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Josh McDaniels capitalizes on second stint with Brady, Belichick

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Josh McDaniels didn't know what he didn't know.

In 2009, he was the baby-faced 32-year-old prodigy plucked out of Bill Belichick's roost and Tom Brady's shadow to serve as Mike Shanahan's replacement in Denver, holding down two jobs he'd never had: head coach and de facto general manager.

He'd trade away his starting quarterback, draft Tim Tebow and win his first six games, including one against his mentor. But he was fired halfway through his four-year contract, losing 17 of his next 22 games and presiding over his very own videotape scandal.

The Broncos blamed themselves for giving McDaniels too much power with so little experience.