Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos / Photo: Newscom

Because of the loss, Brandon’s happiness was held to a minimum after the game:

“I believe it was one of those games where, whenever you accomplish something like that, it definitely feels good. But we have goals, and our only goal is to win games. I’d definitely trade in a couple of those catches for a win.”

This is not really new territory for Brandon. Last season he had 18 catches in a September 14 game against the San Diego Chargers. But today’s effort was all for naught because the Broncos, as a team, accomplished nothing—other than to prove they can stay on the same field with the unbeaten Colts. But at the end of the day, that doesn’t really matter, either—if Denver can’t beat the best in the AFC.

Source: NFL.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Brandon Marshall Sets NFL Single Game Mark

Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos / Image: Zuma Press

Instead, the Broncos have managed a 4-0 record out of the gate and are fresh off an impressive 17-10 win over the Dallas Cowboys. Quarterback Kyle Orton (who came over from Chicago in the Cutler trade, of course) has been a perfect game manager, throwing five touchdowns to no interceptions with an impressive 97.7 QB rating. Brandon Marshall has 16 receptions and two TDs—including the game winning 51-yard catch and run yesterday. And the Broncos defense is returning to their “Orange Crush” glory years, having only allowed 240 total yards per game, second only to the N.Y. Giants. I don’t think anyone can really question whether the Broncos are “for real” or not. Believe it. They are.

Source: NFL.com

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Denver Broncos Off to Surprising 4-0 Start

Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos / AP Photo

For the time being, however, immensely talented but extremely immature Brandon is suspended until September 5 for what head coach Josh McDaniels called conduct “detrimental” to the team. But it’s merely a slap on the wrist. Coach McDaniels is almost doing the guy a favor by giving him the rest of the preseason off. And Brandon won’t file a grievance. Why would he argue with a paid vacation?

Source: NFL.com

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Brandon Marshall is a Punk

Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos / Image: Zuma Press

The Broncos would probably want a first and third round pick and Brandon would command somewhere in the neighborhood of $9 million (or more). Considering his checkered past, it’s a pretty high risk. Then again, considering his immense talent, it could be a pretty high reward as well. Stay tuned.

Source: Chicago Sun-Times

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Brandon Marshall Wants to be Traded

Broncos owner Pat Bowlen released a statement today explaining the team’s plans to deal Jay to another team:

“Numerous attempts to contact Jay Cutler in the last 10 days, both by head coach Josh McDaniels and myself, have been unsuccessful. A conversation with his agent earlier today clearly communicated and confirmed to us that Jay no longer has any desire to play for the Denver Broncos. We will begin discussions with other teams in an effort to accommodate his request to be traded.”

Compared to what Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson went through with the Bengals last offseason, this really didn’t seem all that hard. Jay put in a mere 30 days or so of whining and/or the silent treatment. Chad ran at the mouth for six months (maybe more?) and was told, in no uncertain terms, to report for work.

As much as everyone is making a big deal out of new head coach Josh McDaniels’ efforts to trade Jay about a month ago, I think things were headed in the wrong direction as soon as former head coach Mike Shanahan was fired. It certainly didn’t help when coach McDaniels had discussed a deal that would have brought Matt Cassel to Denver (Matt ended up in Kansas City, of course). But I think coach Shanahan’s departure — and Jay’s lack of knowledge about that departure — was what got the ball rolling, so to speak.

Now, the speculation begins as to where Jay will end up. Rumors have been circulating about a quarterback swap with Cleveland (for Brady Quinn) or an arrangement with the N.Y. Jets or Detroit Lions. But it’s all just hearsay until something concrete develops. Now that the Broncos are officially fielding calls about a trade, things should begin to heat up pretty quickly.

Source: DenverBroncos.com, Photo: Newscom

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Broncos Agree to Trade Jay Cutler

Is anyone else tired of hearing about the ongoing soap opera between Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels and quarterback Jay Cutler? At the NFL Annual Meeting today, coach McDaniels said Jay is still the team’s quarterback and he’ll do what he can to improve their strained relationship:

“I’ve always been optimistic. He’s on our team, he’s under contract, and I understand there’s things we have to work toward in our relationship. I’ve heard (Jay’s trade request) but have not heard it from him personally. No one has contacted me, called me, text-messaged or e-mailed me. You take into consideration what anybody is trying to offer up. If the quality of the trade you feel, in the long run, improves your team, you analyze it. It’s been made very clear to me it’s my job to listen to a number of scenarios that would improve the team.”

My guess is Jay’s as good as gone, but I wish both sides would just speed the process along so we don’t need to hear about it anymore. Everyday it’s a new he said/he said and it’s getting absolutely pathetic. The Detroit Lions are interested. Lions general manager Martin Mahew said the team was “open to all options” with the first pick in next month’s NFL Draft. That answer was in response, specifically, to Jay’s availability. Make it happen, already.

Source: NFL.com

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McDaniels-Cutler Saga Becoming Tiresome

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels has a real mess on his hands. By trying to get quarterback Matt Cassel to join him on his trip from New England, he alienated Broncos QB Jay Cutler with trade discussions that told Jay he wasn’t good enough to fit into coach McDaniels’ new system in Denver. And from the events that have happened since (a conference call and face-to-face), it doesn’t appear he’s done a whole lot to remedy the situation because Jay’s more miffed than ever. In fact, he now wants to be traded.

At the Broncos first offseason OTA yesterday, coach McDaniels told his players he would “take care” of the situation with Jay. But it appears there is really only one way he can truly take care of it — by giving Jay his wish and trading him. I don’t see these two peacefully coexisting.

