Marshall posts Broncos farewell “Clearing the Air”
The McDaniels Era in Denver has thus far been defined by an ego clash that chased the Broncos’ franchise quarterback out of town. Thanks to Brandon Marshall and Pat Bowlen, the Broncos can move beyond that tumultuous time in team history… and on to a fresh crisis.
Brandon Marshall bid farewell to Broncos Nation on Tuesday afternoon via a short post on his website. Marshall’s “Beast Blog” featured the entry four days after a meeting with team owner Pat Bowlen led to rumors that Brandon had requested a trade. Head Coach Josh McDaniels, once again exhibiting his awesome power to deny reality until it slaps him in the face, said that he is looking “forward to having Brandon at training camp.”
Marshall’s tiff with the team began last season with a supposed misdiagnosis of a hip injury that eventually required offseason surgery. Citing his resultant mistrust of the Broncos’ medical staff, Marshall decided to rehab from his Orlando, Florida home, additionally skipping the mandatory spring mini-camp at Dove Valley.
The root of “The Beast’s” beef with the Broncos is his $2.2 million salary, however. The four-year rookie deal that paid him $1.5 million over his first three pro years automatically increased to $2.2 million for this season after Brandon’s Pro Bowl appearance after last season. For a young player recovering from his first injury, even the increased salary does not look like enough. Especially considering that the viability of a skill player in the NFL is always one bad injury away from evaporating.
As Bowlen mulls his decision whether to pay the talented young Marshall or ship him off, he should consider two things. First, as much as Patty wants to turn the Broncos into Patriots West, Denver is not New England. Colorado fans want franchise players not a system team that discards talent as soon as price becomes a factor. And second, Kyle Orton is no Tom Brady. Hell, he’s no Jay Cutler. Without a powerful receiving corps anchored by Marshall, this revamped Broncos offense will get thoroughly stomped by the better defenses in the league. Boy Wonder McDaniels might believe in his ability to run his options offense without his best options, but Broncos fans do not.
