Elway Sympathizes With Ex-Teammates John Elway's retirement started Denver's fall after two Super Bowl victories. Now, he says that Broncos coach Mike Shanahan hurt the team by mishandling the volatile quarterback situation. When Shanahan replaced Bubby Brister with second-year pro Brian Griese during the preseason, ``the players knew they weren't going to the Super Bowl,'' Elway told The Denver Post on Wednesday. ``And without that, they didn't have anything to really play for.'' Shanahan was widely criticized for promoting Griese over Brister, and his plan backfired as the Broncos lost their first four games and finished the season 6-10. Shanahan later admitted he could have done a better job handling the situation. Elway, in Atlanta to watch the Super Bowl and promote a new Web site with partners Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky, said it was hard watching his former teammates struggle through the season after two straight championships.Although his retirement hurt the Broncos, Elway said he is happy being a spectator after 16 NFL seasons. ``It was time for me to leave the game, and I have no regrets,'' he said. Elway has kept busy since announcing his retirement last May. He has helped coach his son's football team, played in golf tournaments and started MVP.com, an Internet sporting goods business with Jordan and Gretzky. Elway also was involved in an unsuccessful bid to buy the Denver Nuggets, the Colorado Avalanche and the Pepsi Center. A failed bid by Denver billionaire Donald Sturm again has piqued Elway's interest in the sports teams. Elway will be rooting for Tennessee when the Titans play the St. Louis Rams in the Super Bowl on Sunday. ``I'm an AFC guy,'' Elway said. ``Go, Titans.''