ESPN NFL

Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson

We had a majority reaction to our sound-off question this week. The question was: Do you think the Broncos will grant Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall his wish and trade him or do you think he'll stay in Denver?

Most readers think he will stay in Denver. I totally agree.

The Broncos maintain that he will not be traded. If Marshall holds out and Denver gets a blockbuster deal in return for the troubled and injured star (which is doubtful), the Broncos might bite. But they aren't expecting anything.

Marshall isn't the first player to want a pay raise and a trade. It happens all the time and the team ignores the request most of the time. So, most of us are in agreement. Marshall likely will stay in Denver.

Below are some of your responses. Thanks to those who participated:

Travis from Denver, CO: My take on B-Marsh is that the Broncos will look to move him for an impact D-Lineman and a middle round pick. If they don't get it he stays, has a great year, gets the long term contract he wants in 2010.

Zach from Spokane: I think Marshall will NOT be traded. There is no way McDaniels will last in Denver if he loses both Cutler and Marshall. Im sure that McDaniels knows that as well. Marshall and Royal are expected to play the Moss/Welker roles this year. Therefore having Marshall is imperative for the offense to be successful. It will also force teams to not focus on Knowshon Moreno as much.

Rafael from Bel Gardens, California: Im a die hard denver fan and in all honesty there is no doubt marshall is a top notch wideout, the only thing is his off field issues and i feel this is why denver is hesitant to give marshall in new contract! Yes he is very good but can you depend on the guy to stay out of trouble and not get suspended. I believe if he shows up to camp and takes care of business he will get a new deal. Look at casey wiegman, he wanted a new contract so he he went to ota's all the offseason workouts and guess what, he got a new deal!

Brenden from Denver: Well I think they won't trade marshall personally because they're gonna have to get something good in return. Don't think with his off the field situation many teams are going to get too excited about giving up a good player or high draft picks! Have heard some rumors out of Chicago though about tommie harris?

Broncohowie from Columbus, OH: Brandon WILL remain a Denver Bronco for this season. He will have another 100 catch campaign and become a huge free agent next season.

John from California: Bill, great blog... keeping us informed of the AFC West. In Denver, its a disaster with the New Coach, Jay Cutler trade rumors for who he wanted to be his quarterback, and then the owner setting the team back 3-4 years. Its a problem when players just won't play for the coach. I think it comes down to it, Mike Shanahan drafted him and the coach was expected to be there. Think they had their franchise quarterback in place, the two- three big play making wide recievers and then all of sudden coach is out, new coach in, and then the quarterback not to far behind. Escape is all that is on Brandon Marshalls mind. Now don't get me wrong, he comes with baggage but he is one heck of a player. 100 plus catches, which is reliable to me. Its interesting to see if the owner pays more for his services, or send him away like he did to his Franchise QB!

Brandon from Minneapolis: Denver will not be trading Marshall anytime soon. Denver holds all the cards. Marshall is going to hold out until the end of training camp at the minimum. If he really wants to push it, he could hold out until week 9 to make sure he gets credit for another year of service.Things could get interesting next off season. Denver still would hold all of the leverage, although they might start to listen to offers for Marshall next off season if they haven't signed him to a long term deal.

Thom from Las Vegas: Bill there's a diffence between Chad, Anquion, n Brandon, the first two haven't been in trouble with the NFL for off field situations. And neither of the two were able to come away with a trade this off season. With brandon's hip surgury and off field issues he would be lucky to play this year at all. He needs to have a good meeting with Bowlen n hve an agreement based on his play this year an personal conduct he could be a highly payed WR in the NFL. Brandon knows he will be a restricted free agent or franchised after this year, and teams aren't willing to reach out for players like that as once was.

Paul from Raleigh, NC: Marshall will just have to whine and cry with Boldin and Ocho, cause there is NO way he's being traded this year. He has NO leverage and the Broncos can't move another top player this year without losing the respect of their remaining roster.

