Englewood, Colo. ? The Denver Broncos wanted Josh McDaniels to bring the New England Patriots’ winning ways with him to the Rocky Mountains when they hired Bill Belichick’s brash, young disciple 22 months ago.

What they got instead was the ash-gray hoodie and their very own videotaping scandal to go with a pile of losses and personnel blunders that cost him his job not even halfway through his four-year contract.

McDaniels was fired Monday in the midst of the franchise’s worst skid in four decades.

Running backs coach Eric Studesville will serve as interim coach for the final month, succeeding McDaniels, 34, whose hiring by team owner Pat Bowlen in January 2009 is now viewed as a big mistake.

“My decision to relieve Josh McDaniels as head coach was not taken lightly. I will always be appreciative of his passion, enthusiasm and hard work, and I thank him for his efforts,” Bowlen said in a statement after firing McDaniels with two years left on his contract.

“In the end, I was not satisfied with the results and the direction this team was headed. The decision to make a change was extremely difficult but one that needed to be made for this organization and our fans,” Bowlen added.

The rest of his staff, including McDaniels’ brother, Ben, who tutors the quarterbacks, will stay on for the final four games.