The Marshall Debate

Brandon Marshall. A name that has taken headlines away from names like Favre and Vick. Marshall has been suspended for the rest of the preseason for acts detrimental to the team. He has been acting severely immature. There is a video of him at practice walking while the rest of the players are running and punting a ball instead of handing it to the ball boy. Marshall has also not learned the new playbook. Although he says he’s not trying to force a trade, his acts clearly suggest he doesn’t want to be a Bronco unless he gets a new deal.

Now to the debate whether a team should trade for Marshall. Marshall has shown he is a talented number one receiver. There’s no questioning that. His maturity (or lack there of) and work ethic are what’s in question. It’s one thing to be unhappy with your contract but it’s another to act destructively and negatively impact the team that’s currently paying you, no matter the amount.

How would you say other teams view Marshall? Would they give up a first and fourth rounder for him? Does it matter that he is acting extremely immature in his malcontent?

If Marshall was traded to another team and received a new contract I’m sure he wouldn’t act like he is now. He would learn the playbook, be subordinate, take direction. I can’t say he’d behave off the field though.

When Cutler had his fallout with the Broncos people said they wouldn’t want him on their team because he’s a baby. Well if he came to your team he wouldn’t act like he did during the fallout. He be happy to be where he is. T.O. is the only player that has had multiple fallouts.

Reality is that players almost always win. They whine and pout until they get paid or get traded. Team’s don’t need poison in the locker room. They need players who are focused and happy to be where they are.

So would I take Marshall on my team? Are his abilities so overwhelming that I’d put up with his immaturity? Do the pros outweight the cons? I think so. Keep him happy and he performs like an all-pro. Nobody talks about what happened with Cutler anymore. He’s with the Bears and working hard.

Not every team can have 70 Mannings or 70 McNabbs. You have to choose between character and talent sometimes. In Marshall’s case, I would take the bad and good and hope he produces on the field and behaves.