Brandon Marshall’s sick of this and open to Jets paycut
Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall called 2016 his “most frustrating year,” but the 32-year-old wants to keep playing and hopes to be back with the Jets in 2017.
Marshall is due to make $7.5 million next season, none of which is guaranteed, so the Jets could save the entire amount against the salary cap by cutting him. They also could ask him to take a pay cut, which Marshall seemed amenable to on Monday.
“It’s not about the money anymore,” Marshall said. “It’s all about winning. I know what I’m worth. I think this team knows what I’m worth. It’s not about the money. I’m good. All I want to do is win. I don’t care about anything but winning. That’s it.”
Marshall missed the final game of the season on Sunday against the Bills with a hip injury. Marshall also dealt with an MCL sprain and foot sprain he suffered in Week 2. He finished the year with 59 catches for 788 yards and three touchdowns, a huge dropoff from his record-setting 2015 season. Marshall also found himself in the middle of a few locker-room blowups this year. There was a lot of talk on Monday about the divisions in the Jets locker room and how that affected the team.
“These things happen,” Marshall said. “You just have to be a man and be tough to take the criticism. It’s one thing to sit back and lose and it’s another to sit back and not speak up when you have an opportunity to speak up. I think everybody’s motive in this locker room is to win. That’s why we’re here. Whatever it takes, you have to do it.”
Marshall said he was happy with how he approached leading the team, but maybe could be more aware of how others would receive his message.
“I think in retrospect I can work on my timing, but I’m totally fine with my approach this year,” Marshall said. “My only motive is to win ball games. I’m tired of going home right after the season. I’m tired of watching the playoffs on my couch. I’m tired of it. It’s just a frustrating year. It’s been a frustrating career from that aspect. Hopefully, things change moving forward.”
Marshall said he wants to play until he is 38 or 39 years old. He said he has not lost confidence in his abilities.
“I’m extremely confident that I’m still an elite receiver,” Marshall said. “I still demand double coverage. I still demand a lot of attention. So, that’s really good. That gives our other receivers one-on-one matchups. They get a chance to go up against No. 2 or No. 3 corners on the other side, which is good when we have the talent that we have with Quincy [Enunwa] and Robby [Anderson] and [Eric] Decker getting healthy. Those guys are uncoverable. I think I’m still at the level where I can demand that type of respect, that type of coverage. The numbers weren’t there, that’s new for me. This is a year that most receivers can hang their hat on, not for me. The bar is set high, and it’s unacceptable.”