ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — As the bright sun warmed the morning air to the 80s and a smallish crowd gathered along the lower section of the grassy berm, the Broncos opened their first training camp in 35 years Thursday without Pat Bowlen as their owner.
He hadn’t been around in recent years because of Alzheimer’s but to so many Broncos employees and followers, Bowlen’s passing on June 13 left them in a different feel for this first camp without him.
“I think it is. To know that he’s not here to go visit anymore is tough after being with him for so many years,’’ Joe Ellis, who in many ways has replaced Bowlen as the team’s chief executive officer and president, said Thursday on the 9News/Channel 20 Morning Show. “But he would want the focus to turn away from him once we get through the Hall of Fame proceedings that are coming up in a couple weeks and really focus on the team and doing our jobs and trying to win football games. Get in the postseason tournament and win a Super Bowl.
“That’s what he wants. I think we as an organization need to respond to what his wishes were and that’s what we’re going to do. Put the focus on the team on the field, winning games, do good things in the community like we’ve done in the past and need to do again soon.’’
Ellis is one of three trustees to the Pat Bowlen Trust. The trustees have been tasked with eventually choosing one of Bowlen’s seven children to succeed him as the Broncos’ chief owner and it’s hardly a secret Brittany Bowlen seems to be a favorite.
Brittany is currently working with McKinsey & Company, a worldwide management consulting firm. She is to join the Broncos’ front office in an executive role but does her father’s passing accelerate her departure from McKinsey and arrival at UCHealth Training Center?
“I know she’s going to come to work here later in the year,’’ Ellis said. “I don’t know exactly if that’s November or December. I’m going to meet with her next week. We’ve got to go over some things on her job description and talk about timing.’’
Ellis has been the steward of the Broncos’ organization since the start of the 2011 season when Bowlen stepped away from his day-to-day responsibilities. Is his succession plan in order?
“Brittany has to come in and work, let’s make that clear,’’ he said. “And it’s a challenge and I think even more challenging for a family member because the spotlight is on you.
“But in terms of what I’m doing, I’m going to follow through on what Pat asked me to do and carry out his plan. As he clearly asked me and asked the trustees -- specifically me, really, in terms of being the steward, as you put it, of the organization -- I’m going to follow through on what he expected out of me.
“I don’t know how long that’s going to take. I’m not really worried about it. I’m sure some people would like it to end sooner rather than later. But I know what Pat wanted and I’m going to follow through on that.’’
Mr. B was famous for predicting each year at the start of training camp his Broncos would go 16-0. Ellis is careful to carry on without infringing upon his boss’ legacy.
“I’m cautiously optimistic,’’ Ellis said. “Because I’ve been optimistic every year and we’ve had three years where we haven’t had the success that we’ve wanted. So you have to manage expectations a little bit.
“On the other hand, I think we’ve had a good offseason. But the proof of that comes when you start playing real games in September. That’s where you really going to start getting judged. Everybody’s undefeated today. But again the proof is in the results and that’s what our fans know and that’s what they expect. Their support has been unwavering. Now, 50 years of straight sellouts. Pretty amazing so we owe them some success.’’
