The Chicago Bears have not wasted time moving Brandon Marshall.
According to reports — first from Bear Report's Aaron Lemming, then from ESPN's Adam Schefter — Marshall will be traded to the New York Jets, pending a physical.
Other reports indicate that the Bears will receive a mid-to-late-round draft pick in return. The trade can become official when the league year starts on Monday.
Marshall caused problems in the Bears' locker room last season in what was a horribly trying year that caused Marc Trestman and most of his staff to get canned. Enter John Fox as the new head coach, and you can understand why he'd want to avoid as many potential headaches in his first season.
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The Jets have talent at receiver, but you'd have to think they'd part ways with Percy Harvin, who would make too much to keep. Eric Decker was signed to No. 1 wide receiver money in the offseason, but with Marshall they might make a nice pair — for whoever wins the starting QB job — with Jeremy Kerley as the third wideout.
Can new Jets head coach Todd Bowles handle Marshall and keep him in line? Is this another Santonio Holmes situation? That will be an interesting first-year test for Bowles, but there's little doubt that new offensive coordinator Chan Gailey can use another top playmaker to help revive the Jets' offense.
Marshall has talent but is now joining his fourth NFL team, following three trades — from the Denver Broncos to the Miami Dolphins, then from the Dolphins to the Bears, and now this Jets deal — at less-than-market-value return.
As for the Bears, they need a sidekick to Alshon Jeffery. Clearly, they felt keeping Marshall wasn't worth the problems he could bring, but they certainly need a No. 2 — and possibly a No. 3 — receiver for Jay Cutler.
That is, assuming the Bears don't plan on axing Cutler, too.
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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Eric_Edholm
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