Marshall's benching makes big-money deal in Denver even more unlikely

DENVER -- The dissolution of marriages usually occur over time, not from one incident (see Jay Cutler v. Denver's NFL franchise in the Mile High City). Yet there are watershed moments preceding such breakups.

The relationship between receiver Brandon Marshall and the Broncos, a rocky one for sure but seemingly patched up in recent months, may have reached the stage of irreconcilable differences Friday after coach Josh McDaniels openly questioned his star player's "accountability" and desire to play through injury.

Josh McDaniels' relationship with Brandon Marshall is not looking up. (Getty Images)

What was lost in the translation is that Marshall believed his injury was the sole reason for his pending DNP status. He never saw it coming that McDaniels would then go and tell the assembled Denver media in pointed terms that the receiver's absence boils down to a lack of commitment.

"There are a lot of players that will play with a lot of things on Sunday that are a lot worse than that," the coach said numerous times in various ways.

Marshall likely wasn't going to play anyway -- the player's words, given the extent of his hamstring problem. Still, McDaniels made a point of calling out the receiver he'd earlier sent home for insubordination this summer in very public fashion.

"It's disheartening to do something like this at this point in time, but .... I want guys on the field who are dying to play as hard as they can play, with whatever, to try and get us to the playoffs," McDaniels said.

Marshall, on balance, was composed in his reaction, even though he was genuinely shocked when apprised at McDaniels' salvos.

However, Marshall did some verbal counterpunching, too.

"If he decides to take some personal shots because the way the season's unfolding, then it's not my fault," the receiver said.

A 2-7 stretch has put Denver in danger of joining the 1978 Redskins and 2003 Vikings as the only teams in NFL history to open a season 6-0 yet fail to make the playoffs. The Broncos need a win Sunday and help from elsewhere to reach the postseason.

That scenario prompted McDaniels to announce at a team meeting Wednesday morning that accountability was "our word for the week."

"Anybody who showed indifference to that," McDaniels related, "we'll play without him and play well anyway."

McDaniels was careful to avoid saying that deactivating Marshall was due to conduct detrimental but instead "a coaching decision," leaving the receiver's status for any potential playoff games as "wait and see." The coach did say Marshall didn't miss treatment, had done everything he was asked to do and hadn't refused to practice.

Asked if Marshall was thinking about contract above team, McDaniels responded "I don't know," three straight times.

Which is the elephant in the room here.

Marshall is a restricted free agent, coming off three straight 100-catch seasons. And while the wide receiver insisted he "can't run 50 percent" on his hamstring, which had no structural damage according to an MRI taken this week, he didn't do much to dispel that his future is squarely on his mind, either.

It was Marshall's behavior in training camp due to unhappiness over his contract -- particularly after what appears to be a misdiagnosed hip injury last season -- that led to his suspension and, afterward, a depth-chart demotion. Marshall worked his way back into the lineup and is unquestionably the team's No. 1 offensive weapon right now.

"I'm the type of guy who's going to give it up on every play in every game, especially for obvious reasons," Marshall noted, in an allusion to his contract status, adding, "I'm playing for a lot. Every game I go out there playing, to give it my all, trying to achieve my goals. For me not to be out there probably hurts me more than anybody else. I have a lot of goals I want to achieve and it's not just this game but every game this year."

Marshall was adamant that his health is the crux of the current matter and was taken aback that his effort was being questioned by McDaniels.

"I'm giving it my all," he said, adding, "It's bad timing."

Marshall did take a not-so-thinly veiled potshot that's sure to rankle McDaniels.

"I don't think coach ever played in the NFL, and for my hamstring feeling the way it's felt, it's tough for me to go out there and play at a high level," Marshall maintained. "I've played through a lot of injuries before. I played all last year with a tear in my hip, so I don't think my toughness is in question here."

The soap opera feel harkens back to the Cutler situation this offseason. Cutler publicly was labeled the franchise quarterback by McDaniels, but when the player caught wind of some back-channel trade talks at his position, communication broke down to the point where Cutler was dealt to Chicago.

Given Marshall's history of off-field troubles, his training camp hissy-fit and the latest drama, it would be extremely surprising if this situation ends with Marshall signing a new big-money contract with Denver.

Asked if this affected the receiver's future, McDaniels responded, "I'm not worried about that right now."

To his credit, Marshall has been more 'team-centric' since camp, at least publicly. That's why Friday's events came out of the blue.

"It is what it is," McDaniels said. "It's never going to be acceptable while I'm here and while this staff is here and while we're trying to build our team with this [team-first] philosophy. I don't know if it was acceptable before. But it's not acceptable now and it never will be. And this isn't about sending a message. This is about fielding a team that wants to go out and win and give us the best opportunity to do that. And that's what we're going to do."

Marshall was asked point blank if this is the final nail in the coffin in his Denver career.

"Anything I do moving forward is going to be done in a professional manner," he responded. "I'm not going to get into any 'he said-she said,' like we've done in the past. I think that's childish."

Marshall's absence could have huge implications in the short term. Denver already is short-handed at receiver, with three healthy bodies: Brandon Stokley, Jabar Gaffney and Brandon Lloyd. Eddie Royal (head/neck) has been a limited participant this week and is listed as questionable on the injury report. If he's unavailable, the team will activate Matt Willis off the practice squad so that three- and four-receiver sets can be employed.

A side note to the Marshall drama is that tight end Tony Scheffler may be experiencing similar fallout from the "accountability" audit. Scheffler ran scout team this week and there's a chance he could be deactivated Sunday, too.

Reaction in the locker room was, in a word, shock.

But tight end Daniel Graham, who played for McDaniels in New England prior to the coach's arrival in Denver and is one of the team's captains, at least was aware of the mentality from which the decision was derived.

"Just coming from the same place he came from, it's a no-nonsense mentality," Graham said. "We're professionals. We're all here to work. He expects everyone to come here and work, and it's his decision and what he feels is best for the team."

Graham added dealing with another Marshall issue is "frustrating."

"He has been a good teammate. Brandon is Brandon. He has his ups and downs," Graham said. "I can't speak much more on that. I'm worried about just the 53 guys we're going to have on Sunday to get this win, this important win we need."