In the wake of his recent practice field hissy fit, Denver Broncos wide receiver may have gone far beyond anything any fan ever thought possible.

In addition to losing respect from virtually every respectable NFL fan, coach, or executive, he may have lost the respect of his role models and elders on the team.

When asked if he was surprised of Marshall’s recent suspension, veteran wide receiver Brandon Stokley responded by saying, “Not really, not with his attitude and how he was acting,” Stokley said. “Something had to be done. They made the decision. We’re moving on, and hopefully in a few weeks, when he’s back, he’ll be ready to contribute.”

Hopefully.

2008 offensive co-captain and tight end Daniel Graham also weighed in on the Marshall situation.

“We’ve had a few conversations and Brandon, he’s running his own ship,” Graham said. “He’s doing what he feels is best for him. Now, I’m just making sure, as a leader on this team, that we stay focused.”

A very interesting choice of words by Graham, to say the very least.

Marshall is “running his own ship.”

This entire offseason has been a self-imposed disaster for the Pro Bowl wide receiver.  Even Colorado Hall of Fame wide receiver and Bronco great Rod Smith, a former player who has given a great deal of time and effort mentoring Marshall distanced himself when he made a cameo at Broncos camp earlier this summer.

One thing though, is for sure.

If Stokley and Graham’s comments are to be taken as a general consensus of the feelings of the entire team, then this whole fiasco has proven that the players are on McDaniels’ ship, not Marshall’s or any of their own.

McDaniels said on Friday that he does not know how long Marshall will be on his “ship” at all.

“I’m not sure necessarily if I think it will or I think it won’t [work out],” McDaniels said. “I’m just hopeful that it will, because obviously he’s a talented football player that we’d love to have pulling in the same direction as the other 79 guys that go out there and work their tail off.”

And if he is not?

If Marshall is unwilling to pull in the same direction as the 79 other guys, where do the Broncos go from there?

While suspending him for the regular season would go a long way if the Broncos were committed long term, it does not seem to make much sense anymore for a guy they may want to trade at the end of this season.

Which is why it makes perfect sense to suspend him for the final two games of the pre-season.

This gives Marshall time to study his playbook and vie for a fresh start when he returns to the team on September sixth.  Also, it gives him time go face the temptations of doing something else stupid or getting in trouble with the law.

Two weeks may not seem like a long time, but for Brandon Marshall, it could seem like a lifetime.

When Marshall returns to the Broncos, he better show this team that he is serious about the “fresh start” he said he wants, and he had better keep his nose out of trouble.

From future Hall of Fame lock Shannon Sharpe to three-time Super Bowl champion Daniel Graham, tight ends have been a huge part of the Bronco offense for nearly two decades.

Nothing will change in 2009.

The Broncos feature two Pro Bowl caliber players at the position in Daniel Graham and Tony Scheffler, and a newly acquired second round pick whom the coaching staff is really high on.

Can this unit take pressure off of Kyle Orton?

Oftentimes, teams only keep three, maybe four tight ends, so who will make the final roster for the Denver Broncos?

1.  Daniel Graham

Graham is a vastly underrated player at his position, mostly because his specialty is blocking.

The former Patriots first round draft pick out of Colorado was signed in 2007 as a big money free agent by the Broncos, and fans were calling for former head coach Mike Shanahan’s head after he paid so much money for a guy who had only 24 receptions in his first season in Denver.

Casual observers of the team are still trying to figure out why this team paid so much money for Graham, but his blocking skills speak for themselves.

Last season, he earned his money not only as a blocking specialist, but as a pass receiver as well.  Graham nearly eclipsed his single-season high of 38 receptions last season when he hauled in 32 passes for 389 yards and four touchdowns.

History proves that teams are much more successful when Graham catches 30 or more passes in a season.

• 2003:  38 receptions, 408 yards, 4 TD–Patriots win Super Bowl
• 2004:  30 receptions, 364 yards, 7 TD–Patriots win Super Bowl
• 2008:  32 receptions, 389 yards, 4 TD–Broncos 2nd place AFC West, one game away from playoffs

Now, there is no doubt that Graham did not single-handedly bring his team into the winner’s circle, but there is also no denying the correlation between his play and his team’s victories.

