Brandstater Leads Broncos: Game Capsule and Film Study vs Cardinals

Game Capsule:  Broncos off the Schneid in Final Preseason Game

It’s real simple when you think about it. 

To win football games the offense needs to score points and the defense needs to keep the opponent from scoring.  With the Broncos 0-3 on the preseason, no better time than the present to get back to basics.  The Broncos scored multiple times while the NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals did not.  The final score Broncos 19 Cardinals 0. 

In the game rookie quarterback Tom Brandstater made his debut as a starter due to injuries plaguing the other top two quarterbacks on the Broncos roster.  What came out of the game was a good showing by number three and a lot of respectability along the way.  He showed he can be a good game manager while still showing he has a little ways to go yet.

The Broncos ground game was sound and the Broncos overall did something they did not do until this point.  They took care of the ball for the most part giving up only one interception while forcing four Cardinals miscues leading to turnovers.

See, it’s that simple.

 

Broncos Film Study: Broncos Showcase Potential

Rookie Alphonso Smith returned the opening kick from five yards deep out to the twenty five yard line.  The potential he shows to be solid, along with his confidence to bring the ball out from five yards deep shows he will be a player to watch this season.

Starting with the good, facing the bad, and ending with the good of the opening drive.  Tom Brandstater had a good night overall. 

On the opening series, the Broncos found themselves in a tight situation on third and seven, Brandstater connected with Chad Jackson for a 43 yard gain on the pitch and catch.  Correll Buckhalter ran well early in creating more opportunity for the offense while feeding off the previous big play to Jackson.  The Broncos drive bogged down shortly after that and they had to settle for three points from the more reliable Matt Prader.

On the opening drive the Broncos defense seemed to have the Cardinals on the ropes when Kurt Warner hit Larry Fitzgerald for a big gain of 36 yards.  The Cardinals drive bogged down shortly after that.  With the Cardinals not scoring any points on the night, they appeared to be a team just going through the motions.  The Broncos defense however was playing like a team that wanted to win.

Brandon Lloyd is showing just how acrobatic and athletic he is.  The last two weeks he has caught balls thrown behind him near the end zone that eventually set up a touchdown.

Kenny McKinley would certainly be a great addition to the team, he is up against a numbers game and his route running needs improvement.  Hopefully they keep him around, I look for him on the practice squad if he’s not on the regular roster.

 

Areas of Improvement for Tom Brandstater

While Tom has demonstrated good composure and technique in the pocket, there are a few areas he should work on to improve his game. 

Early in the preseason Tom had a number of mental miscues from fumbled snaps to poor footwork coupled with poor handoff exchanges.  Those are unfortunately expectations of things that happen to rookie quarterbacks in the NFL.  Against Chicago, he showed some improvement, last night against Arizona he still had a snafu or two, but he was clearly in control as the leader of the Denver Broncos.

It is important to say on the surface Brandstater has shown great technique, composure, and accuracy overall.  From the placement of the ball, to his down field vision, you can see he has the potential for very good things sometime in the future. 

Compare that with Jay Cutler who is a coach’s worst nightmare when it comes to his technique, where he holds the ball and how he locks onto receivers.  It seems Tom Brandstater could have a very bright future in Denver.

Probably first and foremost due to the timing routes; Brandstater sets up quickly, however not always square to the line of scrimmage.  When quarterbacks aren’t square to the line of scrimmage it tips off the defense because he is showing that he is committed to his next set of actions. 

This is the key indicator that helps defensive backs key on receivers and routes that eventually lead to interceptions.  The common theme on what Tom needs to work on from the game last night is get squared up to the line of scrimmage first while making a read down field. 

Brandstater did show a weakness early on by telegraphing his short passes, by not looking down field first to freeze the defense.  Early on this resulted in two five yard outs that were knocked down by the Arizona cornerback on the opening drive.  One of the batted down balls led to a third and seven and the other prompted the opening drive to stall out.  This made the Broncos settle for three points instead of finishing the opening drive with a touchdown.  

This happened again after Darrel Reid’s interception of Curt Warner.  The Broncos had a second and nine and again the pass was knocked down to the ground as he tried to connect with Brandon Lloyd. 

