Why Brandon Marshall Had to Be Traded

In three seasons in Chicago Brandon Marshall set multiple team records, including receptions in a season (118), receiving yards in a season (1,508), and 100-yard games in a season (seven), but alas the marriage was not to last as the team has just agreed to trade the star wide receiver to the Jets. The controversial wide receiver has been one of the most dominant players in the NFL for the Bears, so many fans it may be hard to believe that the team would make the decision to trade him so suddenly. He’s become a public figure for Chicago sports and has developed many charitable organizations around the city, many pertaining to mental health awareness. However, it must be remembered that this is the NFL. While Marshall’s Bear career should be looked at with nothing else but, at 31-year, the team now set on rebuilding apparently felt the need to move on from a player who’s personality and veteran status no longer matched team philosophy.

Age:

Though I fully believe seven time 1,000-yard receiver still has plenty left in the tank, at his age his NFL days are numbered. Whether that’s one, two, or three years is hard to say, but in the end his age makes him wasted on a team in rebuild. The talented wide receiver is still on a three year, $30 million deal, and unfortunately that cap figure is too rich for the Bears. A Super Bowl contender would gladly pay Marshall $10 million next season to help them compete, but for Chicago, Brandon Marshall had become expendable for he (or anyone else for that matter) is really too old to be part of any future championship campaign.

Attitude 

Marshall’s off-the-field and character issues have been well documented since he entered the league in 2006. There’s a reason why the Jets will be the star receiver’s fourth team in the NFL. That being said, Brandon Marshall has been a complete team player in Chicago that has seen far more on-field success than off-the-field distractions. He’s been as well-behaved as the team could have hoped for when they traded for him. Again, if this team was a contender, his off-the-field demeanor would not even be a thought for Chicago, however, as this team rebuilds the last thing the franchise needs is to be distracted by a 31-year old veteran. Marshall’s outbursts may have been limited, but they still do occur, including an apparent rift with Marc Trestman last season, and that must have been an apparent red flag to the new regime. While Marshall’s attitude hardly effected his Bear career, I imagine it influenced Adam Gase’s decision to trade him.

Bottom Line: 

Though it’s going to be tough to see Brandon Marshall go, it should be noted that this trade was made with the franchise’s long-term future in mind.