Brandon Marshall Reportedly Calls Out Jay Cutler and Others in Locker Room

Updates from Tuesday, Oct. 21 

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio provides Brandon Marshall's comments after calling out his teammates following Week 7's loss to the Miami Dolphins:

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Absolutely my voice was heard,” Marshall said, via quotes distributed by Showtime.  “The only thing I regret is that the door wasn’t closed.  I wouldn’t change any of my reactions, because they came from my heart and that’s how I felt and that’s how I still feel.  I think we have all the coaches we need.  I think we have all the players that we need to get the job done. And 3-4 is unacceptable, but we have everything that we need to turn this ship right now.

The problem right now is that we are not performing to our ability.  We just need to gel, we need to continue to come together, but the time is now.  We are halfway through the season and if any locker room has the guys to get it done, we do. . . .  We can get this thing turned around.

 

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Updates from Monday, Oct. 20

The Bears provided a statement from head coach Marc Trestman discussing potential turmoil within the Bears' locker room:

Original Text

Chicago Bears star wide receiver Brandon Marshall was upset in the aftermath of the team's 27-14 Week 7 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday at Soldier Field.    

Marshall was reportedly vocal in the locker room and even criticized his longtime quarterback Jay Cutler, who has played with Marshall in both Chicago and Denver. Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com has the details.

"Yelling could be heard from outside the double doors, and a source said receiver Brandon Marshall called out quarterback Jay Cutler," writes Wright. "The source said there 'are some very selfish individuals in the locker room.'"

Wright's report also features quotes from Marshall at the postgame press conference, when he was asked about the apparent internal controversy:

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OK, were you in here? Were you in this locker room? This is a team matter. That has nothing to do with you. There's a lot of guys this means a lot to. We're 3-4. We need to play better. That's unacceptable. That's unacceptable. Unacceptable; shouldn't have lost today, shouldn't be 3-4. [The] offense [has] got to play better. It's as simple as that.

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Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times provides insight into some of the comments Marshall allegedly shouted in the locker room:

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Will you fight with your heart!”

“Do your job!”

“You just kick the ball!”

[...]

Gould described the situation as “all good.”

“Everyone is all right,” Gould said. “It’s a good locker room. We’ve got a lot great guys in here. Guys are ready to get back to work [on Monday].

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The Bears offense did have an underwhelming day in front of the home fans. Cutler completed 21 of 34 passes, but for just 190 yards, and turned it over twice. Chicago possessed the ball for just 22:38 and couldn't find a rhythm, though Marshall did haul in six receptions for 48 yards on 10 targets.

Longtime NFL reporter Dan Pompei weighed in on the state of the 2014 Bears:

So in that context, perhaps there is a silver lining to be had in the Windy City. It is critical for Chicago to get back on track soon, because Green Bay and Detroit are tied atop the NFC North division with a 5-2 record—already two full games ahead of the Bears just shy of the season's midway point.

Plenty of talent exists on offense between the cannon-armed Cutler, a great receiver duo in Marshall and Alshon Jeffery and a top-flight, all-purpose running back in Matt Forte. Coach Marc Trestman has revamped the offense since he took over as coach and will have to address issues on that side of the ball right away.

Week 8 offers an intense challenge on the road against the mighty New England Patriots, arguably the NFL's paragon of consistency and winning football.

It will take all the resolve this Bears nucleus can muster to bounce back from a poor performance at home, but a victory in Foxborough would be monumental and momentous entering a Week 9 bye.