Chicago Bears Are Better off Letting Brandon Marshall’s Play Do the Talking
Published by Bob Warja on December 12, 2012
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
Look, I love Brandon Marshall and shake my head at the thought of where this awful Bears offense would be without him. But come on man, why would you wake a sleeping giant like this?
In case you hadn’t heard, Chicago’s erstwhile receiver and resident “Mr. Everything” on offense called out the Green Bay Packers, according to this article by ESPNChicago’s Michael C.Wright. In it, Marshall is quoted as saying the following:
“I had this game marked since we played them last. I heard exactly what the corner Tramon (Williams) was saying after the game,” Marshall said. “(Charles) Woodson, those guys do a lot of talking. Coach Capers did an amazing job of game planning us and game planning me. I didn’t beat double coverage and triple coverage or whatever they were throwing at us. I take it as a slap in my face when guys talk about my lack of ability to do something against them when they have help all over the place.”
And when Packers players check ESPN, and don’t believe for a moment that they will not, they will see the following headline: “Marshall challenges Packers.”
We simply don’t need that.
If memory serves correctly, Marshall and Jay Cutler were talking it up prior to the last Bears-Packers matchup and we all know how badly that turned out. So, for Marshall to be spouting off like that again seems rather stupid to me.
It is not a wise thing to poke the bear that way. Even Lovie Smith, who took pains to not criticize Marshall, had this to say in response to the chatter: “Talking just doesn’t get an awful lot done.”
However, I disagree with the Bears head coach on one point.
It does get one thing done, and that is to anger a Packers team that can lock up a division title with a win over the Bears on Sunday.
I don’t think that’s what Marshall had in mind when he spoke, but then again I’m not sure what would possess him to be saying anything at this point. Sure, he’s playing well, but the Bears are coming into the game with their tail dragging, having lost four of their last five outings.
Additionally, Marshall had his worst performance of the season against Green Bay in Week 2, catching just two passes for 24 yards and dropping a potential touchdown pass.
Marshall’s point is just plain silly.
He’s saying that the reason the Packers shut him down last time was not due to the play of the secondary, but instead was the result of defensive coordinator Dom Capers.
But even if that’s true, so what? His job is to stop the Bears offense and everyone knows that the offense begins and ends with No. 15.
The truth of the matter is that if Green Bay insists on double or even triple-teaming Marshall, somebody must be open.
It’s up to Cutler to find that guy and up to the receiver to catch the ball.
Meanwhile, the Packers don’t need any extra motivation right now, and Marshall just can’t be giving them bulletin board material.
He’s a great wideout, but nobody said he was the sharpest tool in the shed.
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