Matt from Des Moines, IA: The answer seems so simple... they HAVE to keep him. If Denver let's go of two key offensive elements in the first off season under a new regime, Denver and the rest of America is going to ask, "What the hell is McDaniel doing to that locker room?"A young/ new coach won't be able to survive the type of scrutiny that would surely follow something like that.

BroncoLen from Los Angeles: BW, On the topic of what I think will happen with the Brandon Marshall saga, it's apparent that this ordeal will carry into training camp considering both sides appear to be at a stalmate. As much as the Broncos don't want that to be the case, I do see them breaking down and renegotiating Marshall's contract in order to get him in camp ASAP. The reasons are simple: 1) They cannot afford to lose 2 star players in one season and 2) Marshall's production warrants more money. What's clear to me is that the new regime will reward patience and hard work (see Casey Wiegmann) therefore I think that is the message they are trying to send to Marshall and his agent. Ultimately Marshall will show up for camp a day or so late, and the Broncos will end up working out a deal to keep the star WR. Keep in mind, McDaniels wanted Cassell over Cutler because he thought it would help him succeed immediately. What makes you think McDaniels doesn't want to keep their best WR option in a pass heavy offensive system? I guarantee McD is lobbying to keep #15 because it increases his chances to win now. Besides, that was his tag line to lure veteran free agents such as Brian Dawkins. That's my take.

Dan from Ft. Collins, CO: I think Marshall stays. He's in the same boat with guys like Boldin and Braylon Edwards. It will have to take a killer offer to get him, and if no one has been able to swing a deal for the other two, then I don't see it happening with Marshall, who has the added problem of all his off-field baggage if you bring him on board.

Steve G from Long Beach, CA: Brandon Marshall believes his numbers are going to go down drastically with Orton and Mcds run first offense. So he's trying to cash in before that happens. I think Denver will sign him after the Cutler debacle.

David from San Diego, CA: Re Brandon Marshall - The most likely scenario is that he stays and is unhappy. However, I could a
lso see an outside chance that if there is a team willing to part with established D-lineman the Broncos might jump on it. Not likely to happen though.
Brian from St. Louis: really think Denver will use this opportunity to get rid of him. I think he is one of those personalities that would clash with JMD, and seeing as how JMD handled a disgruntled pro bowl qb by sending him elsewhere, i expect nothing different from the head coach and the owner in this case. Marshall is a great player, but it's obvious Denver is rebuilding and could stand to lose a somewhat troubled all star.

Cameron from Twin Falls, ID: first off I am a chargers fan, so any move to move Marshall is beneficial. that being said, i think the broncos need to show their team a back bone after the cutler mess. I think that McDaniels will put the foot down (he needs to) otherwise everyone with some playing ability will demand to be traded and the collapse of denver will continue. (which would be fine by me...)

Cary from Chicago: Bill,I'd say Marshall's not going anywhere but Bowlen has been pretty unpredictable lately. The smart play is to keep him and make him earn a contract (on and off field) and I get the feeling that's what McDaniels wants to do. The question is whether or not Bowlen has the stomach for someone else wanting off the team. With Cutler, he took the easy way out and forced McDaniels' hand.

Jeff from Denver: I think he will stay. The Broncos hold all the cards, and if Brandon wants a big pay day he'll need to prove he's healthy and can be productive in a new system with a new QB. Plus, no team is going to offer up anything of value for a trouble making, injured WR.

Dave from Orlando, FL: I do not see a way for the Broncos to part ways with Marshall. The market for wide outs is not very strong, especially with Burress on the open market and garnering very little attention. Because the level of compensation the Broncos would need, even if they took a little less than the 1st and 3rd the talking heads are saying he is worth, is just not there. The Broncos would essentially have to trade him at a bargain basement price. Trading him for much less than he is worth is likely worse than letting him hold out, even if it is all year. While I am a huge Broncos fan, this team is not a serious contender this year and the negative effects of Marshall not being on the field are greatly out weighed by the negative affects of trading away a 2nd mid-20's pro bowler for next to nothing.