Marshall makes a Broncos practice, with some prodding

[dragondawg]

By FRANK SCHWAB
THE GAZETTE

ENGLEWOOD – Receiver Brandon Marshall finally participated in a training camp practice after Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan prodded him to return.

Marshall missed every practice of training camp with a quadriceps injury before this morning, when he was back on the field.

“I told him to go this morning,” Shanahan said. “I told him, 'you’ve got to work through it.'”

The Broncos had a magnetic resonance imaging test done on Marshall’s quadriceps, and the test showed no muscle damage. He did have some scar tissue, which probably was causing the pain and keeping him out of practice.

Marshall said the only injury that has kept him out of practice in his life was a knee injury that knocked him out of most of the preseason last year. He admitted he wouldn’t have practiced if it were up to him, but said his inexperience with injuries made him hesitant to practice again.

Marshall said he had some pain at first, but as the scar tissue broke up, he felt good and kept going into drills even though the team told him to take it easy. Finally, Marshall said trainer Steve Antonopulos had to force him to stop.

“It probably took coach Shanahan and (Antonopulos) to get me out there and push me to be aggressive on it and don’t be so gun shy,” Marshall said.

Shanahan said after reviewing tests and X-rays that the team was confident that Marshall couldn’t hurt himself further.

“These doctors have been doing this for a long time and they get a good feel if we’re putting someone at risk or if it’s the proper time to go,” Shanahan said.

http://www.gazette.com/sports/marshall_25900___article.html/practice_shanahan.html

[WoodMan]

I am glad to see Brandon Marshall back on the field. Now we have two Brandons for Cutler to throw too. Stokley and Marshall. Funny that last year we had two Bells? Just a stupid coinkidink that I noticed. The Killer Bees?

[SportinOne]

Whether this kid pans out or not, at least we don't have to look at Ashley's chicken arms anymore. He was making Todd Pinkston jealous.

[ZONA]

nice - let him do one practice per day for now and if all signs are good after 2 or 3 more, then let him go all out.

[Kaylore]

Whether this kid pans out or not, at least we don't have to look at Ashley's chicken arms anymore. He was making Todd Pinkston jealous.

Marshall has bulked up and is a beast. He's very impressive up close. Shanahan mentioned that he's been hitting the weight room hard this offseason, so if nothing else he's very well developed physically.

[ZONA]

Marshall has bulked up and is a beast. He's very impressive up close. Shanahan mentioned that he's been hitting the weight room hard this offseason, so if nothing else he's very well developed physically.

Yeah - it's like having Shannon Sharpe on the outside but with better speed. Here's to Marshall putting the corner on his arse while blocking in the running game !!!

[AboveAverage]

I love the fact the Marshall is back on the field, but still can't get over the fact that he basically had to be pushed out there. I hope he learns something from this experience.

[SportinOne]

That's good to hear. We always knew he was a specimen coming out of college but i know a few of us probably wondered if he would lose some of that due to the injury and the time off. That's part of what's going to make him a great player.

[snowspot66]

I love the fact the Marshall is back on the field, but still can't get over the fact that he basically had to be pushed out there. I hope he learns something from this experience.

If you've never really been injured before, and the injury is still hurting, you're not going to know that it can be hurting and alright at the same time. I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt on this one. Muscle pulls and joint injuries feel different, now he's had a little of both. Just a bit of experience to put under the belt.

[cutthemdown]

sounds like Marshall needs to get tougher or take a walk. This year will be his make or break year IMO. If he doesn't show toughness Broncos will move on.

[Cito Pelon]

I love the fact the Marshall is back on the field, but still can't get over the fact that he basically had to be pushed out there. I hope he learns something from this experience.

Are you questioning his heart?

[Bob's your Information Minister]

Marshall has bulked up and is a beast. He's very impressive up close. Shanahan mentioned that he's been hitting the weight room hard this offseason, so if nothing else he's very well developed physically.

Wasn't he already 230 lbs?

[listopencil]

I wish Marshall would prod me. Shannahan too.


You're sick.

