Chicago Bears: Brandon Marshall’s Hall of Fame candidacy shouldn’t be a debate

No. 3: The storyline arc, and Marshall’s all-time standing

Depending on who you ask — Brandon Marshall included — this debate has perhaps decided itself. When asked in 2017 about his own thoughts on the Hall of Fame, the six-time Pro Bowler admitted that he was “two great years away” from being a Hall of Famer.

Neither of those two years came.

But even as the Canton Hall of Fame is far less inclusive than its other major sports counterparts, the story effect still comes into play.

Think about how Marshall’s story was nearly written. By the time the Chicago Bears had taken a chance on him, he was the talented, yet mentally-unhealthy star receiver with the “prima Donna” tag, and his career was on its last leg after the eighth arrest or detrimental situation of his NFL career.

What came next was one of the great redemption stories in NFL history. Marshall became one of the poster children for publicly prioritizing mental health, with a borderline personality disorder.

And even before that moment, it could be argued that he exceeded expectations. Cumulatively, he joins the likes of Tom Brady and Richard Sherman as the greatest Day Three Draft selections in pro football history. Depending on where you stand with Antonio Brown, he’s either the best or second-best wide receiver ever taken from Rounds 4 to 7. And all told, his rankings sit as follows:

— 970 catches (No. 16 all-time)
— 12,351 yards (No. 22 all-time)
— 83 touchdowns (No. 22 all-time)
— 6 Pro Bowl appearances (T-18th)

Recall how he compares to the average wide receiver enshrinee. Someday — hopefully a day where I’ll be among the top dogs in this sports writing world — Brandon Marshall will be on a stage in Ohio, giving the speech that immortalizes him. And hopefully, on that day, he’s granted his Canton bust.

And if he does receive it, it’ll be one of the few times in his football career that he received something that wasn’t overthrown