First off this is just a rumor, thought up three weeks ago by ESPN NFC West blogger Mike Sando. Sando, who is a good friend of mine, suggested that the Seahawks could package one of their top three draft selections in the 2010 NFL draft as well as Deion Branch, who has underperformed in Seattle to the Denver Broncos in exchange for the standout Brandon Marshall, who is a restricted free agent this off season.Sando does bring up a good point about shipping Branch and one of the Seahawks first three picks off to Denver for Marshall however since the hiring of former USC head coach Pete Carroll and Jeremy Bates as the offensive coordinator the idea of Brandon Marshall in Seattle has gotten more and more attention.
However there are a lot of things that need to happen first before there is even a chance for the Seahawks to speak with the Broncos about Brandon Marshall.
First the Seahawks need to hire a general manager to officially replace Tim Ruskell who was forced to resign in December of 2009. The leading candidate is former Tennessee Titans GM Floyd Reese who has worked with Pete Carroll in the past.
Second the Denver Broncos have to tender a contract to Marshall, probably in the neighborhood of $9 million. After they have offered Marshall a contract tender then the Broncos, if they decided to want to move Marshall could then start looking for trade partners.
Third the Broncos would have to work out the right package to make a deal work because the NFL business is not Madden 2010.
The Seahawks currently hold the No. 6, No. 14 and No. 40 overall picks in the draft, one of which, the 14th overall pick belonging to the Broncos. I don't see the Seahawks trading Denver back their first round pick but the two teams could work out a draft pick swap.
There are a few interesting notes to include about this Brandon Marshall Seahawks topic.
- WR TJ Houshmandzadeh called Brandon Marshall after Pete Carroll hired offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates and when TJ asked Brandon about Jeremy Bates he said "You will love the guy". So Bates and Marshall have a connection going back a few years when Bates was the offensive coordinator in Denver.
- Marshall worked with offensive coordinator Jermey Bates and possibly Jedd Fisch as the quarterbacks coach so there is some history with some of Carroll's guys and Brandon Marshall.
Now I do need to note that there are at least obsticals the Seahakws have before anyone can mention a Brandon Marshall to Seattle rumor
One, the Seattle Seahawks NEED to select a new general manager to assist Pete Carroll and make the transactions go through for the Seahawks. Pete Carroll is not the GM, he is the executive vice president of football operations and head coach. No moves can be made involving player movement without a GM.
Two, the collective bargaining agreement needs to be situated one way or another because it will effect Brandon Marshall's status as a free agent. If there is a new CBA in place before the deadline then Marshall becomes an unrestricted free agent and unless the Broncos decide to franchise tag him the Seahawks won't have to make a trade for Marshall. If there is not a new CBA in place then Marshall becomes a restricted free agent because he has not played six years in the NFL. So then the Seahawks would have to match the tender offer and work out a trade with the Broncos IF the Seahawks decided that they want to pursue Brandon Marshall.
Three, depending on what happens after the CBA deadline the Seahawks still have to create the right package to offer the Broncos. It will not be Branch and a mid round pick for Marshall because that wouldn't even work in a fantasy league.
So there is A LOT that has to happen between now and the time the Seahawks could possibly be thinking about having Brandon Marshall dawning Seahawks blue.
So this should put a stop to the Brandon Marshall Seahawks rumors until the Seahawks have hired a new GM and the NFL collective bargening agreement has been sorted out.
You can follow Lars at Twitter http://twitter.com/larshanson
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