Smith plays big brother to Broncos' Marshall

ENGLEWOOD • Rod Smith doesn’t come by the Denver Broncos’ locker room much anymore. He made a couple of appearances at practices before the season, but vanished quickly.

Behind the scenes, the franchise’s all-time leading receiver conducts himself like a captain, three years after he played his final game. Brandon Marshall’s turnaround in attitude this season is a clear example.

In August, Marshall was suspended for conduct detrimental to the team. He was upset with his contract situation and the organization, and was caught on video acting out during practice. Smith, who treated practice as seriously as games, stepped in.

“Oh, it was horrible,” Smith said of Marshall’s actions. “And when I called him he said, ‘Go ahead and give it to me.’ He knew I was about to rip him. And I had to.

“He was destroying everything he had done, all the steps he had taken his whole life. He had just jumped off the bridge and that bridge is paved with gold. I told him, ‘You’re about to destroy everything because of your interpretation of what you think is going on. Let me tell you what is going on.’”

Smith kept after him. They worked out at a school playground during Marshall’s two-week suspension until they were kicked off before recess. One day he called Marshall and surprised him with a three-way call. Former Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe, who mentored Smith during his career, was on the other line.

“I said, ‘Shannon, give it to him.’ And Shannon did,” Smith said. “Sometimes you have to bring in the big dog.”

Smith told Marshall that he needed to turn the negatives that happen on the field into motivation. He let him know that even when he wasn’t catching a lot of passes, he needed to be a positive contributor. He reminded him of the positive steps he has made off the field.

Since Marshall returned from his suspension, teammates and coaches have praised his work during practice. With 44 catches and 468 yards, he has 19 more catches and more than twice as many receiving yards as any teammate.

“I think it was rewarding for him because he has worked hard,” coach Josh McDaniels said a few days after Marshall scored a game-winning touchdown Oct. 4 against Dallas. “He has done a lot of things here that people don’t talk about. He practiced his butt off.”

Smith still keeps after Marshall. He said he calls or text messages him once a week, often reminding him to keep his quiet confidence — “They call it swagger now,” the 39-year-old Smith said — or giving him tips on his play — “I tell him ‘Catch the ball and get up field; quit dancing, it’s not a club.’” He said he contacts other players — Brandon Stokley, Daniel Graham, D.J. Williams and Eddie Royal among them — because he wants to ensure the leadership he once provided the team stays strong.

He said he notices that Marshall is doing much better but is adamant that he doesn’t deserve credit.

“It’s all about Brandon; it’s not about me,” Smith said. “I’m a sounding board for Brandon to tell me how he really feels because I believe and trust in him. And he knows I’m not going to lie and I’m not going to sugar-coat it.”