Brandon Marshall and Jay Cutler are back together again.
The Chicago Bearswill send two third-round draft picks to the Miami Dolphins in a blockbuster trade for Marshall, Fox Sports insider and NFL Network contributor Jay Glazer first reported Tuesday. The deal will reunite the wide receiver and the quarterback, both of whom began their careers with the Denver Broncos.
Debate: Marshall trade reactions
The Bears made waves by getting Brandon Marshall in a deal with the Dolphins. What does it mean for each team? Let's debate! **More ...**
Marshall and Cutler first played together in 2006. The partnership helped Marshall make the Pro Bowl in 2008, when he totaled 104 receptions for 1,265 yards with six touchdowns.
"Jay Cutler and Jeremy Bates makes it great," Marshall's agent, Kennard McGuire, wrote in a text message.
Cutler tweeted his own excitement later: "Told you we could get that #15 out of storage. Getting the band back together! Good to have #15 back."
Dolphins running back Reggie Bush and center Mike Pouncey took to Twitter to express their fondness for Marshall.
"Hate to see my boy B Marshall go," Bush tweeted.
Added Pouncey: "Brandon Marshall out of Miami? Tell me this ain't true..."
Bears linebacker Lance Briggs called it "a great day" on Twitter, with Chicago also agreeing to a two-year deal to retain cornerback Tim Jennings and a with quarterback Jason Campbell.
Marshall's acquisition was barely being digested in Chicago and Miami when reports emerged late Tuesday that the often-troubled receiver was allegedly involved in a melee at a New York nightclub over the weekend. The New York Post reported that a woman told police that Marshall struck her in the face. Marshall's attorney released a statement alleging that Marshall was trying to take his wife to the hospital after she was hit in the face by a bottle. It wasn't clear whether or not the Bears knew of the incident when they agreed to the trade.
Marshall was shipped to the Dolphins from the Broncos on April 14, 2010 for second-round picks in the 2010 and 2011 drafts. The Broncos used their 2010 pick as part of a package in a draft-day trade with the Baltimore Ravens in order to move up and select quarterback Tim Tebow with the 25th overall selection.
Playing with quarterback Chad Henne and Matt Moore, Marshall made the Pro Bowl after finishing the 2011 season with 81 catches for 1,214 yards with six touchdowns. The Bears' leading receiver this past season was Johnny Knox with 37 receptions for 727 yards and two touchdowns.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