[Cito Pelon]

sounds like Marshall needs to get tougher or take a walk. This year will be his make or break year IMO. If he doesn't show toughness Broncos will move on.

I bet that was how the staff presented the situation to him.

[Domostick]

Marshall is very important to be healthy this year. Last year he had a DVOA ranking of -6.0 which was below Walker's astronomical numbers but much better than Smith's. But more important to the offense is Tony Scheffler. He had a DVOA of 8.6% which was slightly below Walker's numbers of 10.1%, indicating that he was very clutch and important to the passing offense.

[Willynowei]

We need this kid, he is a probowler easily with a decent work ethic.

Its a simple formula really, can you get open, and then can you catch? He can do both. Thats why Shanny wants him out there so quick, he knows he's got a baby TO on the sidelines, hopefully minus the attitude though.

[That One Guy]

We need this kid, he is a probowler easily with a decent work ethic.

Its a simple formula really, can you get open, and then can you catch? He can do both. Thats why Shanny wants him out there so quick, he knows he's got a baby TO on the sidelines, hopefully minus the attitude though.

So far he's got the preseason injuries down.

[cutthemdown]

Broncos will give a player a few years to make it if they show toughness. If not they are usually gone. Marshall is now being judged on his toughness and not his talent. If he shows some toughness and works through this it could be just the challenge he needs to figure it all out. He gains a little confidence and he might just be able to get ready for the season and make a contribution.

[That One Guy]

I think the fact that an MRI showed damage really helps the guy's cause here. If it actually shows muscle damage, then how can they really say he should be out there practicing in preseason? Even if he was behind and couldn't start until week 3, it's better to have him for 13 weeks of the regular season than make him play in the preseason and then lose him for another 6 weeks or something before he can come in. Maybe this will become an issue if every preseason he has injuries or if the team can't rely on him being healthy during the season but why push it too much in the offseason? The fact that physically he's in such great shape helps his cause as well, obviously he wasn't just going through the motions while on the sidelines.

[Cito Pelon]

I think the fact that an MRI showed damage really helps the guy's cause here. If it actually shows muscle damage, then how can they really say he should be out there practicing in preseason? Even if he was behind and couldn't start until week 3, it's better to have him for 13 weeks of the regular season than make him play in the preseason and then lose him for another 6 weeks or something before he can come in. Maybe this will become an issue if every preseason he has injuries or if the team can't rely on him being healthy during the season but why push it too much in the offseason? The fact that physically he's in such great shape helps his cause as well, obviously he wasn't just going through the motions while on the sidelines.

I guess the bottom line is the staff wants him on the field, even if he's not 100%. Interesting that Walker was highlighted as taking the practice field for the afternoon session even though many vets took the afternoon off, yesterday I believe that was (?). The kid has to be feeling pressure to do something, anything, just get on the field.

[ND Bronco Fan]

If this is really his first injury he will figure out what it takes, never being injured you feel off but will learn to plow through and deal with it, like a sprained ankle-the sooner you can get through the pain the sooner it will be better. (thats how I have dealt with them)

[frerottenextelway]

>>Marshall said he had some pain at first, but as the scar tissue broke up, he felt good and kept going into drills even though the team told him to take it easy. Finally, Marshall said trainer Steve Antonopulos had to force him to stop.<<

You know, I think we all agree that we wanted him out there for awhile now, and that he probably should have been. ... But as long as this doesn't come to be a pattern, I think we owe him the benefit of the doubt and chalk it up to being young and ignorant on injuries, and to put this entire ''wuss'' thing behind us.

[chaz]

sounds like Marshall needs to get tougher or take a walk. This year will be his make or break year IMO. If he doesn't show toughness Broncos will move on.

It has nothing to do with being tough...it was simply the fact that he had never been injured before so he don't know the difference between being hurt and being injured...I think it is pretty understandable as an athlete who has had a good number of injuries, I can see why he was naturally cautious. But overall I think shanahan made a good call in giving him a push in the right direction, and i think Brandon has learned something, don't see it being a problem in the future.

