Brittany Bowlen States Goal of Succeeding Her Father As Broncos’ Controlling Owner by Ryan O’Halloran the Denver Post October 21, 2018
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Brittany Bowlen states goal of succeeding her father as Broncos’ controlling owner By Ryan O’Halloran The Denver Post October 21, 2018 Brittany Bowlen, the 28-year-old daughter of Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, announced publicly Saturday night that she wants to succeed her father as the team’s controlling owner. “Right now, the Denver Broncos have an owner, my father; unfortunately, he can’t be involved in the day- to-day operations of the team,” Bowlen said before an event for the Global Down Syndrome Foundation in downtown Denver. “I do have ambitions and goals to one day be the controlling owner of the Denver Broncos. “I’ll keep working toward those goals. I’m not there yet. But I really believe I can get there.” In late July, Broncos president and CEO Joe Ellis said Brittany Bowlen had expressed an interest in rejoining the organization and succeeding her father, who stepped aside in 2014 because he has Alzheimer’s disease. Ellis leads a three-person trust that is running the Broncos. Bowlen, who was co-chairperson of Saturday’s event that was also attended by several Broncos players, earned degrees at Notre Dame and Duke and worked two years for the NFL in New York. She now works for McKinsey & Company, a global consulting firm, in its Denver offices. Asked if she has a schedule for joining the Broncos, Bowlen said: “I really don’t have a timetable right now. I’m working for McKinsey and right now, that’s my focus. … I think it’s going to help me a lot. It’s really important I get experience outside of the football industry.” In May, Beth Bowlen-Wallace, one of Pat Bowlen’s two children from his first marriage, expressed her desire to be the next controlling owner of the Broncos. Asked if she has had any conversations with Bowlen-Wallace, Brittany Bowlen said: “I really can’t speak for Beth. But what I do know is, the way my dad laid out this trust, all of my (six) siblings have a right to pursue this goal and I support them in pursuing that goal.” The trust acted swiftly after Bowlen-Wallace’s announcement, saying she did not fit the required criteria to be considered a replacement for her father. In a text message to The Denver Post on Saturday, Bowlen-Wallace said: “I’m still very interested in fulfilling my father’s wishes of having a family member step up. I’m very proud of the legacy he created and am blessed I was able to experience his leadership for so many years of his adult life.” Now that two of Pat Bowlen’s children have expressed their goal of succeeding him, it’s unlikely the Broncos will be for sale after his death. Asked about her father’s health, Brittany Bowlen said: “My father is doing OK. Alzheimer’s is a very hard disease. He is the most stoic Alzheimer’s patient. It is truly inspirational to see how he has carried himself with this disease.” Still unknown, in addition to when Brittany Bowlen will join the Broncos: Will Ellis remain team president to lead the transition? How many years will she be mentored before taking over the decision-making? Will any of Pat Bowlen’s other children serve in the team’s front office? Having grown up in Denver, Brittany Bowlen said she understands the passion of the Broncos’ fan base. “For me, football is about family,” she said. “I grew up in this organization. I love my family. I love the impact they’ve had on our community. I love the team and seeing how they work together. That’s why I love football. I love watching the games, but really seeing the connections people make and the lifelong friendships people make, that’s what is really important.” Bowlen said her time working for the NFL was beneficial. “I absolutely loved my two years at the NFL,” she said. “It was an incredible experience. I got to spend time with the (public relations) staff and with digital media, which was really awesome because I was able to see the impact my father drove with television. I also spent time with club business development, which is a group that consults for all 32 clubs.” Bowlen was involved with a leaguewide fan experience survey while employed by the NFL. “That was actually part of the reason I wanted to go into consulting because I loved working with all the clubs and help improve (their) operations,” she said. Broncos Analysis: Reasons for optimism following win at Arizona By Ryan O’Halloran The Denver Post October 21, 2018 The Tennessee Titans