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Broncos' Marshall goes on offense, says Porter's the 'soft' one

By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 4, 2008 at 9:39 p.m.

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Brandon Marshall responded to criticism from Joey Porter with a few shots of his own.

Photo by Ronald Martinez / Getty Images

Brandon Marshall responded to criticism from Joey Porter with a few shots of his own.

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Brandon Marshall on Tuesday lashed out at Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter, who labeled the Broncos receiver as "soft" and prone to "mope and cry" when he's taken out of a game by the opposing defense.

Speaking at his locker as the Broncos began preparations for the Cleveland Browns, Marshall seemed amused and bemused Porter called him out publicly after the Broncos' 26-17 loss.

Porter maintained Marshall, who was limited to season lows in catches (two) and yards (27), was rode "into the dirt" by his trash talking.

"You've got to understand the situation. They're winning. We're going back and forth and he won because they won the game," Marshall said. "It had nothing to do with us going back and forth. He ran with it. And he ran with it pretty good. But getting in my head? Never.

"He can't get in my head because I'm always trying to make plays and make things happen. I'm never shutting down. I don't care if we're down 40 points or up by 40 points, I'm never shutting it down. I'm going to try and do my best and make plays."

Marshall turned the soft label right back on Porter, who leads the NFL with 111/2 sacks this season and is a prime candidate for the league's Defensive Player of the Year award.

"Joey Porter's one of those guys when you've got guys who talk a lot of trash and want to talk about people or put people down, they have their own insecurities," Marshall said. "His insecurities, I don't know.

"But he's definitely one of those guys who, all those muscles are popcorn muscles. He's soft. We hear stories floating around the league all the time about him, as far as him being in nightclubs, dancing with his shirt off like a girl or in the playground getting beat up back in California.

"He's one of those guys that, no matter how big he is, he can still get knocked on his butt. He's soft. And you can tell the way he's talking. His nickname's 'Peezy.' I don't know what 'Peezy' is . . . Joey."

Marshall punctuated his diatribe with a mischievous grin.

It has been an eventful week for Marshall. He drew praise and scorn during his postgame news conference after he lamented Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler hadn't looked his way enough and questioned Denver's defensive scheme that played "off" coverage on Dolphins receiver Greg Camarillo, who had 11 catches for 111 yards.

"It was one of those questions I was asked and that was my response," Marshall said of his take on the defense, adding he was making observations from the outside looking in. "Probably some of my statements were incorrect. It's all right."

Cutler and Marshall indicated their relationship's fine.

"Brandon's good. We talked. And I think he's as excited about this game as I am," Cutler said about Thursday's game at Cleveland (6:15 p.m. MST, KMGH-Ch. 2, NFL Network).

Cutler is said to have text-

messaged Marshall a note on Monday night: "Let's get back to dominating" as an offense.

"It's football. It's nothing personal," Marshall said. "We are friends, and we have a job to do. We're fine. . . . Especially when you're losing, everyone's kind of irritated and frustrated, so that's what comes along with sports when you're losing."

Marshall has encountered tight coverages for several weeks, and his statistics have suffered, just as the Broncos' fortunes have changed with four losses in five games. Miami tried to play physical, bump-to-disrupt coverage against Marshall, and it worked, though Denver's inability to even threaten with the running game was a factor.

As proof an aggressive approach won't consistently work against him, Marshall noted he got off the jam on his 77-yard touchdown reception that was nullified by a questionable pass- interference call.

Cutler, meanwhile, said he must navigate the fine line between attempting to get his top playmaker the ball and forcing into double coverage.

"A lot of teams are coming in and throwing all types of coverages at us, making up coverages for Brandon . . . ," Cutler said. "As a quarterback, you have to be aware of what they're doing and know you're going to see some different stuff down there."

Comments

  • November 5, 2008

    2:09 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    angryman1n writes:

    Genius, Marshall is.

    I think Porter, in his 10th year in the NFL, has earned the right to talk a little trash. Especially when he's right.

  • November 5, 2008

    8:05 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    2coolvk writes:

    That's exactly what got him shot in a Denver nightclub a few years back. Talking trash to some of the local homeboys. He's lucky he didn't end up like Darrent Williams. No respect in sports or society today. You never saw Johnny Unitas or Jim Brown or Alan Page trash talk. They let their game speak for themselves.

  • November 5, 2008

    9:46 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    jkl writes:

    Thought KMGH was Channel 7. Which is it RMN, 2 or 7 on Thursday night. Inquiring minds want to know.

  • November 5, 2008

    9:55 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    RustyWon writes:

    NFL Network will provide coverage, but I think its channel 2 that will pick it up for local viewers who don't have the cable sports package (rip-off) which contains the NFL Network.

  • November 5, 2008

    10:51 a.m.

    B300 writes:

    (This comment was removed by the site staff.)

  • November 5, 2008

    11:11 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    fuzzyjim writes:

    Brandon,
    You have the ability.
    Just shut up and play.
    We don't need a Denver version of T.O.

  • November 5, 2008

    2:15 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Mighty_Mile writes:

    Ryan Clady man-handled Porter all day. That guy is a stud.

  • November 5, 2008

    2:27 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    R8R_H8R writes:

    "cable sports package rip-off"

    WHY pay for cable? Geez, DishNetwork and DirectTV are BOTH a better price, with no gimmick prices that sky-rocket in 6-12 months. I get NFL Network, and have for a LONG time, with my mid-grade pkg. with Dish. No sports pkg. NFL Network is the ultimate channel. If your a fan of NFL football, it is a Must! I think NFL Network will eventually do like espn, espn2, espn News, espn classic. They'll have many channels, and show the games themselves.

    Now, on t.v., during the game, they repeatedly showed the camera angle on B-Marsh, and repeatedly pointed out that he has no reason to complain, he is NO WHERE CLOSE TO getting open. Time and time again he had no seperation between him and the defensive back. Brandon Marshall is very good. But he is not the ultimate weapon. He is Not as good as he thinks he is. Eddie Royal........... Eddie Royal, WITHOUT the prima-dona B.Marshall to take coverage away from him, got open all night long against a raiders team with 2 of the best Corners in the League. B.Marshall does NOT get open the way Royal does.