Denver Broncos' first day of training camp was heartbreaking as general manager John Elway announced that owner Pat Bowlen was giving up control of the football team.

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A choked-up Elway said that "This place will never be the same." As 70-year-old Bowlen went to work every single day constantly overseeing the daily activities of the team.

Elway played quarterback for the team from 1984-1998 and have won two back-to-back Super Bowl trophies. Bowlen gave Elway the Lombardi Trophy when they first won the Super Bowl.

Bowlen has entrusted the team to Broncos president Joe Ellis and will take-over as Chief Executive Officer (CEO). He will have final say on all matters pertaining to the franchise.

Bowen had setup a trust more than 10 years ago stating that ownership of the franchise is held in hopes that one of his seven children will one day control the Broncos.

Annabel, Bowlen's wife, and five of his children met up with Ellis this week.

Ellis said to Annabel and his children that the fans and the football community deserved to know what was going on and the family gave consent to let the public know of what they have being dealing with for several years now.

The family is with Bowlen during this agonizing time as Alzheimer disease is already in its advance stages and "the future person or child that sits in their father's seat is not in the front or the back of their mind right now," said Ellis.

Bowlen acknowledge of suffering from dementia or short-term memory loss in 2009, he promoted Ellis to president in 2011 so that he would take over of the day-to-day operations of the Broncos.

Ellis was instrumental in the signing of quarterback Peyton Manning in a five-year-contract worth US$ 96 million in 2012 and was part of the decision-making process when a US$ 35 million upgrade to the Broncos' headquarters in Englewood was made.

Tagspat bowlen, john elway, peyton manning, joe ellis