http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.ph...4&storyID=9732
BRANDON MARSHALL - 1/1/10
On Head Coach Josh McDaniels' decision to deactivate him for Sunday's game against Kansas City
"I don't think (Head) Coach (Josh McDaniels) ever played in the NFL so for my hamstring to be feeling the way it felt, it's tough for me to go out there and expect to play at a high level. I've battled through a lot of injuries before. I played the whole year last year with a tear in my hip, so I don't think my toughness is in question here. I've just got to do my best just to get back to 100 percent. Hopefully, things fall into place where it should be, and hope we get into the playoffs, and I'll be there with my teammates."
On why McDaniels did not go into specifics when explaining his deactivation
"I don't understand why he didn't answer it. It's because of my hamstring. I got an MRI on it. The MRI came back that there was no structural damage in there. When you try to explode and take off, if you don't have it, you don't have it. It's bad because it's a crucial game for us, but we've got guys who can make plays. We've got guys who have been in this league for years who play this position who can get it done and carry our team."
On McDaniels' emphasis on accountability being a reason that he will be inactive on Sunday
"I don't know what coach said, but I doubt if he said I wasn't buying in because I'm the guy who has been giving up a lot for this team. I've been giving it my all. I'm excited about the opportunity that we have. There are a lot of things that can be in our favor this week to make it to the playoffs. If that happens, I'm going to do my best to be out there with my teammates, but it makes no sense for me to go out there. You can't run 50 percent. (It's) just bad timing."
On how the deactivation affects his relationship with McDaniels
"I don't know what Coach said. If he did say the things that you guys are saying, I don't know why he would say that, but I approached this year in a professional manner, and I'm going to continue to do that. If he decides to take some personal shots because of the way the season is unfolding, it's not my fault. I've made big plays when I'm supposed to. You go back to the Dallas game, the New England game-there are a bunch of games that I've been there and made some huge plays to help us move the ball. I've been unselfish when they've told me I'm not a starter and the reason for it was that I haven't separated myself from anybody. I went out there and I tried to separate myself, and I've done that. I'm going to keep it professional and continue to rehab and hopefully things fall in place for us to move forward into the playoffs."
On if he feels that he has had an issue with being accountable to the team
"Accountability and injury are different. Accountability and injury are different. I wouldn't say pulled my hamstring-it's definitely not that bad. It's tough."
On McDaniels' comment that other players will play with more severe injuries than he has on Sunday
"I was told last year, too, that I didn't have a tear in my hip and I had gotten several MRIs on my hip last year. This is just bad. It's bad for the fans, everyone, my teammates, myself (and) my family. Every game is a playoff game for me. I'm playing for a lot. Every game I go out there playing to give it my all because of trying to achieve my goals. For me not to be out there probably hurts me more than anybody else. I have a lot of things that I want to achieve, a lot of things that I want to do, and it's not just for this game. It's every game that I've played in this year."
On if he was going to try to play through the injury
"This is probably the biggest game for us all year. When you have a muscle injury, that thing doesn't heal over night. Like I said, I've got to do my best to try to be there for the playoffs if we get into the playoffs, but it has nothing to do with accountability."
On if he felt McDaniels was frustrated that he didn't practice yesterday
"No, he hasn't really said anything to me. He just came in today and told me I was deactivated (and that) he's make an announcement today. I have to respect that. I have to respect that. He's the head coach. He makes the decisions around here, and he has to do what's best for the team. It's tough when you don't get a chance to go through the week of preparation and practicing to be able to think you're going to go out there and participate (in the game). It's not fair to our team, it's not fair to our players, but it's just a freak accident. I ran a slant-I was cramping in the (Philadelphia) game Sunday, and my hamstrings were pretty tight from that. I had to get an IV. My muscles were pretty tight. I came out here on Wednesday and it just pulled or something, I'm not sure."
On the fans' perception of his relationship with the team
"There is no more drama. I'm going to be professional about everything moving forward. Like I said, it's an injury. I've played through injuries before, but like I said, last year I was told that I was fine. Unfortunately, it didn't work out that way. I had a tear in my hip. You've just got to listen to your body, and my body, obviously, something was wrong when I pulled up on Wednesday. I'm just going to continue to rehab and hopefully be there (for the playoffs) of things fall in place."
On his future with the Broncos
"Like I said, I'm going to be professional about the whole team. I love my teammates; my teammates love me. This has been a really smooth season for us as far as just communication and just growing as a person, as a professional athlete. I'm going to continue to do that. That's pretty much it."
On if he is emotionally hurt by the decision to deactivate him for Sunday's game against Kansas City
"I'm hurt for the fact that this is an opportunity for me to go out there and continue to prove myself (and) prove to others what I can do in this league. For me not to get the opportunity because of injury, it sucks, but I'm not the only one that's hurt in the National Football League. It's around that time of the year. I've just got to deal with it."
On how he hopes to proceed with his NFL career
"In a professional manner. Anything I do moving forward is going to be in a professional manner. I'm not going to get into any he-said, she-said (situations) like we've done in the past. I think that's childish. Like I said, I don't think there is any question about my toughness. The way I play the game, it could be first-and-10 and if I gain 15 yards, I'm fighting for 16 yards. I'm that type of guy who's going to give it up on every play in every game, especially for obvious reasons. I have a family. Every game is a big game to me."
