The Brandon Marshall Trade: Get What You Can

When Denver Broncos coach Josh McDaniels benched Brandon Marshall and Tony Scheffler, idiotic headlines reverberated around the country claiming McDaniels put himself before the team. The majority of these pieces were written by lazy slugs with the attention span of a fruit fly.

Few bothered to look into the matter more closely, for if they had, they would realize the team captains met with McDaniels earlier that week and these players were behind the decision 100 percent. Champ Bailey even insinuated later that Marshall wasn't doing what was asked of him. I don't know about you, but I'll take the word of a Champ Bailey or Brian Dawkins any day over Marshall, or some lazy, overpaid journalist trying to "elicit a reaction."

I could sit here and list Brandon Marshall's past transgressions, altercations, and buffoonery, but I won't waste your time, or mine. Besides, the list would push my prolific writing straight down off the page—and we wouldn't want that.

Brandon Marshall is a me-first prima donna player, he is a locker room cancer, and he isn't worth Larry Fitzgerald type money. He is a big target and a great possession receiver who often manages good yards after the catch. He is no dynamic, down field threat likened to a Fitzgerald. He sometimes disappears in games he should dominate and has his share of dropped balls. Marshall is simply a good piece of a puzzle and could help a contending team bring their offense to the next level.

He is a piece, an addition, you don't bank your offense around Marshall's talent or attitude.

I am convinced that some of these internet pundits claiming Brandon Marshall is the best receiver in the league have an exceedingly poor sense of judgment. People with a brain in their head watched Jabar Gaffney take over Marshall's spot in the Broncos final game against the Chiefs, and he played very well. There were many other reasons the Broncos lost that game and Marshall's absence was not one of them, his absence was not much of a factor.

The Broncos will be fine without Brandon Marshall. Esteemed Denver journalists dig up Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall's 2008 numbers like they were something special. First, the defense was horrible. Second, Jay Cutler was constantly on the field throwing and playing catch-up after the opposing teams scored touchdowns (whether it be the defense's fault or Cutler's for getting picked off). Despite "marvelous" offensive statistics, the Broncos finished 8-8 in 2008 and 7-9 the previous year.

Marshall broke a receiving record in the Colts game. This might be significant to Broncos fans if we actually won the game. I'll take being able to run the football when it matters over Marshall being on our team any day. The money we could have mistakenly thrown at him this offseason would be better spent on a new interior offensive line. Or a new receiver or two who aren't asking for $50 million plus.

The Broncos can get Marshall's production out of two wide receivers (who will cost much less). Brandon Marshall's production is replaceable. Elvis Dumervil's talent and production is not easily replaced, and that is why we will give him what he wants in addition to the fact that he is a professional.

The "best" offensive weapon on the 2009 Denver Broncos team was benched before a game with playoff implications.

This fact and his history should tell you everything you need to know.

Josh McDaniels had the stones to stand on principle by benching Marshall. He wasn't going to take Marshall and Scheffler's garbage and smile because they were "star players." What kind of message would that send to young players? Especially from a young coach? Do you want to send the message "if you're good enough, in time, you can act like this too?"

Letting the cancer of Brandon Marshall spread as a Bronco in 2010 would be a mistake.

Brandon Marshall should be traded or cut. All of these grandiose ideas about getting "fair trade value," should be thrown out the window. I am confident our coach and organization will make the right decision.

Brandon Marshall is overrated.

Marshall is one minor misstep away from a multiple game suspension.

Marshall is probably one major misstep away from being Pacman Jones.

Marshall is not a professional.

Brandon Marshall is a risk. The Denver Broncos will and should get what they can. The very best I could see happening is tendering him high and getting a first and third round draft pick from some team if they are desperate enough. I hope they are. I'm sure wherever he goes it will just be a matter of time before the Terrell Owens-style meltdown. If he manages to stay in the league, he will likely bounce from team to team.

Marshall is baby T.O.

Marshall is a risk, Marshall is a poison.

If it comes to getting just a second rounder in return for Marshall: do it.

If there's absolutely no takers? Cut him.

If we cut him I can just see the headlines: McDaniels runs another star player out of Denver.

The truth is: Marshall ran himself out of town and the Broncos do not need Brandon Marshall to be successful in the future.