JET’S GIANT BEEF
Sheldon looks forward to revenge vs. Marshall
AP Sheldon Richardson has already circled a game on the Jets’ 2017 schedule: Aug. 26 against the Giants at MetLife Stadium. Why, you may be asking, is the Gang Green defensive lineman concerned with a meaningless exhibition game in the third week of the preseason? Well, Richardson wouldn’t say explicitly, but it’s glaringly apparent he’s looking forward to matching up with Brandon Marshall, the former Jets’ wide receiver who was cut in early March and signed with the Giants five days later. Just more than two weeks ago, Marshall went on WFAN and said he requested his release from the Jets because he couldn’t play for a team that “didn’t stand a chance.” Richardson — who feuded with Marshall throughout last year’s 5-11 campaign — responded to those comments Sunday at Jets training camp in Florham Park. “Who?” Richardson said initially, before a reporter clarified. “I hadn’t heard that name in a while. I don’t care what that guy says, man.”
Richardson said he hadn’t heard about Marshall’s quotes until Sunday.
“No thoughts about it,” Richardson said after letting out a series of chuckles. “Nothing at all.”
Yet when asked if he is looking forward to the Snoopy Bowl, the yearly preseason meeting between the Giants and Jets in East Rutherford, Richardson retorted sternly. “Definitely,” he said. Why? “I just like the Snoopy Bowl. That’s all,” Richardson said with a huge smile. “Fun environment, man.”
Richardson said he may push Todd Bowles to let him play “a little outside linebacker” during the game, presumably to give him a shot at facing up and hitting Marshall. “But that’s about it,” he said. At OTAs in May, Richardson took an unprompted jab at Marshall, saying there were “15 reasons why” the Jets locker room was “easier to get along with now.” Marshall wore 15 for the Jets.
Richardson is entering the final year of his rookie contract and will become a free agent after this season. Despite trade rumors swirling around him for much of the past two seasons, Richardson is intent on staying with the Jets.
“This organization is amazing,” Richardson said. “I like being here, period.”
The feeling shouldn’t come as a huge surprise. The Jets helped support Richardson as the St. Louis native dealt with multiple suspensions and off-the-field issues. He was banned for the first four games of 2015 for testing positive for marijuana and received a one-game suspension to begin 2016 for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
Last year’s suspension stemmed from a July 2015 arrest. Richardson was charged after driving 143 mph on a highway and trying to evade police officers.
But now those incidents are firmly in the past. For the first time since 2014 — when he made the only Pro Bowl of his career and finished with a career-high eight sacks — Richardson is entering training camp without a suspension looming over his head.
And his daughter turned one on Saturday.
“He’s in a good place, and he’s healthy, he doesn’t have any nicks bothering him, and he came in ready to go, and you got to love the way he comes in. He’s inspiring a lot of people,” Bowles said. “Sheldon’s always been a candid guy. He’s always been endearing outside the camera. He’s been a heck of a guy. But he’s in a peaceful place. I can’t put a finger on it, but he comes in, he’s focused, obviously he’s at peace with himself.”