Sunday, 5:40 p.m., Davie, Fla. On the first pass play of Dolphins training camp Friday, Brandon Marshall had run one of the common routes in the Miami playbook, a slant and go. Some teams call it "sluggo.'' Whatever, the Dolphins called it a touchdown, because Chad Henne threw it long downfield, perfectly, for a score. "I got chills,'' said quarterbacks coach David Lee. "I don't know how it's possible to get chills in 95-degree weather with 90-percent humidity, but I did. What a beautiful thing that was to see.'' I remember going to Denver last summer and interviewing Marshall, who I've known for three or four years. Every answer was forced, clipped. He was ticked at the world then, a combination of being labeled a malingerer and feeling like he was lied to about getting a new contract. In the players' cafeteria Sunday, he grinned like a madman ... even when I asked him what he would have done differently in Denver before finally getting his wish via a pre-draft trade and new contract in Miami last April. He paused, and I said: "Would you have punted the ball in practice that day?'' You remember the infamous tape, when he was a disruptive force in practice. "I wouldn't have punted the football,'' he said. "There were a few things last year I didn't handle well. But what I've learned is that sometimes the more powerful lessons are the most painful lessons.'' Marshall doesn't want to return to the nightmare that was last year. He's married now -- to a different woman than the one he says caused "90 to 95 percent'' of his problems in the past. But he realizes talk is cheap, and no matter what he says now about being a different person in a different place, he's got to show it, day after day, week after week. He has a five-year, $47-million contract extension, and he's on a team that he thinks is more suited to his physical style. "I've always had the attitude that I'm going to impose my will on the defense,'' he said. "So I fit in well with the philosophy of this team. Everyone in the building, everyone in the organization, has a toughness here. I like that. It's all football. We don't play games here. I see Bill Parcells, and he always says one word to me: 'Stamina.' I know I'm going to be happy here. Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/peter_king/08/01/mmqb/2.html#ixzz0vTGLzV2x
That's great to hear. I live in Colorado and the media here reports everything the Broncos do....they will tell you what Tebow had for breakfast and how many times he went to the bathroom today. I remember watching all the coverage of Marshall last year in Camp at Dove Valley, where the Broncos train, and he was miserable. I know you can't always blame your girlfriend or wife for off-the-field issues, but I can relate and I think marriage to a new lady can totally change your world and attitude. I've never seen a WR break tackles like Marshall and he can always take a 5 yard pass and turn it into an 80 yard TD if the d-back doesn't wrap him up. We finally have a home run threat and this will help the rest of the WR's get open, not to mention the added room this should give Ronnie and Ricky.
and he's on a team that he thinks is more suited to his physical style. "I've always had the attitude that I'm going to impose my will on the defense,'' he said. "So I fit in well with the philosophy of this team. Everyone in the building, everyone in the organization, has a toughness here. I like that. It's all football. We don't play games here. I see Bill Parcells, and he always says one word to me: 'Stamina.' I know I'm going to be happy here. That quote is what I like about Marshall and Bill Parcells types of teams. Should be interesting. This is really the first year of the Parcells regime that I feel is going to reflect the type of team he wants. The first two years was getting rid of players and replacing them as best you could. But in year three I'm starting to see the size and toughness that Ive come to expect from Bill over the years. Just hope we go as injury free as possible. I think it could be a fun year to be a Dolphins fan
Here is how different things are in Miami: -Dolphins Awards Banquet was on Thursday or Friday night, Brandon Marshall's free "camp for kids" was that Saturday or Sunday, he was in the vids for the Banquet and looked fine. BMarsh was doing an interview for Aquavision explaining what the camp was for, and how much he enjoyed doing them..all the while he had a obvious shiner/black eye..and not a word was said, no questions were asked...nothing. Make no mistake, in Denver..feeding frenzy in the media...in Miami..not a single mention..anywhere..nothing. There could be 1,000 reasons for that black eye, so I'm not suggesting anything untoward happened, what I am saying is there is a huge difference in how Marshall is treated in Miami as compared to Denver. In Denver, it would be assumed something bad happened, in Miami, no one even noticed..he's gotta love being down here..
The coverage of the Broncos here in Colorado is unreal. Probably 15 pages of the Denver Post sport's section is focused on the Broncos. Every radio and tv station has live feeds and they even do their 5 O'clock new's telecasts from the Bronco's training facility. No matter what happens on Sunday in Denver the lead story is always the Broncos....there could be a tornado hitting Denver, but they would put the Broncos on first. I think Marshall was also continually asked about Darrent Williams, the d-back who got shot and killed. I think Marshall was at the club that night. That gets old and I am sure he wanted out of there.
I think even without a FS, this is the first year any failures or successes actually count. They've brought in "their" guys to the locker room. The FO is starting their QB, their LT, their defenders. Gotten rid of JT and JP. Brought in their WR. No more excuses. This team is now truly Sparano, Parcells and Ireland's team. Now it's time to see what guys like The Beast and Dansby can do. A losing season is unacceptable three years in. Rebuilding isn't a viable excuse anymore.