A new Marshall in town
Miami Dolphins fork out big bucks to snag Brandon Marshall from Denver Broncos.
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| Brandon Marshall has established himself as one of the NFL’s top receivers [GALLO/GETTY] |
Well, it seems the NFL’s Miami Dolphins went fishing and they’ve hooked a big one!
Fans of American football are buzzing about Tuesday’s startling deal that saw a talented but troubled player change teams and for an extraordinary salary.
The Dolphins have acquired one of the top pass-receivers in the league in Brandon Marshall, who was traded from the Denver Broncos for two draft picks, and he will now bring his considerable talents to Miami’s sunny shores.
And he will be paid handsomely while in South Florida, having negotiated a four-year contract worth $47.5m. It now makes him the highest-paid receiver in the league.
In acquiring Marshall, the Dolphins get a proven “deep threat” and a new passing target for their young emerging quarterback, Chad Henne.
But Marshall comes with baggage.
He’s been a pouter, and worse.
Last summer, during training camp, he was suspended for several days by Denver for a petulant tantrum he threw during practice drills.
Misdiagnosed
He claimed he was upset at the Broncos medical staff for misdiagnosing a hip injury that forced off-season surgery, and he was also unhappy with his contract.
Still, Marshall would go on from that outburst to catch over a hundred passes for more than 1,100 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.
Impressive numbers to be sure, and his abilities were never more evident than when he stunned American football fans everywhere by catching an NFL-record 21 passes in one game – a loss to Indianapolis.
However, he has also had trouble off the football field.
Marshall has had several run-ins with the law and has been scolded by the NFL’s head office about his behaviour.
In fact, he was suspended for the 2008 Broncos’ season-opener following a series of domestic disputes involving his former girlfriend.
At 26, Brandon Marshall is at the top of his game, and is certainly one of the NFL’s top pass-catchers, and the Dolphins do need his skills.
They’ll just have to hope he’s left that “baggage” behind in Denver and is on his best behaviour in Miami.