Brandon Marshall And The Bucs
March 3rd, 2017
Unwanted by Jets.
Stunning news out of Gotham late last night.
As Joe nursed an adult beverage — oh, OK, it was a Crown and water — at a downtown Indianapolis eatery/gin joint, there it came across Twitter: the Jets will cut talented wide receiver Brandon Marshall.
Hhhmmm… you know what Joe was thinking.
Fortunately, Indianapolis being Indianapolis during Combine week, there are NFL folks all over the place. You can hardly walk anywhere at night and not run into NFL general managers, coaches and shoot, the place is lousy with scouts.
Last night, after Joe learned of Marshall’s unemployment, Joe bumped into an NFL coach, an NFL suit and a former Pro Bowl wide receiver who no longer is in the league but is active in the football world.
No, Joe is not going to name them as they had no reasonable expectation of being quoted for a publication. But Joe approached them to ask about Marshall.
The coach told Joe that Marshall can still play, but he is no longer the Marshall of years ago. The suit told Joe the same. When Joe asked the former Pro Bowler if Marshall can still play in the league, he pursed his lips and nodded his head up and down and said, “Oh, yeah.”
Clearly from talking to the three, Marshall’s career is on the decline. The 33 year old is in the sunset of his football playing days.
(Joe just has to insert here that his waitress was wearing a slinky cocktail number and looked incredibly like Kelly Rohrbach.)
But you know what, Joe is willing to lay cash Marshall, who caught 59 balls last year, can be better than misplaced Calgary Stampeder Donteea Dye. The Bucs just can’t seem to get rid of this guy. He’s like a virus. Joe would also wager Marshall would be more productive than medical courier Bernard Reedy.
No, Marshall certainly is not the Bucs’ future. But for 2017, you can’t tell Joe he isn’t worth a shot, so long as he doesn’t get crazy and ask for insane money.
Besides, when is the last time Marshall had a decent quarterback throwing him passes? #WeaponsForWinston
March 3rd, 2017 at 4:01 am
2 million. Take it or leave it.
March 3rd, 2017 at 4:24 am
I wouldnt be against it. Probably will be better than $12 mil for Kenny Stills lol
March 3rd, 2017 at 4:33 am
Totally cool with Marshall as long as we can get a speedster in the 2nd or 3rd round.
March 3rd, 2017 at 4:54 am
Waaaaaaaay over 30.
March 3rd, 2017 at 5:04 am
At this point I would try and bring Vjax back cheaper as depth and playing inside. Then pursue another FA like Stills, pryor, woods, or even kick the tires on Gordon. Then draft a WR aswell
March 3rd, 2017 at 5:09 am
A couple of reports from NY indicated that Marshall asked for his release because he wants to play for a contender. Jets apparently happily obliged since they’re currently purging vets (youth movement?). Marshall’s being 33 yrs old doesn’t concern me nearly as much as his results last yr … targeted 128 times with only 50 receptions (47%) for 788 yds. That’s a pretty big fall-off for a WR who’s averaged 60% receiving rate in his career. Part of that’s undoubtedly on the QB, but some is probably on Marshall too. Certainly worth a look-see but like bucs_365 I sure wouldn’t throw a whole bunch of $$$ in his direction if Bucs decided to sign him.
March 3rd, 2017 at 5:11 am
Marshall had 59 receptions last yr … 46% is correct though.
March 3rd, 2017 at 6:13 am
Remember marshall was all on his own last season. Look at his number from 2015.
2015 he had a fired up fitzpatrick, an effective run game, eric decker and that offense was humming.
2016 they had a fat laxy ryan fitzpatrick and geno smith, asj at t.e, eric decker got hurt and marshall was left to pickup the pieces.
Marshall would be a bargain and Evans would flip to have him on his team gor a year or two
March 3rd, 2017 at 6:14 am
Just get somebody that can get open down the field. Marshall is a lot like Evans, an X guy, only older and slower. I wouldn’t say don’t do it at all… But we haven’t had a Decent Z receiver for as long as I can remember.
March 3rd, 2017 at 6:39 am
The more better receiving free agents the better guy we can get for a reasonable number. This is getting better by the day. He is a central Florida guy.
March 3rd, 2017 at 6:44 am
Compare how many catches Marshall had to VJax then our so called 3rd receiver. I’ll take his 59 receptions and 799 yards over them any day. Besides they were better numbers than Hump and I like Hump he’s earned his respect
March 3rd, 2017 at 6:49 am
No thanks. Nothing to see hear.
March 3rd, 2017 at 6:55 am
He is up there like vjax but without the injury history. He was never a burner and has no major injury issues so he is one of those guys that can still co tribute a couple years
March 3rd, 2017 at 7:01 am
Marshall’s productivity has really dropped off lately. Don’t know that he’s got much left in the tank. Maybe at close to the league minimum he MIGHT be worth a look, but I just can’t see him as a major contributor. I’d rather see Us go hard after Desean Jackson…or even get into the Brandin Cooks sweepstakes, then waste too much effort on a guy like Marshall.
March 3rd, 2017 at 7:13 am
I’d prefer to stay away from the older players…..perhaps one WR…..and if we go that route…let’s just keep Vjax.
March 3rd, 2017 at 7:40 am
I am starting to feel like Licht is doing his best Ted Thompson imitation…
March 3rd, 2017 at 7:48 am
I just have a sour taste in my mouth about signing a guy that the Jets don’t even want
March 3rd, 2017 at 7:59 am
100% on him the guy catches everything reminds me of cris carter later in his career and is much better athletically than vjax at this point in their careers….sign him, he would help jameis immensely
March 3rd, 2017 at 8:19 am
Mental Brandon Marshall? No thanks.
