Brandon Marshall Excused from Practice Following Strange Interview
Aug 23, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) is unable to make the catch against the Oakland Raiders during the first quarter at O.Co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
I’m not pressing the Brandon Marshall panic button, but I’m certainly dusting it off and keeping it within arm’s reach. A day after a strange press conference where Marshall turned a question about Jay Cutler’s comfort in the offense into a venting session about his role in the offense and his physical status coming off hip surgery, Marshall has been excused from practice and will be absent until the weekend.
Brad Biggs is on top of it as always:
A day after talking about his bothersome hip #Bears WR Brandon Marshall was not at practice when it was open to media
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) August 28, 2013
#Bears say Brandon Marshall was excused today. Team says it was a "planned excused day" but won't say if it was injury related.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) August 28, 2013
#Bears WR Brandon Marshall will not return until Sunday. Trestman says it's been a planned absence for the wide receiver.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) August 28, 2013
I’m sorry, but my bullcrap meter is redlining after the last tweet. I could believe that he was excused for a day to get his head right, but to say that being off for 5 days a week before the start of the season was a “planned absence” is ridiculous.
Coach Trestman stands by his man:
"“I’d rather just leave it to personal reasons out of respect to Brandon,” Trestman said. “But it’s all good. As I have said, when I let guys go for personal reasons, it’s all good. It’s not reflective of anything other than I gave him time off. He will be back on Sunday.”"
Biggs points out that last offseason Brian Urlacher’s “personal reasons” for missing camp was to go get an alternative treatment for his bum knee. Could this be a physical issue or a psychological issue?
Marshall has been the model citizen since being reunited with Jay Cutler after Phil Emery sent two draft picks to the Miami Dolphins last offseason to bring the Bears a much needed #1 receiver. A big step in Marshall’s personal development was his diagnosis and very public battle with Borderline Personality Disorder. He’s been very active in the community to advocate for mental health.
Marshall is a key to the Bears offense. Besides relatively unproven Alshon Jeffery and concussed Earl Bennett, there’s not much going in the receiving corps. He had 118 catches for over 1500 yards and 11 touchdowns, setting franchise receiving records along the way.
What do you think? Are you worried about Marshall’s mental state? Do you think this is a physical problem?