Brandon Marshall Back on the Field
Brandon Marshall was back at practice — and it was under the coach’s orders.
Friday morning, Head Coach Mike Shanahan told the injured wide receiver that he would be donning the shoulder pads and going through the full morning’s work.
“I told him this morning that he had to work through it. We took a look at the MRI (examination) and even though it is painful, it is supposed to be painful, but you have to work through it,” Shanahan said.
“He said it was just to challenge me, to see if I was mentally strong,” Marshall said. “He knew that I was in pain, and that it hurt, but he also knows it’s one of those things where you have to get out there, push yourself and be mentally tough.”
“I think early in practice he could feel the pain,” Shanahan said, “but he worked through it and I think he feels better right now and that is part of the process.”
Added Marshall: “I was shocked. I was scared. But I guess that’s what it takes. Coach has 30 years of experierene, and this is my second year, so of course I’ve just got to sit back and listen and go with the process.”
The process orginally called for Marshall to work through the individual and installation drills at the start of practice and then watch the remainder of the periods from the sidelines.
“They told me I was supposed to be done within the first 20 minutes,” he said. “But it warmed up so good (I stayed in there).
“I didn’t open up to 100 percent but I opened up to where I could compete.”
Marshall seemed to emerge none the worse for the wear, and even made a grab at Champ Bailey’s expense during the final period of practice, while looking crisp as he ran his first pass routes since the second day of minicamp exactly one month ago.
“I was kind of hestitant at first, but as you can see, I’ve got a smile on my face,” Marshall said after Friday’s practice.
Even though he said he had a “minor setback” with the ailing quadriceps muscle during his workouts a week ago, Marshall nevertheless placed the blame for his absence on himself.
“It was just scar tissue in there. It was me not being mentally tough,” he said. “I’m sure there’s going to be a day where I’m down in the future. It’s one of those things I’m going to have to push through.”
Added Shanahan: “You have to fight through a little pain and scar tissue but that is just part of it. How long is it going to take? Probably the same length of time it took these guys to get ready for the first game. He is in pretty good condition because he has been working out in the weight room.”
August 10th, 2007 at 11:20 am
How did I know it was going to take Shanny to say enough is enough???
At some point, to be fair to the guys that ARE practicing, Shanny was going to have to just say Marshall isn’t a starter. Getting him out there today was a necessary step.
Oh, and of course, the Broncos are running out of healthy WR bodies, so that would be another solid reason…
TSG
http://www.milehighreport.com
http://www.nowlive.com/mhrradio
August 10th, 2007 at 11:38 am
[…] On Mike Shanahan’s order, injured wide receiver Brandon Marshall took the field for the first time since mini camp today. Full Story - Andrew Mason. […]
August 10th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
It is great to see B-Marsh out there practicing again. His development, in addition to D-Hix, and Scheffler will prove to be an x-factor in our push to the superbowl. Although they are just a peice to the puzzle, the fact that they will be complementing some already established veterans, will force the defenses to stay honest…
August 10th, 2007 at 12:16 pm
It’s about time, seems to me he was going to milk this “injury” for all it’s worth. I think a veteran player wouldn’t have been out half as long. Rod was hurting last year, yet he kept on playing. I like Marshall, but you can’t sit out for the entire training camp.
August 10th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
I don’t think he was “milking” it, I think it’s more like he said, he wasn’t being mentally tough. What surprises me is that Rod didn’t kick his rearend a Little more.
August 10th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
Makes you wonder if he can develop that mental toughness. Some just have it… some never do.
August 10th, 2007 at 1:00 pm
yea!! b marshall is back to work on his strength…..he my second best WR on broncos roster behide J walker
August 10th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
I don’t agree with this move at all. Stokely and Rod are posession recievers. They can make the tough catch over the middle, but neither one of them is going to burn a db deep. We need Marshall’s speed to take pressure off of Javon and spread out the defense. We need guys to be healthy when the season starts, even if they are a little rusty. Aggrivating this injury would probably sideline him for the rest of the preseason and further disrupt the ability for him to build “chemistry” with Jay. Get him some reps in the 3rd or 4th preseason game and get him healthy for the start of the season. Unless somebody else has impressed Shanny so much during camp that he is thinking of replacing Marsh, I don’t think we need to be rushing him back. It will be VERY interesting to see how the depth chart at reciever shakes out during the season.
