coach, for 14 1/2 seasons — with five different teams — yet reached the playoffs only TWO of those years, won more than 10 games just once, had a losing record in eight seasons (and only four or five victories four times), was fired several times and, in the biggest game all his teams played, saw the defense reduced to ashes (44 points).

Say hello again to Mike Nolan, your new defensive coordinator.

He is Josh McDaniels’ first hire.

The Broncos’ most critical need was an extraordinary defensive coordinator, and they get an offensive coordinator, who brings in, for the Broncos, another ordinary defensive coordinator. The Broncos selected a baby-faced coach, and he selects a second-hand coach.
It’s inexplicable.

Nolan was named the 49ers’ head coach in 2005. He won fewer than half his games, and did not make the playoffs, before being fired after seven games (2-5) this season. In San Francisco Nolan’s defenses ranked, in points allowed, Nos. 30, 32, 20 and 23. They permitted 30 points or more 18 times.

The future of McDaniels and Nolan will depend on the 3-4, tried and trashed by the Broncos temporarily last season, but they have to depend more on exceptional unrestricted free agents and a No. 1 pick on defense who can step in immediately. The Broncos, despite a plethora of linebackers, could use one more who can stop the run (Channing Crowder), and they must find a starting safety (oft-injured Mike Brown) or two, another corner (Nnamdi Asomugha) and two defensive linemen (Julius Peppers, Bertrand Berry).

And Mike Nolan has to prove why Broncophiles should not be down- wrong discouraged and demoralized.

It’s hard to argue with Paige because Nolan did absolutely nothing to restore the 49ers’ defense, even though they added key pieces in Patrick Willis, Nate Clements, Michael Lewis and Justin Smith during his tenure there. It’s also a bit premature at this point to trash any coaching hire (after all, look at the ’08 new coaching class of Tony Sparano, Mike Smith and John Harbaugh), but I fail to see how McDaniels/Nolan is better than Mike Shanahan at this point.

Today I launch a campaign that is essentially doomed from the start. It’ll never get off the ground because the people in the position to make the campaign work are completely incompetent of making sound decisions. That said, I feel it’s my duty to take on this mission, regardless of its pending failure.

Today, I launch the Official Mike Shanahan to the Detroit Lions Campaign, or OMSDLC for short.

The Detroit Lions are beyond a disastrous situation. They need a freaking team of thousands working around the clock to try and revive the sinking ship they call a franchise. And with the news of owner William Clay Ford Sr. promoting Martin Mayhew to general manager, the situation might be bleaker than ever.

Forget Mayhew, Bill – Mike Shanahan is your guy. You want to be loyal to a fault? Hire a guy that is coming off 10-plus years of experience in one job and won two Super Bowls. Hire a guy that has the fortitude and know-how to build a winning football team. Hire a guy that comes from a winning organization – don’t promote someone in Mayhew that had a hand in making Matt Millen the worst general managers in sports history.

Give Shanahan complete control. Allow him to bring in the free agents he wants, draft the players he wants and then coach said players. Don’t stand in his way, don’t question his moves and most of all – don’t give anyone else (Mayhew, Tom Lewand, etc.) the power to have their voice heard. Turn the keys of the franchise over to Mike Shanahan and then get the hell out of the way.

This is only part one of OMSDCL. There will be more to come in future weeks.

Here’s a look at what some columnists are saying in the wake of the Denver Broncos firing head coach Mike Shanahan:

- With Shanahan out of the picture, Dave Kreiger speculates that the Broncos could turn to John Elway as their next head coach. (Rocky Mountain News)

- Jason Cole notes that Shanahan would be a perfect fit for the dysfunctional Dallas Cowboys. (Yahoo! Sports)

- Woody Paige throws out the names of Bill Parcells, Bill Cowher, Steve Spagnuolo, Jim Schwartz, Rex Ryan, Raheem Morris, Josh McDaniels, Mike Leach and Pete Carroll as possible replacements for Shanahan. (Denver Post)

- Tom Curran writes rather bluntly: Shanahan deserved to be fired. (NBC Sports)

- Arash Markazi writes that Shanahan is currently unemployed because in the end, he couldn’t meet his own goals. (SI.com)

In a rather shocking development, NFL.com is reporting that the Denver Broncos have fired head coach Mike Shanahan.

The blockbuster of the coaching season just came in: The Denver Broncos fired Mike Shanahan.
Shanahan had three years and upwards of $20 million remaining on his contract.

Shanahan, who just completed his 14th season at the helm of the Broncos, was the longest tenured coach in franchise history. He also held the title of executive vice president of football operations.
The two-time Super Bowl-winning coach guided the Broncos to nine winning seasons, seven playoff berths and three conference championships. The Broncos finished 8-8 this season, missing the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

Wow. Along with the Jets and Buccaneers, the Broncos had one of the biggest collapses in 2008. But it’s not Shanahan’s fault that the defense couldn’t tackle anybody and gave up 30 points a game. Is this a move in effort to bring in Bill Cowher? Why fire Shanahan with what will be available this offseason in terms of coaching candidates?

This surprising to say the least, but if you’re a Brown, Jet or Lions fan, you’ve got to love the fact that Shanahan is now available. Holy crap.