Marshall trade means one less distraction for Bears
Friday's reported trade of Brandon Marshall to the New York Jets wasn't about what the Bears would get in return, it was about ensuring that the talented but controversial wide receiver did not return to the team for another season.
Call it addition by subtraction.
In the first major personnel move under the new regime of general manager Ryan Pace and coach John Fox, Marshall was sent packing, reportedly for just a fifth-round pick.
The trade, which was first reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter, does not become official until the start of the new league year at 3 p.m. Tuesday, and Marshall must also pass a physical.
It will the third time that the five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver has been traded despite seven consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. That streak ended last season when Marshall caught 61 passes for 721 yards, his worst numbers since his rookie season in 2006.
Marshall, who will turn 31 later this month, ended the 2014 season on injured reserve with fractured ribs and a bruised lung that forced him to miss the final three games. He was hampered by a sprained ankle in several games earlier in the season.
Marshall has previously worn out his welcome with the Denver Broncos, who shipped him to the Miami Dolphins for a pair of second-round picks in 2010. In turn, the Dolphins traded him to the Bears for two third-round picks in 2012.
In his first two years with the Bears, Marshall hauled in 218 passes for 2,803 yards and 23 touchdowns, the most prolific back-to-back receiving seasons in franchise history. He also stretched his streak of 1,000-yard seasons to seven before last year's drop-off. From 2007-13 Marshall was second in the NFL with 692 receptions and 8,741 receiving yards.
In addition to his diminished productivity in 2014, Marshall continued his longtime trend of seeming to put himself ahead of his team. He clashed with teammates and coaches, a distraction that the Bears' new bosses chose to eliminate. Marshall also said he hoped to continue his weekly trips during the season to New York on Tuesdays to serve as a panelist for Showtime's “Inside the NFL” TV show, which could not have helped his case.
The trade of Marshall gives the Bears an additional $3.95 million under the salary cap, which is $143.3 million this season. The Bears are now $31 million under the cap. Marshall's $7.5 million base salary would have been guaranteed if he was on the Bears' roster on March 12. He would have counted $9.575 against the salary cap this year.
But the Bears will take a $5.625 million cap hit for the prorated portion of the $7.5 million signing bonus that came with Marshall's $30 million deal, which was signed under previous GM Phil Emery before the 2014 season.
Without Marshall, now 6-foot-3, 216-pound Alshon Jeffery becomes the Bears' go-to receiver. The 2012 second-round draft pick out of South Carolina enjoyed a breakout, Pro Bowl season in 2013, when he caught 89 passes for 1,421 yards, second in franchise history only to Marshall's 1,508 yards in the same season. Jeffery's numbers dipped slightly last season to 85 catches and 1,133 yards, although his touchdown catches increased from 7 to 10.
For now, 2013 seventh-round draft pick Marquess Wilson is the No. 2 wide receiver on the Bears' depth chart. At 6-foot-4, the lanky 184-pound Wilson provides another big target, and he has flashed talent. But he missed the first nine games last season with a fractured collarbone suffered while making diving catch during training camp. Wilson returned late in the season to catch 17 passes for 140 yards.
The only other Bears wide receivers under contract are Josh Bellamy, who does not have a reception in parts of three NFL seasons, return specialist Marc Mariani, and practice squad player Rashad Lawrence.
This year's draft crop of wide receivers is extremely talented and deep, and as many as 11 could be selected in the first two rounds.
There is also a solid group of veteran wide receivers slated to hit the free-agent market next Tuesday, including the Packers' Randall Cobb, the Ravens' Torrey Smith, the Eagles' Jeremy Maclin and the 49ers' Michael Crabtree.
On Wednesday, the Bears talked to ex-Dolphins wide receiver Brian Hartline who was cut by his former team last week despite 1,000-yard seasons in 2012 and 2013.
Clausen in fold:
The Bears have also reportedly agreed to a one-year contract with backup quarterback Jimmy Clausen.
The five-year veteran started one game for the Bears last season when Jay Cutler was benched. Clausen completed 23 of 39 passes for 181 yards, 2 touchdowns, an interception and a 71.8 passer rating in a 20-14 loss to the Lions. But he suffered a concussion late in that game and did not play in the season finale.
Last year's start was Clausen's first since he went 1-9 in 2010 as the rookie starter for John Fox' 2-14 Carolina Panthers.
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