Brandon Marshall said that he’s ready to come out of retirement in a recent episode of the I Am Athlete podcast. Asked about the possibility of Aaron Rodgers calling him up to play for the New York Jets, Marshall didn’t hesitate.

“I’m already ready,” said Marshall.

When the camera frame switched back, the former six-time Pro-Bowler was sporting 15 New York Jets jersey. However, at 39 years old, Marshall coming back may be a tall order by his own admission. The proposed position of the tight end might also be another factor – the Jets already have solid selections in current starter Tyler Conklin and C.J. Uzomah.

Of course, being a former Jets wide receiver and holding the NFL record for most catches in a game (21 against the Indianapolis Colts) are not facts that should be ignored.

Marshall himself has talked about Rodgers in the past. In 2020, on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, he opined about the decisions made by Rodgers’s old team the Green Bay Packers.

“It’s too late,” he said. “Come on man, they should’ve won two Super Bowls in the last five years. To me, Aaron Rodgers is my favorite quarterback in the NFL, but you wasted this guy’s career. You got one Super Bowl out of Aaron Rodgers? Are you kidding me? It’s too late! It’s too late.”

Wide Receiver Brandon Marshall  agreed to a one-year deal this week with the New Orleans Saints to supplement for the devastating Achilles injury to another veteran receiver Dez Bryant.

Brandon Marshall Signs With Saints

The move indicates a Saints team that is hungry for a deep postseason run, in desperate need for a veteran receiver presence, and above all, an end zone target to complete an already lethal offense. Questions about Marshall’s health have loomed above the 34-year-old for a few seasons, but the six-time Pro Bowler attests to his health, and is ready for a new beginning for a playoff team.

“No, I’m done. I’m washed up,” said Marshall mockingly of his status as a top receiver. “What my film says this year is what it is.” Marshall has been cut twice this season, something he isn’t used to after years as an elite receiver, which he called “interesting,” and says it “built a lot of character.” Marshall is finally in a position to win, and claims his health couldn’t be better.

“Fit as a fiddle,” he said about his health, which has been prsitine since about week three or four. “Healthy as a Trout.”

Marshall’s health is certainly a crucial factor of the coming playoff push for the Saints, and for himself: in Marshall’s touted 13-year career, he’s never once seen the playoffs, and that’s almost ensured with the blistering 8-1 Saints, who lead the NFC South by two games. Marshall is aware of his situation and is eager to join the teams ranks, citing quarterback Drew Brees as a “a wide receiver’s dream” amidst a potential MVP season for the 39-year-old.

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“Our paths have crossed a bunch of places off the field. We played in the Pro Bowl together. I’ve known of him for a long time, really heard a lot of good things about him, been a fan of his just watching him on film,” Brees said on his new weapon. “He’s a smart, veteran guy who is very fluid. Seen him in a lot of different offenses. Seen him be successful both as an outside receiver, an inside receiver. He’s very versatile. He’s a big target, a big catching radius. Just watching him run today, he’s pretty impressive.”

It is unsure if Marshall will be able to seamlessly transition into a productive target for Brees as early as Sunday against the Eagles, or on the short week against the Falcons on Thanksgiving. The veteran receiver has made transitions before, and his patience the last few seasons is something of a virtue down the stretch of the most important season of his career.

Brandon Marshall is changing teams but not home stadiums.

Ex-Jet Brandon Marshall Signs Two-Year Deal With Giants

The former Jets wide receiver, who will be 33 later this month, and the New York Giants have reached an agreement on a two-year deal in a surprising move during the early free agency period.

The story was first reported by Newsday’s Kimberley A. Martin. 

According to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, the deal is worth $12 million. Marshall was scheduled to earn $7.5 million with the Jets this year before his release last week.

Marshall, who was drafted by the Denver Broncos as a fourth-round pick out of UCF in 2006, tweeted a picture of his signed contract Wednesday morning:

With the deal, the Giants get a premier wideout with much durability remaining at a great market value.

The Giants will likely pair Marshall, a six-time Pro Bowler, with star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and fellow wideout Sterling Shepard, who impressed last season, his rookie campaign.

Marshall’s noteworthy strength should also help quarterback Eli Manning, who has historically had inconsistent passing performances.

The Giants were desperately seeking a wide receiver following the release of the injury-riddled Victor Cruz early in the offseason. The team also cut veteran running back Rashad Jennings the same day as Cruz, and franchise-tagged defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul this offseason to keep their strong defensive line intact.

Marshall, who played one season for the Jets after being traded from the Chicago Bears in 2015, was voted team MVP by the Jets that year as he set the franchise record for catches (109) and receiving yards (1,502) in a season. He also tied for the league lead with 14 receiving touchdowns. After that, Marshall suffered one of his worst seasons in 2016, managing only 59 catches, 788 yards and three touchdowns.

Undermined, in part, by poor quarterback play, his catch percentage (receptions/targets) was only 46.7 percent, 143rd among 144 qualifying players. Marshall also played for the Miami Dolphins.

