Brandon Marshall has been one of the more dominating players at his position for most of the last decade. He’s also become acquainted with many of the finer moving services in many parts of the country: the Jets are his fourth professional team in 10 years.
The fourth time is the charm, he says.
“Once the Jets say, ‘We don’t need you anymore,’ I’m going to venture off into that world,” Marshall told the Daily News. “I’m not playing for another team. Four is all I need. It’s too hard to make new friends and relationships and deal with different egos. I don’t like the business already. So I’m not trying to deal with that.”
He knows he’s still wanted right now by the attention he seems to get from opposing defenses. But when that changes, he says, he’ll get his first major hint that his time may be coming to an end.
“If I’m going out there and teams aren’t doubling me to try to take me out, then I feel like I’m not doing something right,” he said. “This year they’re still doubling me and game-planning for me, so I’m still a factor. That’s respect.”
At 31, many believed he would take a downturn this season with a team very few believed had a prayer. But in 2015, both Marshall and the Jets have impressed beyond their original expectations. New York is 6-5 and in pursuit of a playoff berth and Marshall is having one of his best seasons.
Last Sunday against Miami, he had his best game on the year, catching two touchdowns on nine receptions for 131 yards. Aside from the physical aspect he brings to the game, he says there’s one major factor that is helping him at this stage of his career.
“I’m smarter,” he said. The Jets face off with the desperate Giants this Sunday, where his brains will come in handy against a schizophrenic secondary that is among the worst in the NFL, but among the best in takeaways.