In little more than a month, Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall has transformed his career in stunning fashion. The injuries have healed and, more importantly, the stick has been removed from his hind quarters.
After a suspension for conduct detrimental to the team, Marshall returned in early September with a new attitude. He has since flourished in coach Josh McDaniels’ new offense, and owner Pat Bowlen has noticed.
“Brandon understands that he’s got a year left on his present deal, but if he keeps playing the way he is, he’s going to get a very significant raise – a much better contract,” Bowlen said Tuesday, according to Steve Wyche of NFL.com. “That’s the way it goes, and Brandon has accepted that.”
Marshall’s rookie deal expires after the 2009 season. Absent a new labor agreement, he’ll be eligible for restricted free agency only, so he’ll necessarily have less leverage than if he were poised to be unrestricted.
Then again, the Broncos might not want to risk another team grabbing Marshall and gladly surrendering a first-round and a third-round draft pick, which is the maximum compensation for a restricted free agent who changes teams. So the Broncos could still chose to apply the franchise tag to Marshall, which would increase the compensation to two first-round picks, if the Broncos were to choose not to match an offer sheet that Marshall signs with another franchise.
The difference between the highest restricted free agency tender and the one-year franchise salary for receivers will be dramatic — likely more than $7 million. In the end, however, Marshall will likely come away with a multi-year deal in the neighborhood currently occupied by the likes of Larry Fitzgerald and Randy Moss, with an average payout of $9 million or $10 million per year.
The smart move for the Broncos could be to try to get Marshall locked up for the long haul during the 2009 season, given the air of excitement and man hugs in the Rocky Mountains. Indeed, he might be willing to take less money now, when he’s in the middle of an unexpectedly magical run of team and individual success, than when he’s away from the team and thinking about market value and whether his contract is sufficient large in comparison to the deals given to other high-end wideouts.
Good for him. Nice to see one of these young guys figure it out every once in a while.
Good thing you are here to point out what he should be thinking during the off season Lord Florio! What would football players do without you?
Yah he will fall, and I will laugh my A@@ of when he does.
Thank you Brandon Marshall-
Your resurgence has justified me picking you second to last in our fantasy draft.
Funny thing is he could have gotten it, maybe more and he didn’t have to make himself look like an ass to do it.
“whether his contract is sufficient large in comparison to the deals given to other high-end wideouts. ”
did you mean sufficiently?
it’ll be interesting to see if Marshall really has figured it out…if so he’s going to be paid. Theres an article at the Football Outsiders website (which by the way, is no PFT) that talks about what high end WRs are making nowadays; Marshall could be joining that group in no time.
Of course it’s all farts and giggles while you are going 5-0.
As they say …. Adversity doesn’t build character, it reveals it.
My take is that Marshall will revert to being a jackass when the going gets tough.
Red13, if you’re going to be a nit and pick how about learning what the shift key is used for.
PJW, I used the shift key for the quotes and the question mark. Yes, it’s true, I didn’t capitalize my “d” (look, I used shift again). But that doesn’t mean I can’t criticize someone who is paid to be a journalist and should know, and apply, the rules of proper grammar and punctuation. Thanks for reading.
Once a turd, always a turd.
Any team that pays this guy Fitzgerald money is probably going to regret it.
The Beast will prove hes worth every penny he gets