This type of telegraphing would later result in Brandstater’s lone interception on the night and in the team going to the well once too often.  Again Tom was working to his right and was not squared up to the line of scrimmage.  His body language gave the defense the indicator it needed to jump the route and make the interception.

Another area that should be looked at is his center of gravity, right now it is very high.  That could be due to inexperience and being nervous in some regard.  So he looked a little stiff in the pocket. 

One of his tendencies however that should be worked on is in creating his physical stability in the pocket.  Quarterbacks that have a low center of gravity in the pocket have greater escape-ability and tend to avoid injuries from being sacked.

Currently there isn’t much bend in Tom’s knees while in his stance in the pocket.  He should have a slightly wider base with knees bent while using the whole body to throw the ball.  Because he has such a strong arm, and because he has naturally good vision of the field, these minor tweaks have probably been overlooked but could go a long way to making him a better quarterback.   

He threw a deep ball to Kenny McKinley that was underthrown and incomplete.  On the play he threw the ball slightly off his back foot with a slight twist to his follow through. 

If he had a lower center of gravity it would force him to step up into his throw and lead to better ball placement.  This is the type of ball however that can become an interception against first team defenses. 

Currently because he stands so high in the pocket, on deep balls his body spins after the throw instead of having a firm follow through.  This leads to taking something off the ball, and under throws are the net result many times. 

Additionally, as strong as his arm is he could have greater velocity on deeper balls and in some instances he will need that to be the case.

Finally, on the good side, besides his strong arm, Brandstater is incredibly accurate on his timing passes.  He also has a unique ability to change speeds by having the right touch on the ball for each variety of pass types. 

He has the tools to become something good and special, but he will have to focus on the adjustments to his technique to become a reliable starter.

For Tom Brandstater and the Broncos, the future might be very bright.

 

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Broncos-Cardinals: Things to Watch For in Denver’s Pre-Season Finale

The Josh McDaniels era continues on Thursday night as the Denver Broncos host the Arizona Cardinals.

Unfortunately for McDaniels, he is still seeking that elusive first victory as an NFL head coach, and despite the fact that week four of the preseason is considered to be the most unimportant football game of the year, this particular matchup is very critical for the Broncos.

The new regime in Denver has not gotten off to the most promising start, and sitting on an 0-3 record this preseason, the starting offense has only scored 17 points in three contests.

With injuries to Kyle Orton and Chris Simms, rookie quarterback Tom Brandstater will be making his first career NFL start, but it remains to be seen if he will be joined by any other first team players.

The Broncos are holding out hope that first round pick Knowshon Moreno will get some playing time tonight although it has been reported that Correll Buckhalter will begin the season as the team’s staring running back.

Here are some things to watch for in tonight’s game:

• Can Brandstater lead the Broncos to victory?  This is a huge game for Tom Brandstater.  He needs this experience in case he is called upon when the Broncos travel to Cincinnati on opening day.  The rookie out of Fresno State was less than impressive in his first appearance against Seattle, but settled in somewhat last week against the Bears, leading the offense to two touchdown drives.  This will be the final test for Brandstater, who likely will start the season on the practice squad, especially if the Broncos make a play for quarterback Kevin O’Connell who is a long-shot to make the Lions’ final roster.
• The Broncos’ wide receiver situation should shape up tonight.  With Brandon Marshall’s situation in question and Jabar Gaffney having broken his thumb, it will be interesting to see which wide receivers are kept on the 53 man roster.  Players on the bubble are veterans Brandon Lloyd and Chad Jackson, and rookie Kenny McKinley.  Jackson has been working with the first unit, but Lloyd and McKinley have been the ones making noise this preseason.  The Broncos easily go seven deep at the receiver position when fully healthy, but it remains to be seen whether or not they will keep seven on the final roster.  It will definitely be hard to lose any one of Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, Brandon Stokley, Jabar Gaffney, Chad Jackson, Brandon Lloyd, or Kenny McKinley.
• Backup offensive linemen will be seriously tested.  They have been, for the most part this preseason, awful.  Russ Hochstein was acquired for depth, and it is likely the team will make quite a few cuts up front after tonight. 
• The young defensive backs will have their time to shine tonight.  The Broncos are going to be facing Brian St. Pierre for most of the night tonight as Matt Leinart is out with an injury, and the likes of Josh Barrett, David Bruton, Alphonso Smith, Jack Williams, and Darcel McBath will have a chance to prove their worth on this team as backup defensive backs.
• There is a chance we could have our second sighting of Knowshon Moreno.  His production in 2009 is huge.  The Broncos passed on a lot of defensive talent to acquire Moreno in the draft, and he needs to have a big year in this offense.  Likewise, it is going to be important for Robert Ayers to step up in this game.  He has not had an impressive preseason thus far.

