Marshall, Marshall, Marshall!
Anquan Boldin, Matt Jones, Plaxico Burress.
Those names have all been tossed out throughout the offseason as a potential upgrade at wide receiver for the Ravens.
Now we can add one more name to the list -- Brandon Marshall.
Marshall is the hot topic around Baltimore today after he reportedly requested a trade from the Broncos.
There have been rumors that Baltimore was interested in Marshall, and today, Jamison Hensley of The Baltimore Sun is citing a team official who says the Ravens are "doing their homework" on the troubled wideout.
After today's rookie camp, head coach John Harbaugh was asked if the team has any interest in bringing in the 25-year-old receiver.
"We're interested in anybody that can help our team," Harbaugh said. "You know he plays for the Broncos and he's under contract. So he's not a guy that we're considering or concerned with right now. We'll just have to see what happens."
Marshall has had back-to-back terrific seasons (averaging 103 receptions, nearly 1,300 yards and 6.5 touchdowns in the last two years), and at 25, he's still got lots of playing ahead of him.
That is, if he can stay out of trouble, which is a big "if".
As I mentioned earlier today, Marshall's had his share of off-the-field issues, including two misdemeanor battery charges which he will be tried on later this summer.
Here again is Marshall's list of run-ins with the law. You might want to give yourself a while to read it over; it's quite lengthy.
If the Broncos decide to trade Marshall, they would likely want a 1st and a 3rd round pick in return, which is what the Cardinals were asking for Boldin. The Ravens felt that was too much for Arizona's 28-year-old receiver.
Reports out of Denver say that the Broncos might not be too eager to send the disgruntled Marshall out of town, however.
"We look forward to having Brandon at training camp," Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels said today.
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Categories (click for archive)Dan Kolko | Ravens News |
I don't think Harbaugh is real high on this kind of guy. He puts a high value on character which was reflected in the draft.I don't think he's looking for any distractions.No way I want to give up a 1st and 3rd pick anyway.
Yeah...McDaniels said that about Cutler too...whatever happened with that situation anyways? Assuming his legal troubles aren't an issue, is Marshall worth a 1st and 3rd round pick? What do you think he's worth Dan?
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JJ,
Good point about Cutler. If the legal stuff isn't an issue (and again, that's a HUGE if), then I think a 2nd rounder is reasonable for both sides, possibly with Baltimore tossing in a second-day pick as well. But the contract that Marshall will demand is another hurdle for the Ravens to have to deal with; they'll have to get pretty creative with the cap if they want to get this done.
-Dan
Dan,
As good as he would look, talent wise, in a Ravens uniform, I don't believe they should invest those draft pix and the big chunk of $$ in this guy. These clowns with all the legal problems usually self-destruct and take the team with them. I would be more willing to see what D-Will can do this year. Why are WR's such prima donna's???
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JS,
I was actually thinking along the same lines. It sure does seem like a lot of wide receivers out there have problems keeping their egos and their off-the-field lives in check, doesn't it?
-Dan
Like I said earlier today--they had better do a lot of homework before actually giving up high draft picks for this guy.
Well, it is always tough. When do these kids mature? Hard to say ofcourse, because at 30, I still act 15.
He is 25, are these events coming to a close?
I don't think it is worth the risk of a long term deal or something. Maybe 1 year with stipulations?
It appears that most of the incidents involve the girlfriend and father.
But, if you gave me a couple million dollars and fame at age 21.....I'd have probably gotten into some trouble too.
These guys just have crappy role-models and no life skills what-so-ever.
Its a tough call. I'll leave it up to Harb and Oz.
Yet, they will be tempted because wide receiver may be the difference between playoff team and Superbowl-caliber team. D Williams has done virtually nothing in this league. Marshall has run over it at times.
Do you think the Steelers want to go up against Williams or Marshall? It costs a lot to add the fear factor. The legal issues add a level of risk which may make this impossible to pull the trigger on.
I find it really interesting that us Ravens fans are debating the value of an ELITE (yes all caps) young receiver, when we've never had one! The guys is 25 years old and has already had 2 100 rec, 1200+ yd years on his resume. Yes he has had troubles, but one cannot discount the impact a veteran team, with lots of great examples, can have on a young player (a la Kobe with Lebron, Melo, Dwade etc.) For us to truly see how good Flacco can be, he needs a legit receiving threat. If you don't believe me, look at the Giants in '08 vs '07. With no Plax to keep teams honest, Eli was a shell of himself. Good QB's become great QB's when they have a great receiver. And guys...this guys looks like Adalius Thomas with hands! He'd be a matchup nightmare for any team and with Heap, LJ Smith, Mason and the 3 headed monster, Cam would have all kinds of toys to play with. The league saw fit not to punish him when the precedent has been clearly set with Pacman. Since the guy isn't in trouble with the law or the league right now, Oz finally has the opportunity to bring us a receiving game we haven't seen since the likes of Vinnie, Michael Jackson and Derrick Alexander. Lord knows Ray Lewis will not be around forever and he and the city deserve another title.