started last year 2-3, but won six of their next seven. The Atlanta Falcons were 4-4 but finished 10-6. The Buffalo Bills were 5-5 through 10 games but rallied to finish 9-7. And the Kansas City Chiefs were 6-6, but won their final four games. All four teams made the playoffs and the Titans and Falcons each advanced to the Divisional Round. Stay with us, this is actually germane to the Broncos, who at 3-4 are 12th in the AFC entering Sunday, but only six teams in the conference have more wins. All it takes is a spark to start a roll. The Broncos hope Thursday’s 45-10 laugher over the reeling Arizona Cardinals is the required flicker. “It’s a great momentum booster,” safety Justin Simmons said. “A road win coming out of a time when we had lost four in a row and a quick turnaround for a Thursday game. It’s what we needed.” Said linebacker Bradley Chubb: “I feel like it can be. We came out with so much intensity. If we just come out (that way) every game, it’s going to be a positive for us.” The Broncos’ three wins have come over teams who are a combined 5-14 and their remaining schedule includes trips to Kansas City (5-1), the Chargers (4-2) and Cincinnati (4-2). But if the Broncos are to avoid consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 1971-72, they must build on what happened in Arizona instead of merely reveling in it. To that end, here are four reasons for optimism. 1. Case Keenum looks healthy Keenum missed practice on Sept. 19 because of a knee injury and he has worn a brace in practice and games ever since. During the four-game losing streak, Keenum looked hindered by the injury. He did not show the kind of mobility befitting his reputation (able to extend plays or scramble for the first down if needed) before joining the Broncos. Keenum looked like a different player against Arizona. A healthy player. Flushed out of the pocket, Keenum threw a 10-yard pass (5.77 seconds) to Demaryius Thomas to convert a third-and-6. He looked fluid on a designed half-rollout before throwing a 64-yard touchdown to Emmanuel Sanders. And he scrambled for seven yards to convert a third-and-6. “I thought Case played good football (on Thursday), especially on third down,” coach Vance Joseph said. “He made some plays moving around the pocket. Honestly, Case is getting better and better each week.” If Keenum continues to play like he did against the Cardinals and gets better at eliminating interceptions (nine this year), the Broncos’ offense should be efficient. 2. Von Miller and Bradley Chubb are a force. Combined statistics for Miller and Chubb against the Rams and Arizona — 8 1/2 sacks, three hits and six pressures. They had two sacks apiece against Arizona’s injury-ravaged line (both guards were inactive). “It just shows you what type of defense we have,” Miller said. “When everybody is firing on all cylinders like we did (Thursday), it’s easy for me and Bradley to do what we do.” The duo, who normally work on opposite sides of the line, will face Patrick Mahomes, Deshaun Watson, Philip Rivers and Ben Roethlisberger in the next four games. There will be ample pass-rushing opportunities. 3. Emmanuel Sanders is playing at an elite level. Sometimes, training camp is a tease. Sometimes, it isn’t. Sanders falls in the second category. Sanders is on pace for 105 catches and 1,378 yards. Thomas is handling the perimeter and underneath routes, freeing up Sanders and rookie Courtland Sutton to be available for downfield shots. Sanders already has three 100-yard games (135 vs. Seattle, 115 vs. the Rams and 102 at Arizona); he had a combined four in 28 games the previous two years. Sanders’ 10 receptions of at least 20 yards is tied for third-most in the league behind Houston’s DeAndre Hopkins (12) and Kansas City’s Tyreek Hill (11). 4. The coaches have made some adjustments. Maybe offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave has found a home back on the sideline after calling three games from the coach’s box. But it’s the plays Musgrave and defensive coordinator Joe Woods call moving forward that will play a role in the Broncos stringing together wins. There were a few encouraging wrinkles by the coordinators against Arizona. Musgrave called a trick play – – Sanders’ 28-yard touchdown pass to Sutton – – but also used some unique formations that will give opponents more to think about. On one second quarter play, the Broncos had fullback Andy Janovich at H-back, running back Phillip Lindsay wide right, tight end Matt LaCosse in the right slot, receiver Tim Patrick at left slot and Sanders wide left.