Today marks day one of the Broncos’ weekend mini-camp, the first mandatory session of the offseason. Wide receiver Brandon Marshall was not in attendance.

Consider this the official beginning of Marshall’s “holdout” with the Denver Broncos. The fourth-year receiver is in the final year of his rookie contract and is due to make just over $2 million this season.

Per the Denver Post, Marshall likely will be fined by the team for his actions. 

The Pro Bowl wide receiver had hip surgery earlier this offseason. It is unlikely he would have been able to practice anyway, but he was still expected to show up for rehab on his injury.

This segment is supposed to be a professional breaking news article, but allow me to voice my opinion for a moment.

Brandon Marshall has got to be one of the dumbest people on earth for not showing up to the mandatory mini-camps.

First of all, he is in the final year of his rookie contract, which is modest anyway, and now he is going to be fined. He is losing money over this. 

If there is one thing any Bronco fan, player, coach, or executive has learned since the Josh McDaniels era began, it is that if any player feels he is above the rest, he is going to be gone faster than he can blink.

Factor in the fact that Marshall is forfeiting valuable time getting to know his new teammates, the new system, and the Broncos’ new quarterbacks. Sure, he can study the playbook from afar, but it would be much more beneficial to show up to camp to get an idea of what the offense looks like live.

You also have to think as a player—would your coach, the man who ultimately decides whether or not you stay or go, honestly be more willing to talk contract extension with you if you were a man and showed up to the mandatory camp?

Marshall is going nowhere fast.

He still faces domestic dispute charges in August, and his hip injury is going to limit him to only two weeks of training camp practice this entire offseason.

Marshall, if you read this, take a page out of the book of Casey Wiegmann.

Show the team you are dedicated to the new direction by showing up for camp and putting a smile on your face. You have provided the Broncos with more headaches than they should have put up with, and you are still being given another chance. 

Keep your mouth shut, perform well this season, and then you can worry about a contract extension.  

Otherwise, I do not see you in Denver past 2009, maybe not even that. Wide receivers come and go, and you are no different. 

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