Marshall has eight 1,000-yard seasons and his 25 receiving touchdowns since 2014 are among the most in the NFL. The only other time the Giants had two 1,000-yard receivers on the same squad— Hakeem Nicks and Cruz back in 2011— they won the Super Bowl.

The new league year begins Thursday (March 9).

CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 30: Brandon Marshall #15 of the New York Jets runs with the ball while playing the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 30, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

The New York Jets released veteran wide receiver Brandon Marshall on Friday, thus saving more than $7 million on their salary cap.

Jets Release Veteran WR Brandon Marshall

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported the news Thursday night. The move comes just days after the Jets notified both cornerback Darrelle Revis and offensive lineman Nick Mangold of their imminent releases. All three players will become free agents when the new league year begins March 9.

Marshall, who will be 33 later this month, was set to earn $7.5 million in 2017. The Chicago Bears traded the wideout to the Jets in 2015. In his first season in New York, Marshall logged franchise-record-setting numbers in receptions (109) and receiving yards (1,503) and matched the team’s all-time mark in receiving touchdowns. In 2016, those figures dropped significantly. He recorded 788 yards receiving and three touchdowns. He also recorded career lows for receptions (59) and receiving touchdowns (3).

”Brandon was an important addition in 2015,” said general manager Mike Maccagnan. ”He strives to make the most out of every opportunity and brought an unrivaled commitment to his craft. I’m sure he will continue with that same mindset as he moves forward.”

The 11-year NFL veteran has never been in the playoffs.

Marshall thanked the Jets organization in an Instagram post, especially owner Woody Johnson, Maccagnan and coach Todd Bowles, “for bringing me in and embracing me.” He also acknowledged, by name, members of the equipment and training staffs, the media relations department, the maintenance crew, and even the media.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BRKjSBFB03z/

Marshall was involved in a locker room argument with teammate Sheldon Richardson following the Jets’ loss in Kansas City in Week 3. The fight seemed to set the tone for the team’s 5-11 2016 season.

The receiver also previously played for the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins.

Marshall played his second season with the Jets through a sprained knee ligament, sprained foot and toe injury for most of the season, and then finally suffered a sore hip, which rendered him inactive.

Per NFL Research, Marshall ranks first in the NFL in receptions (921) and receiving yards (11,752) over the last 10 seasons. The six-time Pro Bowler is also tied for first in 100-yard receiving games (46) and tied for second in receiving touchdowns (80).

CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 30: Brandon Marshall #15 of the New York Jets runs with the ball while playing the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 30, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Brandon Marshall demonstrated Thursday night that he is just one more person who stands by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s protest of not standing during the playing of the national anthem before games.

Broncos LB Brandon Marshall Kneels During Anthem Before 21-20 Season-Opening Win Vs Panthers

The Denver Broncos linebacker, who turns 27 on Saturday, knelt during ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ before Thursday night’s NFL season opener against the Carolina Panthers, which the Broncos won 21-20 at home.

“I’m not against the military,” Marshall said following the game, per Cameron Wolfe of the Denver Post, adding with clarity what he was against: “I’m not against the police or America. I’m against social injustice.”

All of the other players on the field were standing, according to the Charlotte Observer‘s Joe Person.

“While we encourage members of our organization to stand during the National Anthem, we understand and respect it being a personal decision,” the Broncos said in a statement, per Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio.

“Brandon is a great kid,” Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak said, per Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post. “He is a leader of this team. I believe in my players.”

Fellow Broncos linebacker and Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller said after the game that he supports Marshall and Kaepernick in the belief that change is needed, although he added that he wont’ kneel for the anthem, according to Judy Battista of NFL.com.

Kaepernick told NFL Media’s Steve Wyche that he opted against standing to show support for those who he believes are treated unjustly.

“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick said. “To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

The 49ers QB spurred severe controversy with both his refusal to stand and his words.

Marshall and Kaepernick were teammates in college on the Nevada Wolf Pack.

“We can post (on social media) and say all we want, but that’s the real change. To get out in the community and say we’re going to do this,” Marshall said, per Cameron Wolfe. “Sometimes you have to go straight to the source and really have a conversation to sit down and talk with the leaders.”

Several other similar protests may arise this weekend before the rest of the NFL teams play their season openers.

According to ESPN.com’s Sheil Kapadia, Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner disclosed that his squad may unite for a team-wide display of unity.

In the first half of Thursday’s game, as the Panthers gained a 17-7 lead, the Broncos seemed to have suffered a greater loss of personnel than even retired QB Peyton Manning, who led Denver to a victory over Carolina in Super Bowl 50 in February. The Panthers racked up 220 yards, including 95 yards rushing.

In all, Panthers QB Cam Newton had 11 runs for 54 yards and one touchdown. Carolina also led by 10 points at halftime.

The Panthers will next host the 49ers on Sept. 18, while the Broncos, led by new QB Trevor Siemian, will host the Indianapolis Colts that same Sunday.

DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 13: Fullback Kyle Juszczyk #44 of the Baltimore Ravens rushes against outside linebacker Brandon Marshall #54 of the Denver Broncos in the third quarter of a game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on September 13, 2015 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)