Graham should continue to be a safety outlet for new quarterback Kyle Orton, as well as a cog in the running game.

2.  Tony Scheffler

Scheffler, when healthy, is arguably the best pass catching tight end in the NFL.  Tony Gonzalez obviously is the clear cut No. 1, and there are players like Jason Witten and Antonio Gates who are also in the mix, but it is hard to argue with Scheffler’s numbers.

In three seasons with the Broncos, Scheffler has caught 107 passes for 1,480 yards and 12 touchdowns while only playing in 40 games over that timeframe.

Scheffler is an athletic specimen at 6′5″ 250 pounds with a 4.55 second 40-yard dash.  This former Western Michigan dual sport star has turned into a big play threat for the Denver Broncos.

Heading into his fourth year in the league, Scheffler has been the subject of quite a few trade rumors throughout the off-season.

Unlike his former roommate and best friend Jay Cutler, Scheffler handled the trade talks with poise and confidence, stating that the NFL is a business and that his job is to help the Broncos win in any way he can.

In 2008, Scheffler proved he was a threat to score every time he touched the ball, leading the Broncos with an average of 16.1 yards per reception.  He also set a personal single season record with 645 receiving yards.

Combined with the Broncos’ arsenal of running backs and receivers, Scheffler provides the Broncos with yet another big weapon on the outside.

3.  Richard Quinn

Quinn was undoubtedly the biggest surprise of the Broncos’ draft class, but looking back the selection makes a lot of sense.

Many feel the Broncos screwed themselves over by trading away two third round picks for Quinn and a fourth round pick, but many forget that Denver acquired that extra fourth round pick in the deal, so they really did not sacrifice a large discrepancy in talent with their two picks.

Here are a few reasons why Quinn was a solid pick by McDaniels and company:

• Daniel Graham is 30 years old, and while he may just now be entering his prime, the Broncos are looking toward the future.
• Tony Scheffler has one year left on his contract.
• Outside of Graham and Scheffler, the only tight end on the Broncos’ roster was late season free agent acquisition Jeb Putzier.

And the number one reason why Quinn was acquired with the 64th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft: Red zone efficiency.

Last season, the Broncos were second in the entire NFL in offense…in terms of yardage.  They ranked a very mediocre 16th in the league in scoring, thanks largely to the fact that they could not punch the ball in when they got inside the opponents’ 20.

Quinn only had 12 receptions in his career at North Carolina, but the former Tar Heel is regarded as the best blocker in his class not named Pettigrew, and scouts felt he showed very soft hands in off-season workouts.

When the Broncos enter their opponents’ red-zone, expect Quinn to make them much more efficient with his blocking and receiving abilities.

4.  Jeb Putzier

Putzier was a late season free agent signing in 2008, beginning his second stint with the Broncos.

The veteran tight end is known mostly for his blocking abilities, and not much else.  He has fairly reliable hands for the position, but the Broncos’ group of tight ends is a bit crowded and he could struggle to make the final roster.

5.  Marquez Branson

Branson was an undrafted free agent out of Central Arkansas who put together a very solid collegiate career.

Somebody put together a nice YouTube highlight of this kid, and he sort of reminds me of Peyton Hillis in terms of his receiving ability, but he lacks the toughness of Hillis.

He should be a practice squad addition, as his skills are fairly raw and he may need a year or two to develop.

2008 Tight Ends Grade:  B+

Tight End’s Coach:  Clancy Barone

Projected Starter:  Daniel Graham (Acquired via Free Agency in 2007)

Projected Stats:    Rec.     Yds.     Avg.     TD

30        360      12.0    2

Projected Backup:  Tony Scheffler (Acquired via 2006 NFL Draft)

Projected Stats     45        630      14.0     4

Projected Third String:  Richard Quinn (Acquired via 2000 NFL Draft)

Projected Stats     15        150      10.0   1

Roster spots filled by TE:  3/54

Roster spots filled overall:  17/54

**Marquez Branson waived, added to practice squad; Jeb Putzier cut**