Well, apparently, Burger King isn't the only place you can "Have it your way."

Might as well go ahead and add Dove Valley to your list.

Consider the two sides of Shanahan.

There is a very good possibility the Broncos will finish this season with a losing record. They are 6-8 today, with a road game at San Diego and a home game with Minnesota left on the docket.

If they fail to sweep those two games, it will be Shanahan's only second losing season in 13 years. Think about that. In a league where you can go from from top to bottom as easily as you can rocket from the bottom to the top, his level of stability is phenomenal. In those 13 years, he has won two Super Bowls and led the Broncos to four AFC Championship games. That is the extremely strong emperical evidence supporting Shanahan.

However, here's the other, rarely-discussed side. In his last two years, the team will have made no playoff appearances. They finished 2006 at 9-7 and will finish this season at either 8-8, 7-9, or 6-10. In both of those years, not to mention, every year Shanahan has been in charge, the goal is to win it all.

So, correct me if I am wrong here: you can't win the Super Bowl if you don't make the playoffs, right?

Even though the "Mastermind" has done a rather masterful job here, after 13 years, everything from head coaches to potato chips, goes stale eventually.

Do I think it is time for a change? Yes and no.

I think Shanahan is a very good coach and with owner Pat Bowlen essentially giving him a lifetime pass to be head coach, that won't change anytime soon, and I don't think it should.

It reminds me of the old adage, "You never realize how much you need something until it's gone." If Shanahan leaves, you can almost bet every team with an opening in the professional and college ranks will be interested.

The reason Shanahan finds himself in this mess is, ultimately, because of what he has said and done.

He said the goal is to get to the Super Bowl. His quarterback, Jay Cutler echoed that same sentiment in training camp. However, you can't lose to teams by 38 (Chargers), 37 (Lions), and in your biggest game of the season to date, get whipped by a team missing its starting quarterback and running back (Texans).

Thanks to the Lions getting crushed by the Chargers, the way the Lions throttled the Broncos, Denver's playoff hopes are officially more lame than the Miami Dolphins offense.

That being said, it means the rest of 2007 starts to become a training ground for 2008. Will defensive coordinator Jim Bates return? That is the big question.

I say yes. It appears as though the players haven't gotten his scheme down after 14 weeks. In his tenure in Green Bay and Miami, his players were flat out flourishing by week 14.

I have said it before and I will say it again: It is easier to bring in one new defensive coach as opposed to 11 new defensive players. But lay the blame where it belongs, on the players. In recent weeks, some guys have been out of position, which is inexcusable. Other players though, have been in position and are just flat out missing or not making tackles. Coaches can't play, they coach. This is the NFL, wrap somebody up like your job depends on it. Shanahan said as much on Thursday night. He told his players if the effort isn't there, you're not likely to be back.

Shanahan, however, will be back, to the chagrin of some. Not me, though. He deserves to coach this team and fix this problem. His tremendous track record has earned him that. However, I do not support his unconditional power to stay as long as he likes, because no matter how dilligently somebody works, no sense of urgency can lead to a feeling of complacency. Do I think that might happen here? No. Can I guarantee that? No.

On the "Arby's Sports Replay" last night, both Marc Soicher and Rocky Mountain News columnist Dave Krieger agreed that Shanahan would not cede his authority on personnel to focus on coaching. I agree with them. Any form of contrition, on or off the field, would be out of character for him.

Then again, so is a losing record. The question now becomes, can he survive any more of them?

Have a great Monday!

-"Z"