Bronco Coach Reeves Isn’t Fit to Be Tied Anymore

It’s a truism among football coaches that you can get away with nearly anything as long as you win. Dan Reeves, however, isn’t going to test that theory by wearing a gray fedora on the sidelines.

Since he started wearing a tie earlier this year, Reeves has coached the Denver Broncos to a 5-1 record (they’re 6-2 overall and tied with the Raiders for first place in the AFC West going into this week’s game against the Chargers).

The tie--lots of orange in it, naturally--went over OK with Denver fans, but a man has to draw the line somewhere. A hat would be too much in the image of Tom Landry, and Reeves, who played and was an assistant coach for Landry at Dallas, doesn’t want to be a Cowboy clone.

Reeves hadn’t exactly disgraced himself in the days when he wore an open-neck shirt to work. After all, the Broncos were 13-3 a year ago, which got them into the playoffs, and inspired a couple of million extra words from the Denver media.

Problem was, Reeves had this awful temper. It was a wonder he hadn’t beaten Stan Albeck and Chuck Daly to the punch. He thought a tie somehow might help curb the temper.

“He’s got one of the quickest tempers I’ve ever seen,” said quarterback John Elway, at whom numerous Reeves tirades were directed the past two seasons. “I’d say he’s a lot like Mike Ditka in that respect.”

The tie has done wonders for their relationship, according to the quarterback.

“His fuse is a little longer with me now,” Elway said. “He’s a little calmer, a little easier on me.”

Thanks to the new wrinkle in his coaching wardrobe, Reeves figures he may live to see the age of 50.

“The tie seems to help,” Reeves said Wednesday, with tongue in cheek. “I’m having fewer outbursts. I’d like to live to be out of my 40s.”

Going for a tie ultimately isn’t going to affect the way his pass rushers perform, or the accuracy of Elway’s passing. In both respects, Reeves can breathe easily, even as he wraps his cravat around his neck.

The Denver defense, which for a decade has been close to the best in pro football, is living up to tradition again this year. This isn’t going to ease the ache in Dan Fouts’ bones, but the Broncos are likely to come after him just the way the Raiders did Monday night.

“We’ve been able to pressure the quarterback without having to do a lot of blitzing this year,” Reeves said. “That helps our coverage in the secondary.

“Rulon Jones (defensive end) is having about as good a year as any lineman I’ve seen, from the standpoint of playing both the run and pass. Barney Chavous and Rubin Carter have been real steady, and Andre Townsend has given us some extra quickness and speed. “

Defense, Denver-style, is the perfect antidote for Reeves’ wrath.

“It’s the key to controlling a game,” Reeves said, echoing a sentiment heard frequently in San Diego. “You win with defense. You get people in the stands because you have an offense.”

Ditka and the Chicago Bears no doubt would agree. The Chargers might take exception.

At any rate, offense is getting its fair share of attention in Denver these days.

Thanks to the development of Elway, now in his third season, the Bronco following has something to do when the defense isn’t stuffing rival quarterbacks.

“The key statistic with John is winning,” Reeves said. “A lot of quarterbacks throw for big yardage, but John isn’t interested in stats and he isn’t selfish about just doing what it takes to win. “

Elway ranks second among AFC quarterbacks in completions (152) and yards (1,900), and he’s thrown for 12 touchdowns.

“I’m getting better,” he said Wednesday. “I’m coming on. I’m happy with my progress. “

An off-season weight training program added some needed bulk and has helped Elway endure the pounding. Even though he’s had a sore knee much of the year, Elway has missed only one play, when he had the wind knocked out of him.

Reeves said not long ago that Elway had learned how to win. Questioned about that statement, the quarterback seemed a little puzzled, but let it go without an argument. No reason to get the coach mad. He doesn’t wear a tie except on game days.

Charger Notes Coach Don Coryell expects to have every player on the roster healthy for this week’s game. Wide receiver Wes Chandler won’t practice much this week because a three-week old cut in his ankle still tends to bleed. However, he will be able to play against Denver. . . .Quarterback Dan Fouts is sore from the pounding inflicted by the Raiders and will take it easy this week. While he rests, Mark Herrmann will get most of the work in practice, Coryell said.