Bears receiver Brandon Marshall has been voted the 27th best player in the NFL in a poll of league players conducted by NFL Network.
The four-time Pro Bowler was featured on Thursday night's episode of "The Top 100 Players of 2013," which unveiled players ranked Nos. 21-30.
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| Brandon Marshall |
After being acquired in a March 2012 trade, Marshall rewrote the Bears record book in his first season in Chicago, setting franchise records with a career-high 118 receptions and 1,508 yards.
The 6-4, 230-pounder tied for second in the NFL in receptions and ranked third in receiving yards. Marshall's seven 100-yard games tied for the most in Bears history, and he became the fifth NFL receiver to record a 1,000-yard season with three different teams.
"He makes really tough catches; obvious defensive pass interference, guys hanging all over him," says Dolphins offensive lineman Richie Incognito, Marshall's teammate in Miami in 2010-11. "It's a special thing. When he was with us in Miami, he'd make some grabs and we would just be like, 'Oh my gosh, he just caught that?'"
Last season Marshall compiled a career-high 11 touchdown receptions, tied for the sixth most in Bears history and the most since Curtis Conway had 12 in 1995. Marshall also became the first Bears receiver to be voted to the Pro Bowl since Marty Booker in 2002 and just the second since Dick Gordon in 1971.
"If you look at the film, he's a polished receiver," says Packers cornerback Tramon Williams. "You see young receivers who read zones and they don't stop in the hole, they keep going. He stops in the hole, gives the quarterback better throws."
Marshall is the fifth Bears player—and only member of the offense—to be included on the NFL Network list of the top 100 players. He joins cornerback Charles Tillman (34th), defensive end Julius Peppers (54th), cornerback Tim Jennings (69th) and linebacker Lance Briggs (83rd).
Roster move: In other news Friday, the Bears signed undrafted rookie free agent tackle A.J. Lindeman, a Chicago area native who attended Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora.
The 6-6, 300-pounder, who participated in the rookie and full-squad minicamps on a tryout basis, started all 13 games at right tackle last season for the University of Toledo.
