ESPN’s Ed Werder reports how Marshall and Scheffler situation turned sour, both players banned from Broncos locker room and sideline today
ESPN’s Ed Werder reported today that the Josh McDaniels benching of Brandon Marshall came after multiple incidents and most importantly after the star receiver showed up late to a physical therapy session for his hamstring injury that he suffered last Wednesday in practice. 
The report also tells a story of Marshall taking himself out of practice on Monday because the cold weather was apparently making it hard for him to breathe. Werder details in the report that tight end Tony Scheffler was demoted to the scout team and benched after he was overheard telling fellow Broncos team mates that he could not wait for Denver’s season to end.
Most importantly in the story, Werder says that McDaniels met with several of the Broncos team leaders who told him to take a hard line approach in the teams pursuit of accountability.
Check out the full report below:
Denver Broncos coach Josh McDaniels decided to bench wide receiver Brandon Marshall for the regular-season finale after he was late to a scheduled therapy session with the Denver medical staff for treatment of a hamstring injury the team already believed he was exaggerating, according to multiple team sources.
Both Marshall and tight end Tony Scheffler have been advised they will not be permitted on the sideline or in the locker room when the Broncos play the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in a game with playoff implications.
The Broncos sent Marshall for an MRI on his hamstring after he complained of the injury during Wednesday’s practice. According to team sources, the test indicated that Marshall’s hamstring was healthy.
The latest showdown between the head coach and the Pro Bowl receiver actually began the week before when Marshall excused himself from practice, complaining the cold weather was making it difficult for him to breathe.
Then, as the team reviewed tape of its loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, in which Marshall dropped several passes, McDaniels mentioned that certain plays had to be made. Marshall apparently felt he was being unfairly singled out for criticism.
According to Broncos sources, the problems with Marshall and Scheffler came after team leaders including Brian Dawkins, Champ Bailey, Kyle Orton, DJ Williams and Daniel Graham all met with McDaniels on Monday and encouraged him to take a hardline approach in preparing the team to finish the season against the Chiefs.
That development, combined with a home loss to the Raiders, compelled McDaniels to emphasize the need for accountability in a full team meeting Wednesday. It was later that day when Marshall complained about his hamstring.
Scheffler was presumably demoted to the scout team after he was overheard telling teammates that he couldn’t wait for Denver’s season to end.
The Broncos do not think it’s a coincidence that Marshall became a distraction almost immediately after achieving several personal goals, including having another 100-catch season and making the Pro Bowl. McDaniels has been implementing a team-first mentality similar to that he experienced while part of Bill Belichick’s staff with the three-time Super Bowl champion New England Patriots.
It’s possible Marshall has played his last game with the Broncos, sources close to the situation told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Marshall is scheduled to be a free agent this offseason, and will be a restricted free agent if next season is uncapped, as is expected.
In an uncapped year, the Broncos would be expected to tender Marshall at the highest level possible — one worth a first- and third-round draft choice. If another team signed Marshall to an offer sheet, Denver would have seven days to match it. If Denver opted not to match the offer — and the Broncos have shown little inclination of signing him to a long-term deal — then Marshall would become the other teams’ property and Denver would get back first- and third-round draft choices.
Because Marshall would be a free agent, Denver could not trade Marshall without his signing an offer sheet with another team.
Ed Werder is an NFL reporter for ESPN. ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter contributed to this report.
While it is clear the McDaniels handled the announcement of these benching’s in a most bizarre fashion perhaps his actions, which have been largely criticized were somewhat warranted. Marshall was certainly playing for a new contract all season after his off season contract disputes and now that he has reestablished himself as a dominant receiver I find it highly believable that he, like Scheffler, is just waiting to get out of Denver.
Scheffler and McDaniels relationship has never healed after the talented tight end publicly sided with former Broncos QB Jay Cutler during the off season drama.
It seems as though two more members of the 2006 Broncos NFL Draft class may have seen their last action in Broncos uniforms and for many fans it might seem shocking the way that draft class has fallen out of favor in the Broncos organization after the expectation that so many had.
Marshall and Scheffler have been notified that they will not be allowed on the team sidelines or locker rooms for todays pivotal game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
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