Marshall would be fine in Bears' uniform
Brandon Marshall is no saint, but his abilities on the football field might be enough to push the Chicago Bears all the way over the top in 2009.
Don't get me wrong. I'm absolutely giddy about the offseason the Bears have had thus far. Not only did general manager Jerry Angelo trade for quarterback Jay Cutler, he's also added several linemen, including former Pro Bowler Orlando Pace, and some key defensive components. They've already done enough to be the favorite to win the NFC North, and possibly to take the conference altogether.
In fact, Angelo has shored up almost every glaring need on the Bears roster ... except for wide receiver. He did draft three of them, Juaquin Iglesias, Johnny Knox and Derek Kinder, but Devin Hester remains the only wideout who's shown himself capable of being an NFL starter. Except for Plaxico Burress, whose legal status remains in flux, every major free agent at the position has been snapped up by somebody.
That's where Marshall fits in. Like Cutler did in the spring, he is trying to force his way out of Denver. He's under contract with the Broncos, but he's unhappy that he didn't get a new deal after catching a total of 206 passes during the past two years.
Any team that brings in Marshall will also bring in loads of baggage. He had hip surgery on March 31 and is expected to be recovering until around mid-July. He's also had legal issues dating back to 2004. Among his troubles with the law are a 2007 DUI charge and arrests for suspicion of domestic violence and disorderly conduct.
Based solely on his character, Marshall is the type of player the Bears should certainly avoid. The thing is, Burress is one of their only alternatives if they're going to make a splash at receiver, and he's mired in a legal mess of his own. He'll almost certainly be suspended by the NFL for at least a chunk of the upcoming season. And when it comes to the sheer ability to play wide receiver at the highest level, Marshall has few peers.
The off-the-field issues I mentioned earlier in the column caused the NFL to suspend Marshall for the first game of the 2008 season. He still came back to catch 104 passes for 1,265 yards and six touchdowns. Among NFL receivers, Marshall might just be the toughest to tackle once he's got the ball. There shouldn't be much of an adjustment period should he come to Chicago, given his familiarity with Cutler. At 25 years old, Marshall should still have his prime in front of him.
Adding Marshall would allow the Bears to make Hester their No. 2 receiver instead of their primary option. They'd complement each other well, as Marshall's ability to catch passes in bunches would let Hester be the home-run threat that his skill set is suited for. Between the rookies and holdovers Earl Bennett, Brandon Rideau and Rashied Davis, Chicago should be able to form at least adequate depth behind its starters.
Without Marshall, Hester is the guy, and opponents won't be adequately punished for providing plenty of safety help when he runs a fly pattern. Someone currently on the roster (probably Davis and his brick-resembling hands) has to be the No. 2 guy. Everyone should look better with a quarterback as accurate as Cutler throwing to them, and Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark remain capable receiving tight ends, but it's still hard to imagine the Bears not sputtering at times offensively if receiver remains such a liability.
Again, Burress is another option, and he showed with the New York Giants that he can be the top receiver on an elite team. He's also well on the downside of his career, as he'll be 32 years old by the time the season gets underway. As productive he's been since breaking into the league in 2000, he's never caught more than 78 passes in a season.
Marshall is also a risk, but he's one with a potentially higher reward. If Angelo and coach Lovie Smith believe he won't be a complete troublemaker, they should absolutely explore acquiring him if the price is right.