[mhgaffney]

Something tells me this 07 team is going to be special -- and a hell of a lot of fun to watch!

[sgbfan]

Give the guy a break. He is a football player, not a doctor. If I were in his shoes, I wouldn't go until I was sure that I wasn't going to get hurt any more by running. I would much rather him miss the first two weeks of pre-season that the first 5 games of the season, as would he and coach shanahan and I bet most of you. Carlos Boozer missed 50 games 2 seasons ago with a hamstring injury because he tried to return too early a few times. I would rather err on the side of caution every time.

[cutthemdown]

It has nothing to do with being tough...it was simply the fact that he had never been injured before so he don't know the difference between being hurt and being injured...I think it is pretty understandable as an athlete who has had a good number of injuries, I can see why he was naturally cautious. But overall I think shanahan made a good call in giving him a push in the right direction, and i think Brandon has learned something, don't see it being a problem in the future.

It has everything to do with being tough both mentally and physically. I do agree though that as a young player you chalk it up to inexperience rather then saying he can't be tough. Toughness is something that a player can learn to be by watching other players and experiencing playing through injuries. So it's time for Marshall to learn, toughen up and get on the field.

[DivineLegion]

sounds like Marshall needs to get tougher or take a walk. This year will be his make or break year IMO. If he doesn't show toughness Broncos will move on.

Take a walk...? What did Lelie do to this team, Marshall is in his SECOND year! Why are people giving up on him?

[ZONA]

It has everything to do with being tough both mentally and physically. I do agree though that as a young player you chalk it up to inexperience rather then saying he can't be tough. Toughness is something that a player can learn to be by watching other players and experiencing playing through injuries. So it's time for Marshall to learn, toughen up and get on the field.


This optimism after saying earlier he needs to take a walk? When some guys have never had injuries and they all of a sudden have them, it's hard for them to learn how to trust playing with one. Get off the kids back - he'll be fine.

[cutthemdown]

This optimism after saying earlier he needs to take a walk? When some guys have never had injuries and they all of a sudden have them, it's hard for them to learn how to trust playing with one. Get off the kids back - he'll be fine.

actually I said get tougher or take a walk. Yes I do believe that another couple episodes like this one hes going through and Broncos will move on. But my quote was toughen up or take a walk, I never said he needs to take a walk period. But if he goes all year being sort of injured on and off I will probably start to think he's not going to make it. He sort of struggled through injuries last year also. Players only get so many chances to break through as a starter. Guys like Nate Jackson and Jeff Shoat though do prove that Broncos will be patient. For sure though I still have optimism when it comes to Marshall I think he can learn the difference between being hurt and being injured. We will know about Marshall soon enough because Broncos are going to give him every chance to be the number 2 WR.

[Bob]

I think the fact that an MRI showed damage really helps the guy's cause here. If it actually shows muscle damage, then how can they really say he should be out there practicing in preseason? Even if he was behind and couldn't start until week 3, it's better to have him for 13 weeks of the regular season than make him play in the preseason and then lose him for another 6 weeks or something before he can come in. Maybe this will become an issue if every preseason he has injuries or if the team can't rely on him being healthy during the season but why push it too much in the offseason? The fact that physically he's in such great shape helps his cause as well, obviously he wasn't just going through the motions while on the sidelines.

He is a newbe, and needs the reps ...

Its not like he is an entrenched starter with 5 years in.... so, if he was unlikely to hurt himself -- of course he should be out there getting his timing down with Cutler.

[footstepsfrom#27]

None of us know the nature of Marshall's pain threshold, nor are we doctors. So let's give the kid AND the team's medical staff the benefit of the doubt. I'm just glad he's back.

[Drek]

None of us know the nature of Marshall's pain threshold, nor are we doctors. So let's give the kid AND the team's medical staff the benefit of the doubt. I'm just glad he's back.

Well a high pain threshold is pretty essential to being a good pro football player, so if it isn't high that'll be a problem for him throughout his career.