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Entry To The Brandon Marshall Circus Is Too Expensive.

I’m sure a lot of you are getting a little tired of all the Brandon Marshall articles; especially ones that revolve around a possible deal that would land him in New York as part of the improving New York Jets.

Well today, two NFL sources relayed information to ESPN analyst Adam Schefter that the Denver Broncos would ask for inside linebacker David Harris in any potential deal.

For a Jets fan who was unsure as to whether he would welcome the circus to New York, the entry price has just tilted the scales in favor of a decision.

If you were to ask me the top two aspects of the 2009 New York Jets team that I was most excited about, I would say the play of Mark Sanchez and the combination of David Harris and Bart Scott as the inside linebackers.

Now we are being told that if we want to bring a man with more issues to be resolved than a episode of this is my life by Isiah Thomas, we’ll have to break up this partnership before it ever had the chance to show it’s true potential.

That price for me is simply too steep.

David Harris led the Jets in tackles in 2007 with 127, 90 of those being solo, and he also racked up 5 sacks. He took a step back in 2008 as he battled injuries, recording a solid 75 tackles, 52 solo and a single sack.

Do people seriously think that breaking up a partnership that by all accounts looks to be one of the most productive ILB tandems in the NFL in 2009, for a man who brings attitude and legal issues is a good idea?

Not for me.

To add to that, rumors suggest that the Broncos will also look for draft picks in any potential deal- a 4th or 5th round selection. Not to live in the past, but the mid rounds have been kind to the New York Jets over the previous year. Leon Washington/Kerry Rhodes and Jerricho Cotchery were both fourth round selections.

Throw in that Brandon Marshall is coming off a injury plagued off-season where he barely participated, and you wonder what the Jets are even thinking.

On the other hand, David Harris has spent the off-season working hard.

In the three pre-season games, I would argue that not only has he been the most consistent player on the Jets roster, but also the most impressive. Sack’s, Interceptions, tackles- he is popping up all over the field, and the obvious chemistry he is building with Bart Scott should have every Jet fan excited for the future.

Despite speaking against any potential deal for Brandon Marshall, I have persisted to admit that this obvious talent on the field may be a great asset to this team, whose perceived lack of ability at the WR position is penciled in to be their downfall in 2009.

However, for a team that is looking to play smash mouth football, would we be comfortable with Cummings, Westerman or Izzo starting opposite Bart Scott?

I wrote a piece a few days ago on Jamaal Westerman, where I highlighted his future potential, however, 2009 and a starting spot I fear is a little too soon for that potential to be realized.

So the price of David Harris alone is too much for this team. But Harris and a future draft choice?

Well, you can rest assured that this Jet fan will not be running away to join the circus.

http://twitter.com/D_Wyatt13

 

 

Injury Bug Bites Broncos Hard, Early Again, Could Be Denver’s Downfall

Three big-name offensive players were hurt on Sunday, in Kyle Orton, Eddie Royal, and Chris Kuper—OK maybe Kuper isn’t the biggest name on the list, but his production was huge last year as he started all 16 games.

But in Royal, who is currently the No. 1 receiver, and especially Orton, the newly acquired quarterback, the Broncos will suffer if either are out for an extended period of time.

Royal and Kuper seem to be fine, but there is no telling for sure from the Broncos due to Josh McDaniels’ hiding the true nature of the injuries calling them simply “lower” and “upper extremity injuries.” So now, a shroud of mystery cloaks injuries in Denver.

Though, according to Fox 31 Denver, two sources revealed that Kuper “has just a high ankle sprain.” Royal reentered the game, an indication that he should be OK.

As for Orton, while the injury was described as “not fractured” by two league sources, it was severely dislocated and teammates could reportedly hear Orton scream as it was popped back into place. According to Pro Football Talk, Orton’s bone was so badly dislocated it sliced through his flesh, from the inside.

