The Marshall Plan?

The Denver Broncos traded Pro Bowl wide receiver Brandon Marshall to the Miami Dolphins for second-round draft picks in 2010 and 2011.  The Dolphins then signed Marshall to a four-year, $47.5 million contract extension that includes $24 million in guaranteed money, making him the highest paid wide receiver in the NFL. 

 

This is good for Marshall, as I think that Marshall needed a change of scenery after the Darrent Williams murder.  I think that there was just so much weight surrounding that whole incident that it drug Marshall down.  Throw in his drunk driving and domestic violence arrests and his issues with Head Coach Josh McDaniels, and the situation had become toxic.  He now gets a fresh start with a franchise that looks to be improving.

 

It is also great for the Dolphins, as they get someone who I consider one of the top five WRs in the NFL (the others are Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson, Calvin Johnson, and Randy Moss).  Marshall is coming off of three straight seasons with 100+ receptions and 1,000+ yards.   The dolphins have a great offensive line and run offense, which could allow Marshall to receive single coverage.  The rest of the time he will be in double coverage, opening up the field to allow for big runs or for speedster Ted Ginn to make plays downfield. 

 

As a Broncos fan, I think this totally sucks.  Yes, I just stated that the situation with Marshall had become toxic.  This trade illuminates some of the issues with the Broncos organization.

 

I think the Cutler and Marshall trades set a bad precedent.  If you are a rising star on the Broncos team and want a new contract, why wouldn't you start a controversy with Coach McDaniels?  The Broncos immediately shipped off Cutler and Marshall who then signed huge contracts with their new franchises.  McDaniels tried to paint them as selfish players who didn't embrace teamwork.  But that didn't stop other teams from vying to trade for them.  Professional sports are littered with selfish superstars, who likely have a better overall success rate than those who don't.

 

The Broncos got a lot in exchange for Cutler and Marshall, but I don't know if the Broncos are better with Kyle Orton, Robert Ayers, Alphonso Smith, two second round draft picks, and a third round pick that the Broncos packaged with their own third rounder in a trade with Pittsburgh to draft TE Richard Quinn and OG Seth Olsen.   When the Broncos hired McDaniels, it looked as though only the defense needed improvement.  The Broncos brought in defensive coordinator Mike Nolan and signed Pro Bowler Brian Dawkins.  McDaniels has now chased off Mike Nolan, and I highly doubt that Dawkins would have signed with the Broncos was going to be in the rebuilding process.  Now, if you are an opposing team, who on the Broncos offense scares you?  Ryan Clady?

 

McDaniels is still trying to be Bill Belichick 2.0.  He needs to realize that few coaches can be as controlling yet successful as Belichick (or his mentor Bill Parcells).  He needs to create his own identity.  McDaniels could pull it together and create a successful coaching and management style.  Unfortunately, if history is to be acknowledged, one must realize that both Bill Belichick and Mike Shanahan were fired from their first head coaching jobs before reaching Super Bowl glory.  That initial failure led them to make adjustments to their coaching styles.

 

Maybe the future performance of Cutler and Marshall will justify McDaniels's actions.  Maybe the players received in exchange for them will turn into Pro Bowlers.  Maybe McDaniels will become a successful head coach in Denver.  I just don't know if Bronco Nation has the time and patience to wait it out.