Elway Hands Xanders More Responsibility and Accountability

Brian Xanders is getting more responsibility and accountability in the Broncos’ new management structure according to the Associated Press.

John Elway’s first decision as the team’s new football czar was to retain Xanders, who was Denver’s general manager in name only during the Josh McDaniels era, and empower him with more say on personnel matters.

Elway didn’t even consider any other candidates for the job, saying he “deserved a chance.”

“We talked about that and really thought that Brian deserved a chance,” said Elway, who picked Xanders’ brain in a series of meetings over the last few weeks even as his own role as the team’s executive vice president was being defined.

Elway said Xanders’ system is a medley of those he learned over the years in the NFL that proved successful, and “I believe he deserves that opportunity to use that system and obviously he is going to be accountable. So, he will work hard and be diligent about it and I am confident that it will work out.”

Xanders will report to Elway in the Broncos’ new power structure, but Xanders will be the team’s main authority on the draft and roster decisions.

“Brian is a guy that is smart, he is organized, he is loyal, he is experienced, he has worked for a lot of great people and understands the game of football,” Elway said. “He was a player, he coached on offense, defense and has been in many personnel situations and he is going to lead up the personnel department.”