Orton’s injury could be the most serious concern, as he has already been named the starter by McDaniels. And backup QB Chris Simms injured an ankle last week against the Seahawks, and his timetable for return is two to four weeks. Because of his injury, rookie Tom Brandstater was forced into the starter’s role for the entire second half Sunday.

Remarkably, two more Broncos were injured in the past week, fullback Peyton Hillis had his knee banged on the ground hard when he was tackled against the Bears. He didn’t seem too hurt though, and should be fine.

Also, No. 3 receiver Jabbar Gaffney broke the thumb on his left hand last Friday, and his timetable for return is four to six weeks.

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Beyond those big names, there are numerous others injured, or at least hurt as well. First-round draft pick and favorite at starting running back, Knowshon Moreno, injured his knee in the first preseason game. According to Fox 31 again, he returned to practice today, and the team is hopeful he will return in time for the Sept. 13 season opener against Cincinnati.

Big-time free agent signee, Brian Dawkins, broke his hand in training camp, and finally got his first football action this Sunday. Champ Bailey pulled a groin in this preseason, a big scare as he missed seven games last year due to the same injury. Luckily he was OK and continued to play, and was in top shape again Sunday.

Finally, at the end of this huge list, LaMont Jordan has an injury in the metatarsal area of his foot, which sounds familiar to a “turf toe.”

So, after losing a ridiculous seven running backs to the Injured Reserve list in ‘08, Denver’s four best runners are already hurt in ’09. Add in the loss of Ryan Torrain to the IR and cut from the team, and it’s five for the Broncos.

Sad but true, if you look at it this way, with Orton, Royal, Kuper, Moreno, and Hillis hurt, and Brandon Marshall a huge question mark, the Broncos have more starters out of the lineup than in it.

Though, there is a ray of sunshine still creeping over the rocky mountains, as the sun has not set on Denver’s season before it has began, yet. Perhaps the most promising news about almost all of the aforementioned injuries is that most are not too severe and many of the players will be ready for the season opener in two weeks. Although, in some instances, it seems more like well-wishing by the Broncos’ franchise rather than the real facts.

Basically though, the Broncos should be OK, and even if they miss a starter or two in Cincinnati, if they are back in Week Two or Three, then Denver fans will be able to breathe easy again. At receiver, the Broncos are deep, so Marshall and Gaffney don’t necessarily mean downfall for Denver. Likewise, as long as the Broncos can get some production out of two of their four best running backs, they should be fine. But if Orton misses time making Brandstater the starter, and Denver misses Marshall and Gaffney, and Moreno and Hillis, it would almost certainly spell the complete and utter downfall for Denver in 2009.

In all, the Broncos will not be competing for the Super Bowl this year likely, and if there was ever a good time for the injury bug to bite, 2009 seems to be the best one.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Team First: 2009 Broncos Similar To 2003 Patriots

If the late John Denver were still alive to write a song about the 2009 Denver Broncos season thus far, it would have to be called “Rocky Mountain Low.”

After one of the wackiest offseason’s any franchise in NFL history has had to deal with, it would appear to all observers the Broncos are reeling. In the past year, the team fired the head coach that led the team to its two Super Bowl titles, traded their Pro Bowl quarterback, and suspended their No. 1 receiver after his request for a trade was not met.

To even the most casual of football fans, this seems like a train wreck waiting to happen. Rookie Head Coach Josh McDaniels has had to deal with more in his first year than other coaches face in their careers. Broncos fans all over the country are preparing for a four-win season and what they consider to be an “inevitable” top-five pick in the 2010 draft.

Pardon the pun, but hold your horses Broncos fans.

Yes, the Broncos haven’t shown much in their 0-3 start to the preseason. Yes, Jay Cutler got the last laugh this past Sunday. Yes, Kyle Orton’s hurt and so is backup Chris Simms. Yet, I do not worry, and that is because of the new head coach that has become the scorn of many in Denver.

Let’s look back at the 2003 version of the New England Patriots, the team which McDaniels worked for from 2001-2008. While Tom Brady was able to start all 16 games, other parts of the team were decimated by injuries. 

