Hopefully Marshall isn’t taking us all for a ride

The way Brandon Marshall sounded at his introductory news conference here, something much more important than Super Bowls is riding on his level of sincerity.

“I want to change lives, save lives,” Marshall said.

Did Marshall say what he means and mean what he said? Who knows?

Jay Cutler, who grew up in the NFL with Marshall at Denver, believes he does.

“He’s a special guy,” Cutler said.

Few around Chicago know the Bears’ new wide receiver as well as their incumbent quarterback does.

The rest of us will continue to have doubts wrapped in skepticism until further review.

The world — including the sports world, perhaps especially the sports world — is populated by con men who speak sweet out of one side of their mouths and bite sour out of the other side.

Sometimes they try to con you into thinking they’re something they aren’t. Sometimes they try to con themselves into thinking they’re something they aren’t. Sometimes they try to con you, themselves and everyone else into thinking they’re something they aren’t.

Too many athletes tell you they aren’t cheating when they are, that they’re reformed when they aren’t, that they’re not guilty when they are, that they’re good people when they aren’t.

I’ll say this about Brandon Marshall: If he’s hustling us, he belongs in the Con Man Hall of Fame.

Superficial first impressions are that this is one charming guy. He stood up at Halas Hall impeccably dressed, with an engaging smile, timely head nods and thoughtful pauses that made his audience hang on each developing thought.

My goodness, Marshall mentioned the “community” he wants to serve nearly as often as the football team he’s ready to join.

Marshall came across as genuinely touched that the Bears provided him the opportunity to wear their hallowed helmet and uniform and to walk out their Soldier Field tunnel.

Yes — again, who knows? — this might have been a con.

I used to believe every athlete trying to convince me of something. Then I started not believing any of them.

Now I reserve judgment.

“I definitely have to prove I’m going to be an asset to this team, an asset to the community,” Marshall said.

While doubting everybody, I’m willing to give all of them another chance — sometimes another and another and another.

That goes for Marshall, whose rap sheet stretches longer than Cutler can throw it and who just last week a woman accused of striking her.

Marshall declared he is innocent. I hope he is. Why? Because if he is the changed man he says he is, we’re talking about someone even more special than Cutler says he is.

It’s one thing for football players to say they want to win football games. It’s something else for them to say they want to save lives.

Marshall was diagnosed last year with borderline personality disorder. Now, according to him, he wants to help others suffering from mental illness.

Is this just one more athlete’s scam? Who knows?

In the wider scope of mankind, not much rides on Marshall’s sincerity if all that’s at stake is the Bears’ won-loss record.

But much is at stake if this long-troubled football player sincerely wants to use his football platform to help other long-troubled people.

Seriously, who knows what Brandon Marshall really is up to? All I do know is I hope Marshall is more can-do than con-you.

Then he’ll be able to do some good for others struggling with mental illness while still doing some damage for the Bears.

mimrem@dailyherald.com