Gary Kubiak's introductory press conference yesterday as Broncos coach "felt more like a family reunion than a business exchange," in part because team Owner Pat Bowlen "would, and does, approve" of the hiring, according to Paul Klee of the Colorado Springs GAZETTE. Former Broncos VP/PR Jim Saccamano "confirmed Kubiak is one of Bowlen's favorite people to ever walk the hallways at Dove Valley" (Colorado Springs GAZETTE, 1/21). In Denver, Benjamin Hochman writes Kubiak's friendship with Broncos Exec VP/Football Operations John Elway "got the guy back in the building," but now "it's up to Kubes to stay in the building." It is "hard to blow one of these introductory news conferences," and Kubiak "said all the right things with all the right inflections" (DENVER POST, 1/21). Elway said, "I didn't hire Gary Kubiak because he's my buddy. I hired him because he's the best man for the job." Kubiak said of Elway, "He is the boss. Believe me, he's the boss." Elway: "Am I difficult to work for? There's no question I have expectations. I do realize for us to win we have to work hard. I do push people. I do like to communicate with people and for people to communicate with me." He added, "If you make any kind of decisions that you want to do something, all you have to do is tell me why. I want a reason why. I want to know that it is thought through, that when we made this decision it was the best decision we could make. If I don't get a why, then you need to help me here" (DENVER POST, 1/21). ESPN’s Jeff Legwold said, "You’re not going to find anyone else on the football planet that is more like-minded to John Elway than Gary Kubiak is.” Legwold: "When John Elway took this job in 2011, if Gary Kubiak had been available, he probably would have been the coach. ... This is a move they've been pointing to for a long time” (“NFL Live,” ESPN, 1/20).
