Da Windy City
Fansided

Brandon Marshall: Groups Forming In Chicago Bears Locker Room

By Jordan Campbell

facebooktwitterreddit

Oct 19, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) reacts during the first quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall has been at the center of the Bears’ struggles this season. Marshall has battled with injuries and the media this season and his production has fallen off considerably. While speaking on his radio show on Monday, Marshall admitted that there are groups forming in the Chicago Bears’ locker room. 

Two weeks ago, Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall appeared to have created a locker room issue with the Bears that remains prevalent. After the Bears loss to the Miami Dolphins, Marshall reportedly called out Bears’ quarterback Jay Cutler and kicker Robbie Gould.

Live Feed

Chicago Bears: Storylines to follow in Week 14 matchup against the Detroit Lions
Chicago Bears: Storylines to follow in Week 14 matchup against the Detroit Lions /

NFL Spin Zone

  • Why Chicago Bears offensive line will finish better than everBear Goggles On
  • NFL Rumors: Bears already targeting Matt Eberflus’ replacement before firing himFanSided
  • Every NFL Team's Playoff Odds Following Week 13 (AFC Race Still Wide Open)Betsided
  • Chicago Bears: Final five-game stretch critical for the team, players, and coachesNFL Spin Zone
  • 3 reasons Chicago Bears can trust Ryan Poles going forwardBear Goggles On

    • After Marshall’s locker room speech, reports indicated that some of the Bears’ veteran players were growing annoyed with Marshall. Not much was made of those reports at the time, but this past Monday, Marshall did seem to indicate that the Bears’ locker room was beginning to get divided.

    During “The Brandon Marshall Show” on ESPN Radio 1000 on Monday, the veteran wide receiver confessed that he is an expert at observing locker room behavior on a bad team.

    “I definitely think we’re in a tough spot right now. It hurts to say this, but I’m kind of an expert in this position because I’ve been on a few losing teams,” Marshall said. “But what we can’t [let] happen is let little small groups begin to form in our locker room, because that’s where our biggest battle is. When you’re losing like this, your biggest battle is within; not really the media or the fans or your family members. It’s really like in your heart and also your building. So if we break that up, we may have a chance.”

    Marshall also was asked if he began noticing those ‘groups’ in the Bears’ locker room.

    “Yeah,” Marshall said. “But we have … man, what Brian Urlacher and those guys were able to create [in terms of a locker room climate], that stuff still resonates in our locker room. So you’re always going to see it. You’re going to see it when you’re winning. Guys aren’t going to be happy. A guy might not be getting the ball. A guy may not be getting sacks. So that stuff begins to form. But you’ve got to punch it out, and that’s what we’ve been able to do. But now, we’re really going to be tested. We’re 3-5, dropped another one the way we did. There may be some bigger groups that may try, but we have the coaches and the players that are going to knock it out immediately.”

    The Bears do not have a leader like Brian Urlacher on the team. If the team had a leader like Urlacher on the team, then Lamarr Houston would not have tore his ACL last Sunday while celebrating a pointless sack. Further more, if the Bears had a leader like Urlacher on the team, stories of locker room tension would not be leaking to the media.

    Marshall has added to the problem. Marshall has tried to be the Bears’ leader this season but his attempt has been misguided. In addition, for Marshall to be the leader then he needs to give full effort on the field. That was not the effort Marshall gave last Sunday against the Patriots and that is not the effort that the Bears get out of Marshall when the wide receiver is matched up with an impact cornerback.

    The Bears do not have leader on this year’s team. The lack of leadership is what has undone this team and is also the reason why the second half will not be any better than the first half for the Bears.

    More from Da Windy City

    Home/Chicago Bears