It seems all those NFL trade rumors surrounding mercurial wide receiver Brandon Marshall had quite a bit of legitimacy to them.
The New York Jets, according to a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter, have acquired Marshall from the Chicago Bears pending a physical.
The move gives us our first glimpse into the thought process of two new NFL regimes.
For the Jets and new head coach Todd Bowles and GM Mike Maccagnan, the addition of Marshall shows an interest in upgrading on offense, and more specifically, the passing game, first and foremost and providing whichever quarterback ends up under center to start next season with more weapons.
Whether it's youngster Geno Smith or someone else, the Jets are expected to lose Percy Harvin and even so haven't boasted a player of Marshall's size or talents in years.
Eric Decker was the free agency prize last season and he's a bigger-bodied guy, but never managed to really develop a rapport with either Smith or Mike Vick. Beyond Decker though, the wide receiver depth chart is chock full of good, not nearly great players like Jeremy Kerley and T.J. Graham.
An upgrade was necessary.
For new Bears head coach John Fox and GM Ryan Pace, this move clearly indicates that they believed Marshall's personality and high level of interest in things outside of football was a hindrance to the development of their new program.
Marshall has long been considered a questionable, if not outright negative, locker room presence and it could be that Fox and Pace simply didn't see a fit as they attempt to rebuild a team that lacked leadership and discipline last season.
With Alshon Jeffrey already in the fold, Marshall was an expensive luxury item.