I don't believe that to be true though. How many of you would go sprinting and cutting when you feel significant soreness and tightness in your hamstring? Add the fact that Marshall, as a pro athlete, has probably heard more than his fair share of stories about guys injuring themselves, rushing it back, and having it take away a whole season of productivity from them.

My only issue is just how much prodding did it take. Did the medical staff tell Marshall it was good to go initially, then Shanahan had to step in, or were all parties involved the first go around. Marshall has plenty of room for inexperience at this point, but very little for stubbornness, especially with the medical and training staff.

[Meck77]

The way I see it if Shanny gave Lilly and Watts the time Marshall deserves his. Marshall is a beast compared to either of those guys without a doubt but he's just going to learn how to play with pain. It's that simple.

[baja]

Much do about nothing. Marshall (and Greek) thought he should stay out of practice, he took an MRI and was cleared to practice and did so.

Being subjected to Rick Tutin all day I am sure is no picnic. Yesterday was probably his easiest day in two weeks.

[footstepsfrom#27]

Well a high pain threshold is pretty essential to being a good pro football player, so if it isn't high that'll be a problem for him throughout his career.
Everything is relative. ALL pro football players have high thresholds of pain. If they didn't they wouldn't be in this league, or probably have made it through college. My point is...nobody but him knows his own body, and fans need to shut up about it. It's 11 days for pete's sake. It's not like the guy is trying to get out of training camp like TO does.
I don't believe that to be true though. How many of you would go sprinting and cutting when you feel significant soreness and tightness in your hamstring? Add the fact that Marshall, as a pro athlete, has probably heard more than his fair share of stories about guys injuring themselves, rushing it back, and having it take away a whole season of productivity from them.
Agreed. Missing a bit of training camp is not the end of the world. He'll be good to go in a couple of weeks in terms of his playing time and it's not going to even matter. He's not a rookie who doesn't know thte play book, and from all reports, the guy keeps himself in shape.
My only issue is just how much prodding did it take. Did the medical staff tell Marshall it was good to go initially, then Shanahan had to step in, or were all parties involved the first go around. Marshall has plenty of room for inexperience at this point, but very little for stubbornness, especially with the medical and training staff.
I don't think any of that's even an issue. People imagine stuff and make things up in their minds. Shanahan mentions his name and somebody thinks they saw him look funny or they caught a pause in his voice and the next thing you know we have a story about how the kid's in the doghouse. Pro atheltes deal with these issues reguarly with coaches and trainers and 99% of the time I'm sure there's some push to get them going ASAP...often a bit faster than the athlete thinks is right. At the end of the day, this is a non-story and something to talk about when there's nothing to talk about.

[Willynowei]

I don't think the problem here is that Marshall is afraid to play through pain, I think he's afraid of hurting himself more. He had a similar mental meltdown last year when he got hurt, I think Shanahan shook him up and is giving him a chance to get straightened out. This kid definitely is a little shook up in the head, that much is obvious.

As for the whole toughness thing, Footsteps has it right, I doubt any of these football players have trouble dealing with the pain of these minor injuries. Maybe in between plays, but in the middle of a play I don't know that its even possible to feel pain, your body blocks it out, pretty much.

Really, if you're out there trying to knock someone out or keep yourself conscious over a crossing route, there is no freakin way you're feeling the pain of your injuries. The problem is when you try to avoid being hit in a spot b/c you are afraid of getting hurt worse. Then you get tentative, then of course, you get your a**kicked.

[cutthemdown]

I find it odd that after watching the amount of football most of the poeple on this board have they feel toughness is relative to the individual and therefore not something you can measure or gauge. That's a bunch of BS. Football is all about whose tougher, who can endure more pain and still perform. One poster said we don't know what Marshalls threshold for pain is. Well we don't have a measuring stick for toughness is't all in perception. But I percieve him to be soft because of what I hear and see. If his threshold for pain is so low that he can't play when someone else would be able to then he's not tough enough. I'm not on the team so I have to go by what it seems like coaching staff is saying. To me coaching staff is saying get on the field or you will soon be gone. Maybe you all disagree and don't see it that way but I think that's the way it is. Football is a brutal sport and if your not mentally and physically tough you won't make it. Marshall is an unproven player, only proven players get to nurse injuries to save themselves for the season. Young players like Marshall still have to prove themsleves before they get that benefit of the doubt.

