Back in Blue: Final Opinion on WR Brandon Marshall

For the last two months, I like every Bronco fan have had the priveledge (for lack of a better term) of watching the Brandon Marshall situation unfold with our beloved team.  I felt it a bit of an omen when I came downstairs today, turned on the NFL Network, and the first thing I saw was the Marshall touchdown against Dallas to win the game.

As of right now, there are a good portion of the Denver fan base who believe there is no solution but to trade Brandon Marshall away from the Broncos.  Others feel the Broncos will be better suited just to hang on to Marshall and give him the pay raise he deserves.

We've had countless great posts on MHR in regards to the Marshall situation.  Mock drafts predicting he will be traded, a statistical overview of his impact to this team, financial scenarios, et al.  For every post, a great point regarding Marshall is made, and it's hard to veer one way or another in regards to his unique situation.

Marshall is one of many big name RFA wide receivers available this offseason, and oddly enough he is the only one expected to leave his current team.  That list includes the likes of fellow Pro Bowlers Vincent Jackson and Miles Austin.  So why is Marshall the only receiver considered to be leaving his team this year?

Does the media want to see Denver trade another big piece of their team?  Is it just good food for thought?  Or is now really the right time for Denver to rid of its superstar wide receiver?

I'll leave the debate up to this comment thread, but I have come to a conclusion about what I personally would like to be done with Brandon Marshall.

• Marshall has had his share of offseason issues, being arrested multiple times and receiving a one game suspension from the NFL following an appeal (originally four games)
• Marshall has been suspended by the Broncos twice.  Once for conduct detriment and the next for "accountability" issues. 
• Marshall has had previous injuries, has never gone a season without an injury, but has played through multiple injuries.
• Marshall is set to be a restricted free agent, making his value in return for a trade a 1st and 3rd round pick assuming the Broncos give him a high tender.
• Marshall is one of five players in NFL history with 100 receptions in three straight seasons
• Marshall is a two time Pro Bowl player
• Marshall is the biggest playmaker on Denver's offense
• Marshall seems to have a good relationship with head coach Josh McDaniels.  "I couldn't ask for a better coach"
• Pat Bowlen indicated Marshall was due a big "pay raise" in the near future
• According to Shannon Sharpe, three teams are definitely interested in Marshall
• Marshall is 1st and 3rd All-Time for receptions in a single game (21, 18)

I'm sure I've missed a couple, but you all get the jist.  Marshall has had very high high's for the Broncos, and very low low's.  There was a point where Broncos fans feared he may have been suspended for eight games, and maybe a full season.

In fact, Marshall is probably one traffic violation away from facing a lofty suspension from the NFL.  His legal issues have to be concerning for any prospective team, but his talent and unique size/speed ratio is more than intriguing. 

Marshall has been nothing but great to Denver's fan base.  He has embraced Broncos fans, and any time I have ever encountered Marshall, he has been a gentleman.  Staying after practices and Fan Fair to sign autographs and take pictures, handing out mini footballs before practice to young kids, etc.  I'll admit, when I heard of Marshall's prior legal issues, I questioned it strongly based on the kind of person he was at practice. 

Right now, Marshall is saying all the right things.  He has said, "I would love to be a Bronco," and, "I would love to finish my career here in Denver."  On the other side of things, head coach Josh McDaniels is saying the right things as well. 

Both parties realize this game is not just a game, it's a business.  The Broncos may see an offer to Marshall that is too high to match, and they will just take the picks and reload the position through the draft and free agency.  There is also the fact that Denver has multiple other free agency issues to resolve.

Marshall is going to seek top five wide receiver money, and I think that is fair since he has performed like a top five receiver in the last three years.  The highest paid receiver in the NFL right now is Larry Fitzgerald, who receives roughly $10 million per year. 

I do not expect Marshall to receive that much cash from the Broncos or any team, but I could see him earning anywhere between seven and nine million dollars per season. 

Any contract with Marshall is going to be tough to agree upon.  It will likely be filled with restrictions and incentives, and probably a very back heavy deal. 

My final opinion on the Marshall situation?  If I were Broncos brass, I would start the offseason by offering Marshall a back-end heavy contract.  Five years, $42 million with incentives, restrictions, and a signing bonus based on his performance off the field in terms of staying out of trouble.  I would guarantee Marshall $18 million with the possibility that some could go back to Denver if he gets in trouble off the field. 

If Marshall does not agree to sign a deal such as this (the numbers could be way off) I would give him a very high tender and make it known that he is a valuable commodity to this team, which he is.  I would entertain offers for him, and if no team offered him more than $10 million per season, I would match the highest offer. 

If any team offers Marshall more than $10 million dollars per year with fewer incentives and restrictions, I would respectfully part ways, because that amount of money cannot be invested in someone with such character concerns. 

Still, if I could write in a suggestion to McXanders, I would suggest they try and sign Marshall prior to March 5th, and if a deal cannot get done, tender him early and make a trade as soon as possible if need be.

After seeing Marshall's highlights on NFL Network today, I was reminded of what a valuable part to this offense he truly is.  He is a playmaker in every sense of the word, and if he is willing to help this team win then I see no reason why we shouldn't bring him back. 

At worst, Marshall will net the Broncos a first and third round draft pick, but I think his best value to this team is coming back with a long-term deal.  Incentive laden, of course. 

I say bring Marshall back.  Build this offense around him, and let Megatron do his work.  Oh yeah, I also think we should all start calling Marshall "Megatron". 

Bring him back Denver, because we're reloading--not rebuilding.

Megatron is only unstoppable if you chain him to the bottom of the ocean  :D