Sources: Shanahan tired of Marshall

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Brandon Marshall has had his troubles with new coach Josh McDaniels this year but he wouldn't even be a Denver Bronco if Mike Shanahan had still been around.

Shanahan was planning to dump Marshall after the receiver played in his first Pro Bowl in February, according sources familiar with the former Broncos' coach post-season thoughts. The coach went so far to share his plans with quarterback Jay Cutler, a day before Shanahan himself was surprisingly fired. Cutler was later traded to the Bears by new coach Jo sh McDaniels.

Sources said Shanahan had grown weary with Marshall off the field and even felt he was unreliable on the field, despite leading all NFL receivers with 206 catches for 2,590 yards over the previous two seasons. Shanahan, a source said, felt Marshall had cost the Broncos more victories by his poor route running, dropped passes and his tepid run-blocking efforts. The coach also anticipated some contract problems, a source said.

Shanahan was reasonably certain Marshall would get him value on the trade market but if he had run into a dead end on a deal, sources said he would have considered cutting him outright, as was reported earlier on Sunday.

Chris Mortensen is ESPN's senior NFL analyst.

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Chris Mortensen

NFL reporter

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• ESPN Senior NFL Analyst
• Joined ESPN in 1991
• Has covered every Super Bowl since 1979