How remarkable was it to see Troy Brown, a wide receiver, playing on both sides of the ball when he had to play in the secondary after injuries wiped out their defensive backfield. All in all, the Patriots started 42 different players during that season. McDaniels was part of that team.

The injury situation isn’t the only similarity between the two teams. Days before the regular season began that year, the Patriots cut Pro Bowl safety Lawyer Mulloy, prompting many fans to second guess head coach Bill Belichick (yes, that Bill Belichick). 

Mulloy went on to sign with division rival Buffalo, whom the Patriots faced in their season opener, and were promptly shutout by the Bills in a 31-0 shutout. Sound familiar? (For posterity, the Patriots reversed the score and shut the Bills out 31-0 in the regular season finale).

Now, I am not saying the 2009 Broncos are going to light the NFL on fire and win the Super Bowl like the 2003 Patriots. Far from it. What I am suggesting though is to give McDaniels a chance. You don’t work in one place for eight seasons and not have a significant part of that employer’s culture rub off on you. The New England system worked there, and it just might work in Denver.

I also realize the two teams were not on the same level talent-wise either, but consider this: At the start of the 2003 season, Brady was not yet the Tom Brady. He led the miracle run to the Super Bowl in 2001, but followed that up with a 9-7 no playoffs season in 2002. While I am not necessarily predicting Brady-like greatness for Orton, give him some time. He did have a better record than Cutler did after 32 starts.

Even though his title was “defensive assistant” for the Patriots in 2003, a year before he became the quarterbacks coach who turned Tom Brady into THE Tom Brady, McDaniels saw what the “team first” concept he is now bringing to Denver can do.

As part of the 2003 staff, McDaniels witnessed arguably one of Bill Belichick’s best coaching performances of his career. He was only 27 at the time, but an impression had to have been made on the young man. 

So Broncos fans, give McDaniels some time to work his magic. Let him weed out the egos and put team players in place. With some luck, maybe this season will end on a “Rocky Mountain High.”

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Speculation On Orton Injury: It Appears to Be A Serious Setback

There have been some unsubstantiated reports coming out of Denver that Kyle Orton may have a more serious injury on his throwing hand than previously thought.

Orton received a serious gash on his right index finger in the second quarter of the nationally televised pre-season game against Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears.  

The injury occurred on a third and two incomplete pass to Correll Buckhalter.  Orton was in his throwing motion as his hand appeared to have hit Bears defensive end Adewale Ogunleye on his gloved right hand.  Orton immediately winced and shook his hand in pain while disgusted as he came off the field.  

The gash was bleeding and appeared to be about an eighth of an inch wide.

The replay showed that Orton’s right hand did not touch a helmet which commonly leads to these types of injury’s to quarterbacks.  

The replay confirmed that the hand hit the gloved hand of Ogunleye.  

The Broncos immediately denied that the finger was broken, which eventually led to today’s speculation.

It appears that Kyle Orton did dislocate one or more of the knuckles on his right index finger.  This could mean that he has ligament strains or damage as well.  Moreover, when knuckles in particular are dislocated, the force can also cause the natural sacks of fluid beneath the knuckle to rupture out of position permanently and possibly burst.  This can lead to arthritic conditions later in life.

 If any or all of this is true it could take two to eight weeks before he is able to throw a ball without pain.  If the ligaments are strained, stretched, or torn that will have the most significant impact on Orton’s prognosis for returning sooner than later.

So where this leaves the Broncos is with two serious injuries to their top two quarterbacks Kyle Orton and Chris Simms, with only their rookie third string quarterback Tom Brandstater to shoulder the load. 

 

 

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Broncos Looking To Deal Marshall? 49ers, Crabtree Make Sense

A source tells NBC and ProFootballTalk’s lead blogger Mike Florio that the Denver Broncos are shopping begrudged wide receiver Brandon Marshall.

While this would come as a huge surprise to many fans due to the fact that Marshall’s injury history, legal history, and recent antics during practice have undoubtedly lowered his value, it is not out of the question for the Broncos to trade Marshall because he has been such a distraction.

Even cornerback Champ Bailey, a team captain, thinks there is only a “50-50” chance Marshall returns to the Broncos in 2009.

