OK, So Reeves Wasn’t Fired, but This Will Fire Him Up

It must be fun, and I am sure it sells papers, to play up the Dan Reeves-Mike Shanahan rivalry, but here’s the view from someone who was in Denver at the time.

Reeves wasn’t technically fired. His contract expired, and it wasn’t renewed. I am sure Reeves thinks he was fired, and I am sure he was upset. He owned the town, at least along with John Elway. After he was “fired,” owner Pat Bowlen offered the job to Shanahan, who turned it down. The reason he gave was that he didn’t want to appear to be profiting from Reeves’ departure.

So Bowlen hired Wade Phillips, who at least had the sense to open up the offense. After a couple of disappointing seasons Phillips was really fired. Only then did Shanahan accept the job.

Now that I am back in L.A., I can watch the Broncos and marvel how far they have come from when I lived there. You watch the offense, and it is like watching an artist paint a picture. Everything works, and with wonderful balance. It is the closest thing to watching the 49ers during their best Walsh-Seifert days.

As for Reeves, can you remember the Bronco No. 1 picks during his last few years? Here’s one--a certain underclassman quarterback from UCLA named Tommy Maddox.

Reeves may have gotten good results from low-round picks, but it was more because his high-round picks were never around because they didn’t pan out. He was a good coach but a poor judge of talent. But he wouldn’t relinquish that part of his job.

The Falcons may be good this year, but wait a couple for when Reeves’ picks start to fill up the roster. I, for one, don’t think they will be able to follow up on this season’s success.

GEORGE BRENNAN

Riverside

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I hope the Atlanta Falcons score nothing but field goals against Denver on Sunday, so I won’t have to see some guy, who is just doing his job, do “the Dirty Bird.” I have a great deal of respect for Dan Reeves and would eventually like to see him get a Super Bowl ring, but leave it to Atlanta to come up with yet another dumb annoyance (like the tomahawk chop) to make me root for the other team.

DAVE DOLNICK

Thousand Oaks

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Had Jerry Crowe’s “Raising a Yellow Flag” [Jan. 24] simply been a review of questionable calls this year in the NFL, that would be fine. But the subhead, “If Ever a Case Could Be Made for Instant Replay, the Exhibits Below Are Compelling Evidence,” doesn’t make any sense.

Actually, four of the nine calls to which Mr. Crowe referred--two in the Bills-Patriots game--would not even have been reviewed by replay because they were judgment calls (pass interference). And two more, Andre Reed’s non-touchdown and Jerry Rice’s fumble, probably would not have been overturned because, in Reed’s case, replays were inconclusive, and in Rice’s case, an official’s whistle had likely blown before the ball was recovered, ending the play.

I too believe that instant replay should be used in some form, but it’s important to realize that it won’t be a cure-all for the ills of NFL officiating.

JEFF ANDERSON

Los Angeles

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Regarding T.J. Simers’ fan who was impressed with his ability to “pick” Atlanta to meet Denver, I feel it only fair to point out some of T.J.’s other predictions for this last season:

1. San Francisco would not make the playoffs “for years.”

2. San Francisco would lose in the first round of the playoffs.

3. San Francisco would go to the NFC championship game and lose to Green Bay.

4. San Francisco would go to the Super Bowl and lose to Kansas City.

If this fan was impressed with T.J.’s psychic ability, he ought to see me pick a number from 1 to 10 (provided I get 10 tries).

MICHAEL TOWN

Venice