Broncos owner Pat Bowlen giving up control due to Alzheimer’s

Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen is giving up control of the team because of Alzheimer’s disease. The 70-year-old Bowlen, who bought the team in 1984, will no longer be a part of the club’s daily operations, the Broncos announced Wednesday. Team President Joe Ellis is adding the title of chief executive officer and will have final say on all matters. The Broncos say the ownership of the franchise is held in a trust Bowlen set up more than a decade ago in hopes that one of his seven children will one day run the team. Business is expected to go on as usual at Broncos headquarters. Bowlen had reduced his public appearances in recent years. After acknowledging in 2009 that he suffered short-term memory loss, he stepped back from day-to-day operations in 2011 when he promoted Ellis to president. – AP