I have stated personally that I do not think Marshall is going to be traded in 2009, but that’s just because I think the Broncos should hold out for optimum value.

Obviously, the trust level has been absolutely shattered between the Broncos and Marshall, and the team has to get rid of him, whether it be this season or next.

Earlier this offseason, a Raiders writer named Ramone Brown suggested landing spots for Marshall, and one of those spots was San Francisco in exchange for rookie wide receiver Michael Crabtree.

Then I called it a joke, but now it seems like a solid option for the Broncos, and on multiple levels.

If the 49ers are willing to take on Marshall’s baggage and the unquestioned contract renewal he demands, trading away the also unhappy Crabtree could save a lot of time, and possibly money, for the time being.

Here is my proposed trade:

49ers get:

• WR Brandon Marshall

Broncos get:

• WR Michael Crabtree
• QB Alex Smith

The reason I include Smith is because the Broncos suddenly have a need for reserve quarterbacks as both Chris Simms and Kyle Orton have gone down with injuries.

I do not think the Broncos will trade away Marshall unless they are given the equivalent of a first and fourth round pick, and the Crabtree/Smith combo definitely fits that value gauge as of now.

This is purely speculation, but it is clear that the Broncos are not in Brandon Marshall’s future, and Brandon Marshall is not in the Broncos’ future plans.

So, is it so out of this world to think this could happen?

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Denver Broncos Have Scary Moments During Haunted Dress Rehearsal

The Broncos came out to the third game of the preseason, unarguably the most significant, as it is the precursor to the regular season, the dress rehearsal if you will.

Denver came out to the game, in the team and fan aspects alike, as it was “Jay Day” as reported by Lindsay Jones of The Denver Post reported, the day in which disgruntled Broncos fans gathered in a Golden bar (that is ironically a Chicago themed one) to destroy Jay Cutler jerseys. Denver was represented well in the stands as fans booed and gave some Mile High Thunder during almost all of Cutler’s drives.

On the field, the Broncos showed up strong early, as they forced the Bears into two straight three-and-outs, before holding Chicago to only a field goal on their only decent drive of the first quarter.

Denver too was held to three three-and-outs in their first four drives and the offense was ineffective to say the least early. On the second punt of the second quarter, Devin Hester and the Bears made the Broncos’ special teams unit look silly, as he took the punt down to the Denver three yard line.

Chicago punched it in from there, took the lead 10-3, and never looked back. The Bears won 27-17 when all was said and done.

Likely the best drive of the night for the Bears, and worst for the Broncos offense, came with five minutes left in the first half and Chicago backed up to their own two yard line. Cutler directed an amazing drive, in which he passed for 86 of the 98 yards, including the touchdown that led to the score.

And while the Bears looked decently effective on offense, the Broncos stumbled down the field, and had many scares on the injury front.

Starting guard Chris Kuper, current No. 1 receiver Eddie Royal, Correll Buckhalter, and Peyton Hillis all sustained injuries that were disclosed so cryptically from the Broncos, that it’s hard to say how hurt any really are.

The scariest of the night was Kyle Orton’s lacerated pointer finger on his throwing hand, one that was cut eerily on a rushing defensive lineman’s hand. Denver did at least disclose that the finger was not broken or dislocated, although it was still worrisome to see the starting QB taken out of the game before McDaniels wanted him out.

In all, Orton still had an adequate night, as he went 12-for-16 for 96 yards. But Cutler outshined him in the game, as he passed 15-for-21 with 144 yards and a touchdown. Tom Brandstater, who was called on to play the entire second half, also played well going 8-for-12 with 110 yards.

For the Broncos, Buckhalter looked strong, rushing nine times for 37 yards, and Royal was speedy as usual grabbing five passes for 44 yards. Hillis backed up well at running back, and had seven carries for 24 yards and a touchdown. Also, rookie Eddie McKinley might have earned a spot in Denver’s deep receiving corps with a four catch, 75 yard outing.

In all, Denver played a fierce opponent to Chicago, which is a good sign for the Broncos overall. The Bears look to be playing for a playoff spot, and will be one of the better teams in the NFC North this year. And the biggest question surrounding this game is whether or not all the players that were hurt are injured, or just dinged up.

If any, let alone all will miss a significant amount of time, it will damage the Broncos plans for the current year.