[cutthemdown]

Sounds like Marshall had another good practice and is going to be ok. I really hope so we need another WR to step up big time.

[Los Broncos]

Good to see him healthy

If hes one hundred percent i like our chances with Walker and Stokley

[cutthemdown]

Walker/Marshall/Stokely/Scheffler/Graham/Henry actually seems scary good to me but you never know if you are being objective when you are a rabid fan. I want then so much to be good it may be clouding my judgement. But breaking it down I see it as Walker needing to be doubled, Marshall so big he would then prob get a mismatch, Scheffler able to outrun linebackers, Graham too big for safties and Henry a tough guy to tackle. It all points to Shanny finding mismatches easy as he is the master of that.

[cmhargrove]

I find it odd that after watching the amount of football most of the poeple on this board have they feel toughness is relative to the individual and therefore not something you can measure or gauge. That's a bunch of BS. Football is all about whose tougher, who can endure more pain and still perform. One poster said we don't know what Marshalls threshold for pain is. Well we don't have a measuring stick for toughness is't all in perception. But I percieve him to be soft because of what I hear and see. If his threshold for pain is so low that he can't play when someone else would be able to then he's not tough enough. I'm not on the team so I have to go by what it seems like coaching staff is saying. To me coaching staff is saying get on the field or you will soon be gone. Maybe you all disagree and don't see it that way but I think that's the way it is. Football is a brutal sport and if your not mentally and physically tough you won't make it. Marshall is an unproven player, only proven players get to nurse injuries to save themselves for the season. Young players like Marshall still have to prove themsleves before they get that benefit of the doubt.

A torn muscle doesn't work as well as a healed one. It was torn, they proved that by and MRI. What is there to understand? Running with torn or damaged parts could cause more damage. It's not always about being tough, sometimes its about being smart.

I, too, have played sports with significant injuries, but when I play injured i'm not nearly as good. Why don't we give Marshall a chance to prove himself when it counts before we call him a puss. The team (and receiving corps) look on schedule for coming together by Buffalo. Also, it has allowed our other young receivers to get a lot of important reps - that will only help the team.

Why aren't you calling Rod Smith soft also? Should he just "play through the pain?"

[cutthemdown]

A torn muscle doesn't work as well as a healed one. It was torn, they proved that by and MRI. What is there to understand? Running with torn or damaged parts could cause more damage. It's not always about being tough, sometimes its about being smart.

I, too, have played sports with significant injuries, but when I play injured i'm not nearly as good. Why don't we give Marshall a chance to prove himself when it counts before we call him a puss. The team (and receiving corps) look on schedule for coming together by Buffalo. Also, it has allowed our other young receivers to get a lot of important reps - that will only help the team.

Why aren't you calling Rod Smith soft also? Should he just "play through the pain?"

Rod Smith is different he is a proven vet that won Superbowls he gets way more leeway. I'm not calling Marshall a puss I said get out there and play. If he goes out and gets hurt again then takes forever to get better I might. I never once said anything about Marshall toughening up until I got that impression from the coaching staff. All I said was that if he's being called out he better step up and show something or Broncos will move on. Rod Smith is a proven vet and has nothing to prove. The coaching staff knows that if Rod says he can't go he means it. With a younger unproven player like Marshall you question a little more. I'm not saying Marshall a puss, I'm not saying he isn't tough, I'm not saying he isn't going to make it. I'm saying that too many more times in the training room before he has proved himself and Broncos will IMO look elsewhere next year for a young WR. IMO trying to compare Marshall to Rod Smith is about as far off as you can get.

[Cito Pelon]

A torn muscle doesn't work as well as a healed one. It was torn, they proved that by and MRI. What is there to understand? Running with torn or damaged parts could cause more damage. It's not always about being tough, sometimes its about being smart.

