Broncos legend asks punk band 'Elway' to change its name

The punk rock band thought it was a way to honor its Colorado roots. Apparently, John Elway has a different opinion on the name change.

"Elway" has been asked through a letter to change the group's name after the Hall of Fame quarterback's representatives caught wind of its act.

Lead singer Tim Browne finds it flattering that Elway, the chief football executive of the Denver Broncos, has taken notice of a band that routinely plays "in front of about 30 people in a basement." But Brown says the four-man group from Fort Collins, Colo., plans to keep the name.

Browne's band switched from "10-4 Eleanor" to "Elway" last November, and the change has generated plenty of talk of late.

"None of us really care about football that much," Browne said Saturday in a phone interview with The Associated Press a night after performing at a small venue in Philadelphia. "It's not a direct reference to John Elway. We make no mention of him in records or in our art work. He's local color, part of the local vernacular that people understand."

Browne doesn't quite understand the fuss, but certainly appreciates the attention, even suggesting he'll give Elway a raise for all the publicity the flap has generated.

A phone message was left seeking comment from Elway's representatives.

Browne said the letter strongly urged the band to change its name, but it didn't include a cease and desist order.

"They're banking on us being idiots and that we wouldn't talk to a lawyer," Browne said. "They wanted us to email them back when we change the band's name. I haven't even responded to them. It's blown my mind that it's gotten this big."

The group is scheduled to play in Indianapolis, St. Louis and Kansas City, Mo., before returning in mid-June to Fort Collins, about an hour's drive north of Denver.

"We're just guys living in a van, driving across the country, playing shows with next to nobody (in the audience)," Browne said. "And then this multimillion dollar successful business man, Hall of Fame football player gets so mortified that a punk band would use his last name? It's an incredible shock it happened.

"We're not out to get John Elway. This situation is hilarious and he needs to loosen up. Life's too short to worry about a punk rock band using your name."

Browne wasn't a big sports fan growing up. But since he lived in the area and Elway was the face of the Broncos, the face of the state for that matter, he did pay attention to the beloved quarterback.

Elway led the Broncos to back-to-back Super Bowl championships before retiring in 1999. He returned to the team in January to begin restoring the franchise's tarnished image and bring back its winning ways.

He also is a successful entrepreneur, operating a popular steakhouse in town bearing his name.

"It's kind of hard not to know much about him living in Colorado," Browne said. "But I really have no interest in meeting him."

In addition to Browne, the group also includes bass player Joe Henderer, drummer Garrett Carr and guitarist Brian Van Proyen.

And while Elway the quarterback once played in sold-out stadiums, "Elway" the band barely fills a venue.

"We're slouches," Browne said, laughing. "But we're not the worst slouches in the world. We're doing what we can. We're about having a good time, not trying to steal money out of anyone's pocket.

"We're so small that it confounds me thoroughly why anyone would try to legally strong-arm us."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Phillips out, Garrett in as Cowboys look for culture change

IRVING, Texas -- Jerry Jones never wanted to change coaches this season. As the blowout losses mounted, and Wade Phillips' defense was mostly to blame, the owner-general manager of the Dallas Cowboys had no choice.

Jones fired Phillips on Monday and promoted offensive coordinator Jason Garrett to take over the 1-7 club on an interim basis. Defensive line coach Paul Pasqualoni was promoted to replace Phillips' other role as defensive coordinator.

Jones decided enough was enough following a 45-7 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night. It was the Cowboys' fifth straight loss and the third straight that wasn't even close.

"I recognized that after the game we just weren't playing winning football and our best chance was to make a change," Jones said.

This is the first time Dallas has made an in-season coaching change. Garrett also becomes the first former Cowboys player to take over the job previously held by the likes of Tom Landry, Jimmy Johnson and Bill Parcells.

The 44-year-old Garrett has never been a head coach on any level. Yet he sure seemed ready judging by the confidence displayed at his introductory news conference.

"Wade is no longer the coach. I am the coach and what we're going to do going forward (is) get ready to have a great meeting, a great walkthrough and a great practice on Wednesday and give ourselves a chance to beat the Giants on Sunday," Garrett said.

Garrett certainly is different from Phillips -- younger, offensive-oriented and far more businesslike. He made it clear things will be done his way without giving many specifics.

"There'll be some changes that I think will be tangible that people in our organization will notice right from the start," Garrett said. "I just think the personality of the leader will come through a little bit."

Jones steadfastly supported Phillips throughout the team's tailspin, even saying late last week that he wouldn't make a coaching change this season. He said Monday he'd been "in denial" about how bad the club really is.

The first five losses had all been by a touchdown or less, which showed players were still fighting. But now the defense has allowed at least 35 points in three straight games, which hadn't happened since Dallas went 0-11-1 in its inaugural season, 1960. Stranger still, the unit -- personally overseen by Phillips -- features nearly all the same players who closed last season with the first back-to-back shutouts in club history.

"It really was paramount in my thinking that we would make adjustments and have our defense more productive," Jones said.

This is the Cowboys' worst season since 1989. It's destined to be among the worst in franchise history considering Dallas was coming off a division title and a playoff win and was expected to contend for the Super Bowl that'll be held at Cowboys Stadium. They also have among the highest payrolls in the NFL.

"I told (players) they should not think this an admission of defeat or finality in this season," Jones said. "We have eight games left and we have one goal -- to win."

