Bates Walks Away After Just One Year as Broncos Defensive Coordinator

As the Broncos defense got worse and worse in 2007, it got harder and harder for Jim Bates to take it.  On Tuesday, the job got to be too much, and Bates decided he had enough, quitting as Broncos defensive coordinator after just one season.  “I had the opportunity to stay,” Bates said in a written statement. “(Coach Mike Shanahan) has been very fair with me, and the final decision, for the Broncos and for me, was to step aside.”  The team was an awful 19th in overall defense, and worse yet was 30th against the run.  Bates had had previous stints with the Packers and Dolphins, but with the Broncos the defense was not good enough to get the team even to .500 as they ended the year 7-9.  No word on who will take over for Bates.