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Message: <blockquote data-quote="PackerLegend" data-source="post: 129608" data-attributes="member: 518">Ex-Packers' coordinator hired to run Broncos' defenseBy Len PasquarelliESPN.comJust one day after dismissing defensive coordinator Larry Coyer, Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan on Wednesday night reached a contract agreement with longtime NFL assistant coach Jim Bates to run a unit that collapsed over the second half of the 2006 season.Substantive negotiations between the two sides began on Wednesday afternoon and an accord was quickly struck. Details of Bates' contract were not yet available, but the deal almost certainly will make him one of the game's highest paid assistant coaches.It is believed that Bates will receive the title of assistant head coach/defense and that Denver will promote current secondary coach Bob Slowik to defensive coordinator. Those titles aside, it will be Bates who will oversee the defensive side of the ball.Bates, 61, is widely respected around the NFL. He sat out the 2006 season after reaching a settlement on his contract with the Green Bay Packers. He had interviewed for the Packers' head coach position after the 2005 season, but the job went to Mike McCarthy instead. Although there were discussions about retaining Bates for McCarthy's staff, the two men agreed that was not a good idea.During his long professional career, Bates has been a defensive coordinator four times and he was interim head coach of the Miami Dolphins in 2004, after Dave Wannstedt resigned, and compiled a 3-4 record. A number of Dolphins veterans have been lobbying for team officials to interview Bates for Miami's current opening, but he never became a candidate there.In his year away from the game, Bates said several times he hoped to return to the league in 2007.He began his professional coaching career in the USFL in 1984, and has served on NFL staffs at Cleveland (1991-93, 1995), Atlanta (1994), Dallas (1996-99), Miami (2000-2004) and Green Bay (2005). His son, Jeremy, is an offensive assistant on Shanahan's staff.Coyer was dismissed on Tuesday after four seasons as coordinator.Slowik, 52, has been on the Denver staff since 2005 and has also been a coordinator.Senior writer Len Pasquarelli covers the NFL for ESPN.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report.</blockquote>

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