Brandon Marshall’s rift with the Broncos only appears to be growing with time. Many are starting wonder a natural question: Could this relationship fracture entirely before the regular season?
Bob Glauber of Newsday, writing on Twitter, has an interesting hunch.
“Gut feeling,” he writes. “Broncos will eventually suspend Brandon Marshall for conduct detrimental to the team. Reminds me of Year 2 of T.O. In Philly.”
While this is couched as speculation, it makes a lot of sense. There are similarities between the Owens and Marshall situations.
If Marshall continues to “disengage” from practice like he did on Wednesday, the Broncos could eventually suspend him for being a distraction to the team.
The Eagles set a precedent that a player can’t disrupt the team’s objectives while in attendance at practice.
Marshall’s situation doesn’t seem as poisonous as Owens’ in 2005, but we’re less than a week removed from Marshall’s acquittal on misdemeanor battery charges and the situation has devolved quickly.
The next move is seemingly up to Marshall. He can continue to make noise or he can try to get back in the starting lineup. If he chooses to antagonize the Broncos further, he risks losing part of his 2009 salary.