Bears trade WR Brandon Marshall to New York Jets
Brandon Marshall's trade from the Chicago Bears to the New York Jets on Friday signals a fresh start for the Pro Bowl wideout and gives young Jets quarterback Geno Smith another big-play weapon along with Eric Decker and Percy Harvin.
A person familiar with the deal said the trade is official pending a physical by Marshall. That person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been announced by either team.
New Jets coach Todd Bowles was familiar with Marshall from his coaching tenure in Miami, where he served as interim head coach in 2011, Marshall's second season with the Dolphins.
The Jets could still be in the market for a quarterback at draft time, but Smith, a second-round choice in 2013, theoretically has his best shot to succeed given the weapons around him. New York still needs a running back and must decide whether to keep Harvin. But new general manager Mike Maccagnan has plenty of cap space to reshape the roster.
The combustible Marshall was due $7.5 million guaranteed in base salary as of Thursday. His trade frees up $3.95 million in cap space for the Bears.
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The 30-year-old receiver caught 61 catches for 721 yards with eight touchdowns in 13 games last season as he battled through ankle injuries and a bruised lung that forced him to miss the final three games.
Marshall questioned Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler's contract and had a locker room tirade last season for the underachieving Bears. Their season ended with coach Marc Trestman and general manager Phil Emery fired.
New coach John Fox and general manager Ryan Pace still have plenty of work to do in Chicago, including deciding what do with Cutler, if anything. But the Bears must make a decision on Cutler by next Thursday when he is due a $10 million guaranteed bonus for the 2016 season not to mention his $15.5 salary-cap charge for 2015.
The Chicago defense also needs a serious makeover and will likely get one under new coordinator Vic Fangio.
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Follow Jim Corbett on Twitter @ByJimCorbett
