Brandon Marshall took the high road, kind of, in response to a name-calling moment by NFL Network analyst Warren Sapp.
Sapp called Marshall a "retard" during a Friday appearance on "The Dan Patrick Show." Marshall then posted two videos on YouTube.com, via the Chicago Sun-Times, that warned against listening to Sapp.
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"That's really disappointing to hear that from an NFL legend, but I'm going to take this as a lesson, and I think we can all learn from this: Be very careful who you take advice from," Marshall said Monday. "You want to surround yourself with good people, Godly people.
"When I look at Warren Sapp, I can't go to him and talk about finances because he filed for bankruptcy. I can't go to him and talk about my marriage because he filed for divorce. I can't go to him and talk to about being a great father when one day I have children because he's not active in his children's life. So the lesson we should all learn here is surround yourself with good people and be careful who you take counsel from. I'm not saying he's been there on my side giving me counsel, but that's not a guy that I can go to.
"You know, football doesn't make us. There's more to life than just playing football, so make sure you have a great balance in your life and surround yourself with good people. And guys like Warren Sapp, you know, I feel sorry for. Hopefully one day he'll change his life, we'll pray for him and instead of using words to destroy, he'll use words to uplift. So God bless you guys and have a great day."
Sapp, who played 13 seasons in the NFL before retiring after the 2007 season, opined on "The Dan Patrick Show" that today's NFL players have no respect for the past.
"These kids that play the game today have no relevance for the past, have no conscious of what it is," Sapp said. "I mean, Brandon Marshall talking about Shannon Sharpe, who is he to talk? He's the first 100-catch receiver, back-to-back, retard. What you just did in Denver for three years. You don't know this? No, of course he doesn't, because it's not about Brandon Marshall ... it ain't about the past, it's about me. It's about personal success, pay me, and now I'll think about being a team guy."
Give Marshall credit: Others wouldn't have taken the name-calling so lightly. And would Sapp say that to Marshall's face?
Either way, someone should tell Sapp that term is offensive to many. We all know his trash talk can be, um, much more "creative" than that ...
Follow Kareem Copeland on Twitter @kareemcopeland.