Brandon Stokley said he knew on Wednesday, when receiver Brandon Marshall punted the ball in practice, that some punishment was coming.
“You just can’t do those kinds of things,” Stokley said. “I knew that was probably the final straw.”
On Friday, Marshall was suspended for the final two preseason games for conduct detrimental to the team. Stokley said the team wouldn’t let it be a distraction, but admitted that it offended him to have a teammate act like Marshall did in practice.
“It does, because we’re all trying to win games and you can’t have that,” Stokley said. “You can’t have those distractions and you can’t have somebody acting like that. We’re all out here working hard, trying to win games, and we want him to be a part of that.”
Tight end Daniel Graham found Marshall’s actions unbecoming as well.
“It’s offensive a little bit,” Graham said. “Everybody is out here working hard towards our ultimate goal. To have a teammate like that do what he’s doing right now is disappointing to the rest of the guys. But we’re still focused on what our goal is.”
Stokley said he hoped Marshall will come back refocused.
“Maybe the light bulb will go off and he’ll come out and be ready to play some football and help us win games,” Stokley said.
Stokley said he is confident in what the team has at receiver. After all, Marshall has barely practiced with the team since the end of last season.
“He hasn’t really been around and he hasn’t helped us since the offseason, so nobody knows what they’re missing,” Stokley said.
Safety Brian Dawkins said the matter will be handled internally, and didn’t believe Marshall would have a hard time being welcomed back to the team.
“I don’t think so,” Dawkins said. “Things will be worked out the way they need to be worked out in time.”
This isn’t Dawkins’ first time around a suspended wide receiver. He was in Philadelphia in 2005 when Terrell Owens was suspended after being a year-long spectacle.
“A lot crazier with T.O,” Dawkins said. “A lot crazier.”
Brian Dawkins is a class act. If anyone in that locker room knows what to do with this stuff, it’s him. It’s good to see that he hasn’t lost focus of the things that really matter.
Joe, good point. He made it clear that whatever he or anyone says to Marshall will be handled internally. Although I haven’t been around Dawkins long, it’s very clear he is a fantastic leader. This team really has needed that ever since losing Rod Smith, Al Wilson and John Lynch.
[...] [Broncos] Broncos Players Find Brandon Marshall’s Actions Unbecoming Brandon Stokley said he knew on Wednesday, when receiver Brandon Marshall punted the ball in practice, that some punishment was coming. "You just can’t do those kinds of things," Stokley said. "I knew that was probably the final straw." On Friday, Marshall was suspended for the final two preseason games for conduct detrimental to the team. Stokley said the team wouldn’t let it be a distraction, but admitted that it offended him to have a teammate act like Marshall did in practice. "It does, because we’re all trying to win games and you can’t have that," Stokley said. "You can’t have those distractions and you can’t have somebody acting like that. We’re all out here working hard, trying to win games, and we want him to be a part of that." "It’s offensive a little bit," said Broncos tight end Daniel Graham. "Everybody is out here working hard towards our ultimate goal. To have a teammate like that do what he’s doing right now is disappointing to the rest of the guys. But we’re still focused on what our goal is." Source: Colorado Springs Gazette [...]
I agree Frank. I think if anyone can help bring some stability to the leadership that’s been missing in years past, it’s Brian Dawkins. I’ve said it a million times in the past and I still believe it to this day: The real demise of the Denver Broncos as we knew them was when Al Wilson went down. Our defense lost their identity after that and it never came back.
Just the thought of having a natural leader like Brian Dawkins not only will open the players eyes, but they will finally start to have the intensity that I haven’t seen since 2005.