Denver knows it is in the midst of rebuilding and retooling for a new regime, but it can still steal away some games, and will have a solid year even with all the controversy that has surrounded them in this offseason.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Enough Is Enough, Denver Broncos Suspend Wide Reciever Brandon Marshall

The Denver Broncos have finally had enough of the drama.

They have now officially suspended diva wide receiver Brandon Marshall for conduct detrimental to the team, according to multiple reports.

According to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, the suspension is only for the rest of the preseason, and then Marshall can return for the season opener if he behaves during that time period.

If he does not, however, he could be facing an even longer suspension.

Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and the NFLPA, the maximum suspension for conduct detrimental to the team is four games.  Including Denver’s last two remaining preseason games, Marshall could return during week three if he doesn’t turn around his behavior.

Even if he does return for week one though, it is not a sure thing that he will start.

Because of his behavior and his lack of knowledge off the team’s playbook, Marshall has worked with the second team during team practices and will have to show the coaching staff that he is ready to go if he wants to start again.

It does  come to no ones surprise that the suspension was handed town from the front office.  The entire offseason Marshall has been pouting about still being on the Broncos and after he saw franchise quarterback Jay Cutler shipped to the Chicago Bears, he wanted out, too.

Team around the league are not willing to give up what the Broncos want in return for the the pro bowl wide receiver and Marshall himself has shown no reason for a team to trade away at least a number one pick to get a player who has had his problems on and off the field.

The talent has also been there however he is too much of a high risk player to give away multiple top picks for.

Marshall was already suspended last season for three games (eventually turned into one game after the appeal process) after seven police-related incidents with his former girlfriend, Rasheedah Wately.  Marshall was also arrested for the fourth time since 2006 this offseason on disorderly conduct charges (which were later dropped).

On the field hasn’t been much better for Marshall either this offseason as he has been sitting out of practices because of injuries and when he finally gets onto the practice field, he goofs off and doesn’t show that he even cares about the team.  He also has admitted that he does not have any grasp of new head coach Josh McDainels playbook.

Marshall has now put up back to back 1,000 yards receiving seasons and has eclipsed the century mark for receptions the past two years.  Marshall also hauled in seven touchdown receptions last season.

This article also appeared at SportsFullCircle.com.

Denver Broncos Should Suspend WR Brandon Marshall

How many Denver Broncos fans have gone to bat for Brandon Marshall over the last three years?

He has been arrested a dozen times since arriving in Denver in 2006. 

He has never played a full season due to injuries and/or suspensions.

And in the wake of his recent trade demands, he has done the unthinkable.  Marshall has proven once and for all that he is an even bigger crybaby than former Broncos’ quarterback Jay Cutler.

In my humble opinion, this video clip will be used, among others, by the Broncos’ organization against Marshall in an eventual attempt to suspend him for the first four games of the 2009 season.

If your computer is not picking up the video stream, the clip basically consists of the following:

1. The video begins with Marshall sitting on a couple of practice pads.  Helmet off, looking bored as ever.
2. The team then begins doing the “karaoke” drill during calisthenics, and Marshall puts his hands in his pants and walks to the other side of the field.
3. With the ball in his hands, Marshall punts the ball across the field instead of handing it to the ball boy.
4. During route running drills, when the ball is thrown his way, Marshall bats it down instead of catching it.

I first learned of this story from Pro Football Talk, and lead blogger Mike Florio and I have come to the same conclusion:  Brandon Marshall  s officially an idiot.

That was the title of the post, and it did not disappoint.

Marshall is acting like an idiot.  If you had not lost all respect for him prior to seeing this video, I would be shocked if you had any after viewing it.

This makes the fact that Marshall was not at practice today a lot more clear, as we all are aware he is no longer injured.

As it stands, Marshall is going to make roughly $2.2 million in 2009.  If and when the Broncos choose to suspend him for four games, he will lose a fourth of that salary or $517,000.

Also, if Marshall wants to be traded, he is going about it the wrong way.  Not only is he going to turn away the respectable organizations with his work ethic and attitude, but he is lowering his value, meaning the Broncos will absolutely not trade him.

In fact, it is probably more likely at this point that they will cut him, which we all know is not going to happen either.

Or would they?

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