Brandon Marshall: shrewd or selfish?

Brandon Marshall. His talent is easy to see, but he's a hard man to figure.

Is he being a selfish prima donna, or a shrewd businessman? Is he doing wrong by the team, right by himself, or both?

Of all the things he may or may not be, one thing is certain about B-15: he's polarizing.

Depending on what you read or listen to, fans are either firmly in his corner, or practically kicking him out of town.

I'd like to say I feel one way or the other, but I can't really say I do.

I understand and can observe how his antics seem selfish. He wants more money when he's under contract. He's putting his own well-being ahead of a team that could use some unity right now.

He's following the path of Jay Cutler.

On the flip side, I can just as easily observe how Brandon Marshall is completely entitled to act the way he has. He played injured. He's underpaid. His career and livelihood could vanish tomorrow. He's following the path of several others before him.

The NFL is a 'now' business. Players are drafted to play now. Teams are built to succeed now. Coaches game-plan to win now. GM's assemble talent to contend now.

Brandon is taking the 'now' approach. His talents are peaking now. His value is ascending now. His career is happening now. When he, you and I blink, he'll be gone. Just like a thousand players before him, and a thousand players after him.

If he chooses to subvert the chemistry of the team for his own monetary gain, so be it. He'll be left to pick up the pieces of his legacy.

Shrewd businessman or selfish prima donna? Probably both. Perhaps neither. Perhaps Brandon is just a young 20-something just doing the best he can, and trying to make his way through life on and off the field.

Either way, he's a hard man to figure.