Brandon Marshall wanted out from New York. The receiver had some success with the New York Jets, but was constantly surrounded by off-the-field drama and poor play on it. At the end of the day, the arrangement just wasn't working for him. It wasn't working for the team either, though, so they granted him his release on Thursday night.
An end to a brief era
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported the transaction late on Thursday night. Marshall would have made $7.5 million during his third season with the Jets, a number the team didn't appear to be eager to pay, despite his decent production last season - 788 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 2016.
The release continued a trend for the Jets to cut some of their most veteran players. In recent days, they have also parted ways with one of the best cornerbacks in team history (Darrelle Revis) and one of the best players in team history (center Nick Mangold). After another ugly season, the team is looking to make a change; Marshall simply isn't part of the rebuild.
Moving on
For the Jets, questions surround every aspect of the roster, especially the passing game. The team doesn't have a reliable passer on the roster, likely being forced to rely on Bryce Petty or a free agent pickup. After the Marshall release, they don't have many reliable receivers either, though they do have some promising young ones.
Eric Decker is trying to recover from an injury and is a mystery for next season.
For Marshall, this was the best possible outcome. Despite being in the NFL for over a decade and making the Pro Bowl six times, the receiver has never made the playoffs. It sure wasn't going to happen next season with the rebuilding Jets. The release gives him the opportunity to try to latch on with a contender and make one final push for the playoffs before his career comes to an end. Some teams that should consider bringing him in include the New England Patriots, the Miami Dolphins (where he played two years previously), and the Seattle Seahawks.
