The Denver Broncos fired head coach Nathaniel Hackett and two other members of the coaching staff on Monday.
Many fans and pundits have suggested that general manager George Paton should be fired, too, and there’s a case to be made for it.
Paton had a role in hiring Hackett, then he traded draft picks and players for quarterback Russell Wilson this offseason, and he gave Wilson a five-year, $242.5 million contract.
Hackett and Wilson were largely responsible for Denver’s struggles this year, and Paton hired both of them.
When team co-owner/CEO Greg Penner announced Hackett’s firing on Monday, though, he made it clear that Paton will remain with the club.
“I will lead our head coaching search with support from our ownership group and George, whom I have confidence in as our general manager,” Penner said in a statement.
Paton now appears poised to receive at least one more year of grace as he attempts to clean up the mess that he helped create.
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