Miami Dolphins Wide Receiver Brandon Marshall Unleashes the Monster, Discusses Need for QB Upgrade

Yesterday, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall dominated the NFL's 2012 Pro Bowl, setting a new Pro Bowl record with four touchdowns, and walking away with the game's MVP award. With his performance, Marshall frustrated Dolphins fans, who wondered where this type of performance was all year for Miami, as well as clearly called for the franchise to find a quarterback upgrade.

And his calls weren't just his play yesterday.

"Hey man, listen, I'm out here at the Pro Bowl, and I'm not getting no balls thrown to me!" Marshall joked with NFL.com on Friday. "I need a quarterback. You've got Big Ben throwing to (Mike) Wallace, you've got Philip (Rivers) throwing to (Antonio) Gates and Vincent (Jackson), you've got Andy (Dalton) throwing to A.J. (Green). I'm the only guy out here, man!

"We'd love to have that tandem out here."

Marshall is reportedly doing whatever he can to try to help the Dolphins get that quarterback-wide receiver tandem he so badly wants. He admitted during Pro Bowl week that he has called soon-to-be free agent, and current Green Bay Packers quarterback Matt Flynn to discuss the idea of Flynn coming to Miami. Notably, he made the call before the Dolphins hired former Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin as head coach.

"You've got some guys in the draft, but there's not too many guys out there just walking the streets," Marshall said. "Matt [Flynn] is available. ... We've talked. I reached out to him. I get it from Ray Lewis. Around this time of year, players talk to players.

"Obviously, Matt [Moore] had a great year," Marshall continued. "You don't want to take anything away from Matt, but I think we really bring in somebody who can compete and make the team better.

"We need someone who is going to grab a hold of our offense, hold everyone accountable and be that leader."

Marshall also pointed out, and the league confirmed, it's not against tampering rules for players to talk to one another. Tampering only come in to play when team officials - coaches or executives - comment on or talk to another team's player.

During the game, Marshall did not change him comments, either. Speaking with NBC's sideline reporter, Marshall stated, "Down in Miami, getting a feel for different quarterbacks, had three or four of them throughout my two years there.

"Quarterbacks make it easier for me. These guys are putting it in the right places and I'm making plays. It's easy right now."

"Elite quarterbacks put [the ball] in the right spots," Marshall explained, when asked about his six catch, 176 yards, and four touchdown performance during the Pro Bowl. Marshall spoke highly about all of his quarterbacks in the game, giving them the praise for putting the ball exactly where he needs it - again stressing that the Dolphins have to find a guy like that.

"Since Jay Cutler I've had a few different quarterbacks and being in the Pro Bowl you have these elite quarterbacks and it's all them," Marshall said, following the game. "They put [the ball] in the right spots and make it easy for me to make the catch. It's all the quarterbacks."

Marshall also realizes that Flynn is not the only quarterback available, even if there are only a few available. He admitted he plans to call Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning if the Colts decline to pay Manning the $28 roster bonus due to him on March 8. Manning missed all of last season following three neck surgeries in eighteen months.

Quarterback isn't the only piece of the Dolphins structure Marshall is lobbying for. Marshall is hoping the Dolphins will consider LSU wide receivers coach D.J. McCarthy for the same position in Miami. McCarthy served as Marshall's wide receiver coach at the University of Central Florida, and was on the LSU staff when Flynn lead the Tigers to a 12-2 record and the National Championship, earning the BCS Championship Game MVP award.

"The reason why I'm here is Coach McCarthy, so I'd love to see Coach McCarthy get an interview," Marshall said. "Unfortunately, the past six years, I've had a different receivers coach. I haven't had any chemistry with any of them to take me to the next level. I'm looking forward to working with a coach who can fine-tune my game and recognize my weaknesses. Coach McCarthy has proven that."

However, Marshall clearly believes the quarterback piece may be the last piece that the Dolphins need. When asked about the team, Marshall replied, "It's strong. If you look at what coach [Tony] Sparano was able to do, the foundation he's built. A lot of people don't give him enough credit," Marshall said about the Dolphins team. "We have a solid locker room of high character guys. Leadership is there. The new coach coming in is inheriting a strong team."