Is the Broncos' mess Pat Bowlen's fault?

Pat Bowlen is frequently referred to as one of the best owners in professional sports -- at least in these parts. But in a recent item (dubbed "too short for a column:), he's slapped around plenty by someone who's observed the Broncos closely over the years: ESPN's Rick Reilly, a...

By Michael Roberts

September 2, 2009

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Pat Bowlen is frequently referred to as one of the best owners in professional sports -- at least in these parts. But in a recent item (dubbed "too short for a column:), he's slapped around plenty by someone who's observed the Broncos closely over the years: ESPN's Rick Reilly, a Westword profile subject last year, who still spends a considerable amount of his time in Denver. Reilly notes that the 65-year-old Bowlen recently admitted to "short-term memory loss," then points out that three separate sources have contradicted the owner's claim that Jay Cutler never called him back during the petulant one's squabble with the team earlier this year. The ultimate decision to trade Cutler and rely on what Reilly refers to as a couple of "Salvation Army QBs," Kyle Orton and Chris Simms (both of whom are injured right now, making a horrific situation worse), "will cost the franchise for years to come," he concludes.

Obviously, there'll be a lot of blame to go around this season. Expect Bowlen to get more than his share.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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