I, too, have played sports with significant injuries, but when I play injured i'm not nearly as good. Why don't we give Marshall a chance to prove himself when it counts before we call him a puss. The team (and receiving corps) look on schedule for coming together by Buffalo. Also, it has allowed our other young receivers to get a lot of important reps - that will only help the team.

Why aren't you calling Rod Smith soft also? Should he just "play through the pain?"

I think the staff has figured the team is better off with Marshall at 80% than their other options. I've played on many a team and coached on many a team, and I found out that if people are expecting big things from you as a player, you better hide the injuries. Then you go out and play at 80-90% - and your production is concomitant - but you get as many kudos and admirers for playing hurt and not producing as you would for for your 100% production.

When I've coached, I've also told players "You play, period. I don't care if you can't do this, can't do that, you can do everything else, so you get out there and you play. We'll cover for you on what you can't do, you get out there and do what you can do." I figure that situation is what Marshall has been presented.

[sgbfan]

I think the staff has figured the team is better off with Marshall at 80% than their other options. I've played on many a team and coached on many a team, and I found out that if people are expecting big things from you as a player, you better hide the injuries. Then you go out and play at 80-90% - and your production is concomitant - but you get as many kudos and admirers for playing hurt and not producing as you would for for your 100% production.

When I've coached, I've also told players "You play, period. I don't care if you can't do this, can't do that, you can do everything else, so you get out there and you play. We'll cover for you on what you can't do, you get out there and do what you can do." I figure that situation is what Marshall has been presented.

I think that is kind of stupid to say. The coaches waited until they were confident that it wouldn't be worse off having him play now. He was kept out until they were sure. It had nothing to do with the other options.

[Jana®]

Glad to see he's out there.

[footstepsfrom#27]

I find it odd that after watching the amount of football most of the poeple on this board have they feel toughness is relative to the individual and therefore not something you can measure or gauge. That's a bunch of BS. Football is all about whose tougher, who can endure more pain and still perform. One poster said we don't know what Marshalls threshold for pain is. Well we don't have a measuring stick for toughness is't all in perception. But I percieve him to be soft because of what I hear and see.
What I find funny is that a fan in an easy chair with a beer and the remote is commenting on how soft a pro football player is...LOL
If his threshold for pain is so low that he can't play when someone else would be able to then he's not tough enough. I'm not on the team so I have to go by what it seems like coaching staff is saying.
They said nothing of the sort.
To me coaching staff is saying get on the field or you will soon be gone.
You read this...where?
Maybe you all disagree and don't see it that way but I think that's the way it is. Football is a brutal sport and if your not mentally and physically tough you won't make it. Marshall is an unproven player, only proven players get to nurse injuries to save themselves for the season. Young players like Marshall still have to prove themsleves before they get that benefit of the doubt.
It's eleven freaking days for cripes sake. Thant's nothing. I guess we should throw out our rising star receiver into a meaningless exhibition game and risk the chance of losing him from the season. I'm pretty sure the medical staff and the coaches have all this well in hand and don't need us telling them when the players need to come back.

[TomServo]

if the trainers and doctors thought for minute he could injure himself further, no way would they let him back on the field.
remember B.O. excuse me T.O. on the bike last summer while his teamates were doing two a days?
i think he'll be just fine. but if anyone thinks the broncos would risk their investment by making him pratice are crazy.

[enjolras]

if the trainers and doctors thought for minute he could injure himself further, no way would they let him back on the field.
remember B.O. excuse me T.O. on the bike last summer while his teamates were doing two a days?
i think he'll be just fine. but if anyone thinks the broncos would risk their investment by making him pratice are crazy.

That's not always the case. Parcells is notorious for this.. he pushes the doctors and the player back out onto the field. A couple of times in Dallas they lost starters for significant amounts of time because the medical staff appeared to terrified of Parcells.

I'm not saying Shannahan is doing that at all (he seems quite reasonable on the whole injury front.. very Steve Walsh in that regard), just saying that the medical staff isn't always so cautious in their assessments.