| I'm going to meet with Jeff Fisher and make him an offer he can't refuse. |
The only football related staff member to retain his job after the Bloody Monday in Earth City was offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Whether Kroenke actually conversed with McDaniels or simply added that task to COO Kevin Demoff's "To Do List" is still unclear, but I have a feeling there was a conversation at some point that went something like this:
Stan Kroenke: You have to answer for Bradford, Josh. You set up Sam for the pass rushers.
Josh McDaniels: Stan, you got it all wrong.
Kroenke: Ah, that little farce you played with Brandon Lloyd. You think that would fool a Kroenke?
McDaniels: Stan, I'm innocent. I swear on the fans.
Kroenke: Sit down.
McDaniels: Please don't do this to me, Stan. Please don't.
Kroenke: Devaney is fired. So is Steve Spagnuolo, Flajole, Cromwell, Loney. Today I settled all family business, so don't tell me that you're innocent. Admit what you did.
[McDaniels starts sobbing]
Kroenke: Get him a drink. Don't be afraid, Josh. Come on, you think I'd put Bradford through another offense? You think I’d buy out your contract?
[McDaniels gets handed a drink]
Kroenke: Go ahead. Drink. Drink. No, you're out of the personnel business, that's your punishment. You're finished. I'm putting you on a plane to Vegas until after the draft, after free agency. Kevin?
[Kevin Demoff hands McDaniels an airplane ticket]
Kroenke: I want you to stay there, you understand?
[McDaniels nods]
Kroenke: Only don't tell me that you're innocent, because it insults my intelligence and it makes me very angry. Now, who approached you first about keeping Brandon Gibson? Spagnuolo or Devaney?
McDaniels: It was both of them; they were in on it together.
Kroenke: Good. There's a car outside that will take you to the airport. I'll call your wife and tell her what flight you're on.
McDaniels: Listen, Stan.
Kroenke: Go on. Get out of my sight.
Whether or not Dick Vermeil was sitting in the back of that
car with piano wire remains to be seen.
No one has seen or heard from McDaniels since Bloody Monday. It makes complete sense to keep McDaniels, at
least for now. Why buyout the remaining
year of his contract when it’s quite possible that either a) McDaniels leaves
on his own, free of charge, or b) the new coach/GM decides they like the idea
of Bradford staying in the same system for more than one year? Regardless of McDaniels' status, one thing is clear; Stan Kroenke has shown himself to be the Godfather that this franchise needed, and he has named Kevin Demoff as his consigliere.