Jones was clearly unhappy and uncomfortable. He spoke slower than usual, with longer pauses, and fiddled with his glasses throughout a 22-minute news conference.

He called Phillips "somebody we thought so much of" and "a good friend, as well." He wouldn't provide details of his conversation with Phillips, and became emotional as he described breaking the news to the team. He said the focus of that speech was accountability.

"I spoke of the realization that it's not just about yourself," Jones said. "It impacts others."

It's worth noting that Garrett's unit hasn't been much better than Phillips', and that goes back to before starting quarterback Tony Romo broke his collarbone on Oct. 25.

However, Garrett was No. 2 on the coaching depth chart and Jones has always thought highly of him. He's been viewed as the team's coach-in-waiting since he was hired -- days before Phillips came aboard, in fact. He's among the highest-paid assistants in the league at $3 million.

"I do believe Jason has the temperament, he has the disposition to affect a culture change," Jones said. "I think this is important. We know all men's styles are different. His style is one that I feel can be very effective."

Garrett was a backup quarterback behind Troy Aikman from 1993-99. He was the quarterbacks coach in Miami in 2005-06 before rejoining the club in 2007.

He's had the title of assistant head coach since 2008, when he withdrew from other interviews to remain in Dallas. His father, Jim, spent 22 years in the organization, working for every coach but Phillips. Two of Jason's brothers are on his staff: tight ends coach John and Judd, the director of pro scouting.

"I think he's very consistent, very to the routine. I like him as a coach," receiver Miles Austin said. "Hopefully it changes things for the better."

Even if Jones wanted to make Garrett the permanent coach right now, he couldn't because of the Rooney Rule, which requires interviewing minority candidates. Still, Garrett obviously has a chance to show what he can do starting Sunday.

"I want to see the kind of effort (involved) in playing to win -- extraordinary effort, that you might not expect to see on a team that's 1-7 right now," Jones said. "That kind of action goes beyond a resume."

The 63-year-old Phillips went 34-22 over 3 1/2 seasons, plus 1-2 in the postseason. Dallas won the NFC East twice on his watch. He has another year at more than $3 million left on his contract.

His career record as a coach with Dallas, Denver and Buffalo is 79-57, with only one losing record in eight full seasons. He made the playoffs five times, but won only one playoff game. Counting a 3-4 mark over two stints as an interim coach, Phillips has 82 regular-season wins, matching his father, former Houston and New Orleans coach Bum Phillips.

Wade Phillips released a statement thanking the fans and the Jones family "for all of the support" and thanking assistant coaches and players "for their loyalty and dedication."

"I told the team today that I have been proud to be a part of their family and that will never change," Phillips said. "I am disappointed in the results of this season to this point, but I am also very proud of what our team and our players accomplished in the previous three years. In good times and difficult times, our players stuck together and never lost hold of their belief in each other and the strong team bond that they have shared."

This leadership handoff wasn't very smooth.

Jones told Phillips around 1:45 p.m., shortly before players arrived at team headquarters. The story was first reported about that time by KTVT of Dallas-Fort Worth, so many players found out through the media.

About 2:15 p.m., Phillips walked through the hallway near team headquarters and said nothing was going on, that he was just going to check on injured players; he indeed went to the training room. Players finally heard it officially from Jerry and Stephen Jones around 3 p.m.

"It feels terrible that it has gotten to that point at the midpoint of the season," quarterback Jon Kitna said. "We have a chance to do something about it going forward. But it doesn't change magically overnight. ... I've said it since I got here -- this is the most talented team I've been around. But talent isn't the only ingredient."

Defensive players took it even more personally because they worked closest with Phillips.

Jay Ratliff went from a backup defensive lineman under Parcells to Pro Bowl nose tackle under Phillips, so he was especially upset.

"We fought like hell for him," Ratliff said. "Things just didn't go our way."

Pasqualoni was coach at Syracuse from 1987-2004, then joined the Cowboys as a tight ends coach under Parcells. He switched to linebackers in '06 and '07, Phillips' first season, then spent the last two seasons as defensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins. He returned to Dallas earlier this year.

"I think that Paul's disposition, his approach, his skill ... brings something to the table to institute for us this week, next week and the next eight weeks," Jones said.

Speculation will persist on the club's next permanent leader. Obvious candidates include former Super Bowl winners Bill Cowher and Jon Gruden, both working in broadcasting.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Bailey's future uncertain after Broncos change contract tact

The Broncos have ceased contract negotiations with Champ Bailey, The Denver Post reported Thursday, increasing the likelihood that the nine-time Pro Bowl cornerback is playing his final season in Denver.

"I am disappointed because I want to be here," Bailey said. "We know that, they know that. What's the issue here, really?"

Bailey, 32, is in the final year of a seven-year contract. He said his agent, Jack Reale, and the Broncos were close to finalizing a four-year extension that Bailey didn't really like, but he said he was willing to accept it to stay in Denver.

Then the Broncos suddenly broke off talks Tuesday, according to Reale.

"We were scheduled for a discussion on the contract offer they had recently e-mailed me," Reale said. "Before we had a chance for discussion, I received a call saying they wanted to put it off and wait until the end of the season. That is certainly their option, and while not pleased, since no player likes playing in the last year of his contract, we respect their right to pursue that approach.

"Champ will do what he always does. Play hard, give 100 percent, keep quiet and lead this team."

Broncos coach Josh McDaniels declined to comment on Bailey's contract situation.

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