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As the Jets were making moves to get Antonio Cromartie and Santonio Holmes, the fans of the Miami Dolphins were wondering when their bold move would occur. Despite signing inside linebacker Karlos Dansby and one of the best defensive minds in the game in Mike Nolan, the fans still wanted more. They wanted something that would change how teams looked at the Dolphins. Now, that day has come. Brandon Marshall is a Miami Dolphin. The Beast, the headcase, the troubled child, call him what you will, but the man can deliver on the field. A wide receiver that can impact the entire offense is something Miami has been missing for many years. With Marshall, everyone gains an advantage.

Marshall provides an opening for everyone around him to get better. Here’s how:

Young quarterback Chad Henne will be the starter for just his second season. He’s coming off a year in which he had his ups and downs while learning everything about the NFL first hand. He lost his starting running back in Ronnie Brown and had to deal with injuries along the offensive line. His main receiving options for the year were Ted Ginn Jr., Greg Camarillo, Davone Bess, Brian Hartline and Anthony Fasano. None of those compare to the talent and impact that Brandon Marshall brings to the field. Marshall gives Henne a big target that can be a red zone threat as well as a yards after catch guy. He’s the type of receiver that can help a young quarterbacks confidence by providing the target when he needs one the most.

Running backs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams. With the addition of a big play wide receiver threat, teams will have a hard time stacking the box and keeping the run completely maintained. Not only does his presence take pressure off the running backs, but Marshall is a good and willing blocker. He’ll control his man and help plays along the edge. With a guy like Marshall lined up at receiver, it takes more to keep him maintained which in turn will take those guys off of Ronnie and Ricky. The run game should only get better with this addition.

The wide receivers. Ted Ginn Jr., wideley considered a bust, could also become a positive recipient of the attention Brandon Marshall will command. Ginn was supposed to be a number 1, big play threat. While he has shown signs that he could be that, he hasn’t done so on a consistent basis. He had a tough year in which the first half of his season was plagued by drops. He did improve as the year went on, but he never fully gained the trust of the coaching staff again. Brian Hartline proved to be a solid option for Chad Henne as the season went on. His toughness and eye for the ball brought along trust from the young signal caller to go to him when he needed. Greg Camarillo and Davone Bess were once again the most consistent players to go to when you needed the yardage. Bess provided a young, tough player that fought for every yard he could get. Anthony Fasano dropped off from his first year with the team, and it was noticeable in his play. He began to get frustrated with himself and lose a lot of what helped him, and the team, in the previous year. Marshall opens up spaces for these wide receivers to make plays. Commanding double teams will give the rest of the receiving corps the chance to make big plays. Marshall will still get his plays as he creates mismatches on his own, but he should also improve the players around him.

The main question on the trade was the price. Was the price to steep to pay for Marshall? Maybe. However, if he’s kept in line, Marshall is a better receiver option than any choice you can make in the 2nd round in this years draft. He’s still young, proven and with a different mentality and coaching staff, ready to play. The coaches and front office are known for their no nonsense mentality and Marshall will be no exception. With that said, the Beast is in Miami and the battle for the AFC East is on.