Ditka believes in Brandon Marshall

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 10-17-2012, 03:21 PM

Da Coach has given his blessing on B.Marsh now.

LINK to the article

Ditka believes in Brandon Marshall

Brandon Marshall has started his Bears career with a record-setting pace on the field, and Mike Ditka believes his stature off it could be just as big in Chicago.

"He came into (Ditka's restaurant at the beginning of the season, and I talked to him a little bit," Ditka said Wednesday on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000. "I told him, I said 'Brandon, you can own this town.

This town is ripe for someone like you.'

"I think being a successful Bears player in this town, it worked for me. It will work for him."

Marshall said Tuesday that he appreciated the support he received from the legendary coach and Hall of Fame tight end during their first meeting and plans to continue to "pick his brain."

"He just told me it's a great opportunity here for me," Marshall said Tuesday on "Waddle & Silvy" of his meeting with Ditka. "There's a lot of things I can do on and off the field, especially with the foundation we're trying to establish in the community, and just take advantage of it. Coach Ditka has been support for me. I think in the next week or so we're going to sit down with him and his wife and have dinner.

"I'm going to pick his brain every chance. Coach Ditka, he's a pro's pro. He's one of those guys that you really need to pay attention to when you're around him."

Marshall, acquired in a March trade from the Miami Dolphins, has lived up to the high expectations of a Bears' fan base that has never had a true No. 1 receiver. With 35 receptions and 496 yards receiving in five games, Marshall is on pace for season totals of 112 catches and 1,581 yards, both franchise records.

His 12 catches against the Jaguars marked the most since Marty Booker's 12-grab game on Oct. 7, 2002 against the Green Bay Packers.

"He's a unique athlete with a great opportunity," Ditka said. "This is a pretty good town to play football in, especially if you're playing on a football team that's good and can win. This is a Bears town guys, no matter how you want to cut it. They're going to show up, and they're going to pull for the Bears and root for the Bears, and that's how it should be.

"This kid's got a great opportunity here. I like what's going on right now, I really do."

**soulman** · 10-17-2012, 03:43 PM

Ya gotta love that face. If that isn't the face of a Chicago Bear I don't know what it.

I truly believe Marshall has undergone a transformation in his personality. I think know that he understands more of what made him react to many things they way he did in the past that he also knows how to safeguard himself against that happening again.

That ah ha moment only comes from lifting the lid on what's causing that behavior and a willingness to both learn as much as you can about it and do something about it. It's still there but now he knows what to do about it and how not to let the monster out of it's closet.

I really believe the guys has turned the corner and he's not looking back. He seems to truly love being in Chicago and being reunited with Cutler and Bates and it's showing up in his play. He's on target for the greatest year in his career and the greatest year any Bears WR has ever had. That alone would make him a hero around that town.

He's gonna need to keep walking this path for a bit longer before everyone believes the new Brandon Marshall has arrived and the old one is long gone but I'm 100% convinced that it's real and that he means exactly what he says.

He's talking the talk AND he's walking the walk. If he can stay healthy and productive all year, catch 100 passes for 1200 yards and some scores and help take the Bears deep into the playoffs or a SB I'll vote to elect him president. So far he's been one hell of a score for only two third round picks.