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Allen,
All good points. This offense would have a completely different look with a guy like Marshall on board. Mason could be the dependable #2, Clayton could move into the slot, and it would free up plenty of room for the tight ends and running backs to do their work. One thing that's worth noting -- while Marshall isn't in trouble with the law as of today, as I wrote above, he is still awaiting trial on two misdemeanor battery charges, so that's something the Ravens will need to keep in mind.
-Dan
JS and Dan,
If you guys ever played WR or DB, you have to understand that a bit of ego is required to be successful and a lot of ego is required to be great. All the great ones including Rice, Carter, Irvin, Prime Time and even Ronnie Lott etc have had MASSIVE egos. Lott just tried to murder everybody to get his point across, lol. By most accounts, Jerry Rice was one of the least popular guys on those great 49ers teams of the 80s and 90s. But the thing they all have in common is that they busted butt during the offseason, they showed up to work everyday and they helped their teams be successful. Plus, it's all about perception...if a QB has something to say about how the offense is being run, he's being a leader. But as soon as a receiver says something, he's disgruntled. A lot of this comes from former players turned analysts (most of them QB's or O-Linemen) who will never understand beacuse they either always have the ball or never get the ball. A #1 receiver can make an average QB look good (Moss and Culpepper), a good QB look great (Moss and Cunningham) and a great QB look like the best there ever was (Moss and Brady). Do not discount the importance of these so-called Prima Donnas.
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Allen,
Absolutely ego is a big part of a receiver's success, but you could make that argument for any position in the NFL. You see cornerbacks, linebackers, running backs hooting and hollering and walking around with a sense of swagger before games and after making a big play. Guys have to believe they're the best at what they do to be successful in this league.
But to me, wide receivers not only have more off-the-field issues, but they tend to let their egos get in the way of the team more than other positions, at least in today's NFL. T.O, Chad Ochocinco, Plax, Marshall, etc, etc. I might just be thinking this because it's on the top of my mind right now, but it doesn't seem like any other position causes teams as many headaches.
-Dan
I might be the only fan with a diffeent perspective. I do not believe the Ravens greatest need is a homerun threat. At the very best you take 2 -3 homerun shots a game. Our greatest need is to MOVE THE CHAINS. We need to prolong drives by making more 3 and XX first downs. Last year it was Flacco to Mason on third down. Cover Mason and we punt. Todd Heap was practically non existant last year. We need to have a 2nd and 3rd option on third down. Give me another body that WILL catch the ball over the middle 7 or 8 times a day and I will concede you a win. That was the difeerence in the last 3 minutes of the AFC championship game the Steelers made the 3rd and long play and kept moving the chains.
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Jeff,
Fair enough. The Ravens sure are hoping that Demetrius Williams and/or Marcus Smith can step up and be that third guy this year. We'll see how it plays out.
-Dan
Sign Sizzle to a long term contract before getting a guy like Marshall, with way too many personal problems to list. Getting guys like that has sure helped the Bengels, hasn't it? I would rather have Chad with his issues (Ray can help keep him in line) than Marshall with his. He wouldn't cost nearly as much, in either money or team morale.
"The Ravens sure are hoping that Demetrius Williams and/or Marcus Smith can step up and be that third guy this year. We'll see how it plays out."
I hope so too--but what about LG or Todd Heap? Those guys can catch. Heap was almost non-existent last year. Or, for that matter, it would be nice to have a back who is a serious third down passing option. Jeff of Stevenson Road (hey, I lived near there once too!) is right--moving the chains, giving some of our old men on defense long rests on the sidelines so that they can be as fresh and ready to thrash at the end of games as they are at the beginning.
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Sam,
Yeah, if either L.J. or Heap can stay healthy (or if the Ravens could at least get a full season's worth of production out of the two of them combined) it could mean big things for the offense. It will be interesting to see how much of a workload they can handle in training camp.
-Dan
Its like this...
Marshall changes the dynamic of this offense. We will be a legit dual threat attack for the first time in our existance. Marshall is more than just a deep threat, he's a force who is both a deep threat & an outstanding possession guy. He has it all. I like the idea of adding him but what do you have to give up? For one, a couple of high draft picks. Also, you risk losing KEY players such as Suggs, Gaither and/or Ngata. I dont think Im Ok w/ that. What the Ravens need to focus on is beating Pittsburgh. To do that, we need to knock Roethlisberger off of his feet...often. Suggs is part of that equation. Gaither is a cornerstone on your OL who you cannot give up. But then again, we need to move the chains. That has been our achilles heal, this could be what takes this team/org to the next level?
This is a toughy,,,still thinkin on it.
We only would have to give up a 2nd and DT maybe Bannan.
2nd round pick and Bannan.