So, what we’re dealing with now are two stubborn people who won’t budge and it appears the only satisfactory solution will be to ship Jay to another team. I think Jay is standing his ground not because he’s a big baby but because he feels he has completely lost (or never had) the trust of his head coach. And that’s very important. Jay is still under contract with Denver so the Broncos can essentially force him to play for them, but do they really want to? Do they want a completely disgruntled and furious quarterback who can’t get along with his head coach leading their team? It’s obvious coach McDaniels thinks he can do better (although I’d have to argue that one), so he should have at it. After all, the Broncos could get some pretty impressive returns for one of the NFL’s best young quarterbacks. So, it will be interesting to see if and when Denver opens to door for this trade to happen. And what teams will show an interest — and put up the proper compensation — for such a deal to happen. Either way, I think it’s a no-win situation for the Broncos.

Source: NFL.com, Photo: Newscom

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Jay Cutler Wants to be Traded

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler was upset to hear his name being thrown around in trade talks this weekend. And I can’t say I blame him. Before Matt Cassel was traded from New England to Kansas City yesterday, Jay’s name came up in a proposed three-way deal with the Tampa Bay Bucs that would have brought Matt to Denver (and reunited him with his former offensive coordinator from New England and Broncos new head coach Josh McDaniels) and sent Jay to Tampa Bay. It obviously didn’t work out but the trouble had already started as far as Jay was concerned:

“I’m upset. I mean, I’m really shocked at this point. I could see why they want Cassel. I don’t know if they think I can’t run the system or I don’t have the skills for it. Or if they don’t think they can sign me with my next contract. I just don’t know what it is. I’ve heard I’m still on the trading block.”

Coach McDaniels denies that Jay is on the trading block — or ever was for that matter. But it sounds like damage control to me because a source close to the situation confirmed the Broncos were trying to trade Jay for Matt before Matt was traded to Kansas City. Hmm. Allow me to pose this question: What led the Patriots or Bucs to believe that Jay could be traded in the first place? Somebody had to put out the word that he was an option for a trade. Why else would another team call the Broncos and pose that kind of ridiculous question? Because it is ridiculous. I’m guessing they must have leaked word that Jay was a “trade-able” possibility. Yes, of course they did.

This shows a lack of respect for what Jay has accomplished in Denver thus far and it’s tantamount to a slap in the face if you ask me. I don’t know what Jay has to do to earn any more respect in Denver. All he did last season was throw for 4,526 yards and 25 touchdowns and make the Pro Bowl. I know 31 other teams who would like to have that kind of productivity from their quarterback. I’m not going to bash coach McDaniels because I don’t know his knowledge of the situation, but he appears to be lying and sure isn’t getting off on the right foot with the most important member of his new team.

Sources: ESPN.com, NFL.com, Photo: Newscom

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Jay Cutler Upset With Trade Talk

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Brian Dawkins will always be remembered as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. But it looks like he will be spending the remainder of his career with the Denver Broncos. The Broncos signed Brian to a five-year, $17 million deal today. The contract includes $7.2 million in guaranteed money. And so distraught were the Eagles (but apparently not enough to keep Brian with the team), that team Chairman/CEO Jeffrey Lurie released the following statement upon the official news of Brian’s departure:

“Brian Dawkins has been one of the pillars of this franchise for 13 years. He helped lead us to five NFC Championship games and one Super Bowl. Brian embodies everything you look for in a professional athlete and human being. I have been fortunate to witness his impeccable character, his passion for the game of football and his commitment to being the best player he could be. I look forward to continuing a close relationship with him once his playing days are over. His legacy as an Eagle will last forever and will ultimately land him in Canton as a Hall of Famer.”

I’m not sure how Brian will fare in Denver. I know he’ll bring his hard-nosed style with reckless abandon week-after-week because he only knows one way to play the game — with tremendous passion and heart. But will he thrive in Denver the way he did in defensive coordinator Jim Johnson’s system in Philly? One thing’s for sure. The Eagles defense won’t look right without him.

Source: PhiladelphiaEagles.com, Photo: Newscom

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Broncos Sign Brian Dawkins

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

The Denver Broncos introduced former New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels as their new head coach yesterday. That now makes three members of Pats head coach Bill Belichick’s staff that has been hired away to head coaching vacancies (Romeo Crennel with the Browns and Eric Mangini with the Jets) since 2000. Amidst an historic, undefeated regular season last year, coach McDaniels turned away any and all head coaching opportunities, but he’s confident this is his right time:

“I’ve spent a lot of time and preparation over the last year getting myself more ready to go in case this opportunity did present itself again. I just feel like the timing is right. I’ve had an opportunity to experience a lot of things. This year was certainly a different experience for me the way our season went, and I think that better prepared me to go into this next step of my career. This year the timing is right, and I’m thrilled to be here in Denver.”

I believe Coach McDaniels will do well in Denver. He doesn’t have a Tom Brady or a Randy Moss to make the transition that much easier, but he will work closely with Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall to produce a reasonable facsimile. The Broncos, of course, hope coach McDaniels will bring the same immediate success rookie head coaches John Harbaugh (Ravens) and Mike Smith (Falcons) enjoyed this season. If that recent trend is any indication, the Broncos should find themselves in the playoffs sooner than later.

Source: DenverBroncos.com, Photo: Newscom

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Broncos Name Josh McDaniels Head Coach