August 10th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
I doubt very much that Shanahan ‘rushed’ Marshall back on the field. The Broncos have the very best trainers and Greek is just plain awesome. If Shanahan heard from his people that Marshall was ready to go, but just didn’t trust the leg mentally, I think he did the right thing.
As Marshall says, Shanahan has been doing this type of thing for a long time. In this case it seems to have worked out.
Jonathan Douglas
www.mydenverobsession.com
August 10th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Also, some guys just respond better to that kind of leadership. They respond to someone telling them they think they can do something that the person doesn’t believe themselves. Sounds like Brandon may be that way. He said he ended up with a smile on his face, didn’t he?
August 10th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
This story really reminds me of when Sharpe used to try to sit out every practice, whether it was for his ankles or something else. He was already a valuable contributor on offense, but eventually Shanahan told him that if he didn’t practice he wouldn’t be with the team. It didn’t take long for Sharpe to turn it around and start making it to practice.
August 10th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
[…] Brandon Marshall was back at practice — and it was under the coach’s orders. Friday morning, Head Coach Mike Shanahan told the injured wide receiver that he would be donning the shoulder pads and going through the full morning’s work. “I told him this morning that he had to work through it. We took a look at the MRI (examination) and even though it is painful, it is supposed to be painful, but you have to work through it,” Shanahan said. Reported by denverbroncos.com […]
August 10th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
In some ways it’s kind of crappy that Shanahan had to do it this way. In my time following Shanahan, all one has to do is step the wrong way with him and they might find themselves in an unfixable situation (remember Eddie Kennison?). But by the same token, I think Shanahan had to get him out there or he would’ve had to face keeping unusable receivers (Marshall and Rod Smith so far) on the active roster and cutting some hidden gems. So this way, at least Marshall got out there and started competing for a spot. Let’s hope this doesn’t backfire in Shanahan’s face though. And by the way, where did the idea of Marshall having blazing speed come from? I know he got deceptive speed, but blazing? Let’s put it this way, his combine results sure didn’t demonstrate it. Yet, I look forward to being really wrong about him in this aspect!
August 10th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
I really think everyone is reading to far into this. I mean Andrew you put it clear right in front of us, he didn’t know what he would feel like when he was ready. He has an injured veteran in Rod Smith who is saying things like “I know when I will be ready”, so I am sure he though the same about himself. Give the guy a break he wasn’t skipping out on practice, like he said in his interview the guy hasn’t been injured really ever. I think he is going to be a great receiver for us, and I have him on my fantasy team expecting him to be a good sleeper. He is going to at least turn some heads this season, and set himself up for a good career.
August 10th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
I bet Rod Smith had some influence on Shanahan’s decision- Spending all of the time with Marshall on the sideline- Rod probably whispered to Shanahan that he needed to put a little pressure on Marshall to work through the pain. The time between Smith and Marshall together on the sideline for the last couple of weeks could have it’s own rewards in Marshall’s performance. Marshall’s young and probably thought he might injure it further and be out for a while if he practiced to soon. All part of the growing process.
August 10th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
I was at training camp today and thought Marshall looked great.
August 10th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
However; Maybe this is a bad sign. Could it be that B. Marshall is unable to play through any kind of injury? He sure didn’t look injured today.
August 10th, 2007 at 10:51 pm
Are we in trouble at receiver?? I’m starting to think so. I don’t think we’re going to get much out of Marshall. I think he might turn into another Watts. I hope I’m wrong. With Rod out, who’s going to play with Javon?? I just don’t think any of our young receivers can get it done.
August 11th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
What about our linebackers? Make a trade for Lance Briggs that would seal
our defence up. He’s an All Pro and we need some one to take Al’s place.
Make a move lets go to Arizona!!!!!!