March 3rd, 2017 at 8:46 am
Would pay him 5 mil plus all day long on a one year but you just can’t bank on him , gotta have another plan but the guy is good , really good !! He also brings fire and an attitude to WIN !! Marshall, Britt and draft a guy , now that’s addressing a weakness.
Evans, Marshall,Britt,draft guy and Jackson or Edleman ll ………….🏈 5000 yards !!
March 3rd, 2017 at 8:51 am
I’d rather have Decker, younger. Not such a head case. I heard he’s next to get cut.
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:02 am
Good player, but way past his prime and a few too many “issues” for me.
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:31 am
They wouldn’t take R White last year and he knew the whole buc staff … Dont think they will deal with Marshall . Marshall will end up in green bay
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:45 am
Marshall is a loud mouth that would be a bad addition to the locker room…pass. Your point about him begin better than some of the guys we have is well taken Joe, but there is a reason this guy has bounced around and between his attitude and his age….lets look elsewhere….I love the scouting reports on the waitresses though! Keep em coming..cheers!
March 3rd, 2017 at 10:02 am
Might as well try to keep VJax around if they wanted to do this.
March 3rd, 2017 at 10:20 am
Marshall can still ball, no doubt. I’d go with Kenny Britt or even VJax over him if Bucs are looking for another big-body in FA.
March 3rd, 2017 at 10:22 am
@ Chicago
Marshall isn’t the same loudmouth as in year’s past. He’s a good teammate now, but unafraid to call out the locker room loafers like Sapp did. His meds have him under control.
March 3rd, 2017 at 10:27 am
Awe, anything about Marshall and the Bucs is FAKE NEWS. I’m surprised the story didn’t have a CNN logo on top. Marshall is not the future, true, but he’s not the “now” either. So maybe he’s got two years left…what is his attitude like? Didn’t like it has been all that good as of late. Nothing worse than an NFL player in his retirement job. Agreed, he’s better than Dontae Dye for pete sakes, but….
Shame on you, CNN, for putting this out there!
March 3rd, 2017 at 10:36 am
UCF
March 3rd, 2017 at 10:38 am
I would be one hundred percent AGAINST this. Have people forgotten how big a locker room and on field problem he is?????
March 3rd, 2017 at 10:40 am
Remember 2 Things – Compares Himself to Brandon Marshall
• Per Mike Evans:
Also remember Mike Evans – sought out Brandon Marshall during the 2014 offseason to be his mentor/workout partner.
Brandon Marshall doesn’t quite have the size Evans has, but he’s a similar style receiver: big, physical, and excellent at making contested catches. He would be a welcomed addition to a receiving core looking for more play makers.
March 3rd, 2017 at 11:05 am
Marshall would be a great fit. He and Evans already workout in the offseason, he’s big and strong and most importantly he’s matured so much he could help Winston and Evans control their emotions.
I wanted him 2 years ago and I’d still take him today.
March 3rd, 2017 at 11:29 am
Hell Naw…to naw naw naw
March 3rd, 2017 at 11:42 am
Brandon Marshall is still the same player. Dont give me meaningless stats last season with Brice Petty and a washed up FItzpatrick. Marshall across from Evans would give defenses nightmares. Marshall is 3x the receiver that Vincent Jackson is.
March 3rd, 2017 at 11:54 am
Do it you want depth anyways. Evans would love having him here and he takes really good care of his body check his social media. Much rather have a former pro bowl quality receiver than these random ass dudes Licht stays finding. I’d still look at another FA and draft one in the first 2rds. We need depth and experience for the next 1-2 years around on the offense.
March 3rd, 2017 at 12:00 pm
No No No No No to Brandon..only because he’s soon entering his mid 30s..
As far as his mental issues, it’s under control for quite a few years because he got his proper diagnosis..
Now Decker is a different story..he might get cut too..and I really don’t know why..
March 3rd, 2017 at 12:17 pm
I just have to keep disagreeing with Joe on ALL of these over 30 past their prime vets like Marshall, AP, and Desean Jackson that Joe keeps hyping about. That is short-sighted in my humble opinion. The Bucs have SUCH a rare opportunity here… they have a stud QB and a stud WR in their early twenties and a gaping hole at the #2 WR position. This is a terrific opportunity for them to go all in on acquiring either a player like Stills or a first round WR talent and literally have the opportunity to let their QB/WR nucleus gel together for 7+ years and develop unbeatable chemistry and become the envy of the rest of the league.
March 3rd, 2017 at 1:03 pm
LOL
March 3rd, 2017 at 2:52 pm
I would sign him in a heartbeat on a 2 year deal to be out #2. We need big guys on the outside for all of Jameis’s High passes. Draft a couple and let them learn from Evans n Marshall
March 3rd, 2017 at 3:35 pm
Get Marshall and then maybe someone like Kenny Stills to be your speed guy, keep Humphries obviously to be your screen and agility guy, then draft someone for the future. I like that combo. Marshall isn’t the guy he was a few years ago, but he’s still very effective and basically can take over the role of Vincent Jackson, just hopefully he’d be healthy. Oh and I’d try to sign resign VJ on a cheaper deal if he’d take it – lets really load up some one year players and see what Winston can do, he’d have a bunch of big guys to throw the ball to and all of them are excellent at boxing out corners and making big catches. The Bucs have a lot of money to spend this year, and I think signing people to basically one year deals, even for big money, is a great way to bridge the current cap space to all the contracts they will be paying out in the next couple of seasons past 2017.
March 3rd, 2017 at 6:38 pm
As long as we get Campbell.