SHELDON SLAMS MARSHALL
Richardson throws shady bunch of blame toward former Jets WR
Brandon Marshall may be gone from the Jets’ locker room, but the wide receiver still is on the mind of at least one former teammate.
Defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson, who feuded with Marshall last year, could not resist taking a dig at the receiver, who signed with the Giants in March after the Jets released him. Richardson was asked if he wants to remain a Jet after the team tried to trade him during the draft.
“I enjoy being here,” Richardson said on Tuesday after the Jets’ first OTA. “The locker room’s a whole lot easier to get along with now.”
That piqued the interest of the reporters gathered around Richardson. When asked what that comment meant, Richardson said, “Y’all so thirsty.”
Then Richardson took his shot, “Let’s just say we’ve got 15 reasons why it’s better.”
Marshall wore No. 15 with the Jets, of course, so Richardson took his not-so-subtle dig at his former teammate. Richardson then ended the media session, “That’s enough. I’m out of here.”
It is well known Richardson and Marshall did not get along. The two had a heated exchange after last year’s Week 3 loss to the Chiefs, nearly getting physical with each other. After the season, Jets players pointed to that moment as a turning point in the season, and it clearly fractured the locker room.
Marshall publicly scolded Richardson in December for posting an obscene Snapchat video from the pregame locker room. Richardson then ripped Marshall after a Week 16 loss to the Patriots. Marshall had given a fiery halftime speech that day, which rubbed some of his teammates the wrong way.
The Giants have media access on Thursday, so stay tuned for Marshall’s response.
It was somewhat surprising that Richardson still is in the Jets’ locker room himself. The team tried to trade him before last month’s draft but could not find anyone that would meet its asking price. Richardson is due to make $8.1 million this season, which was also a sticking point for some teams interested in the 2013 first-round pick. Richardson will be a free agent after this year.
Last season was not a good one for Richardson, who had 1.5 sacks, was suspended for the first game of the year for violating the league’s conduct policy and was benched against the Dolphins in November for repeated tardiness.
Defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers said he sees a motivated Richardson this spring.
“I shouldn’t say a chip on his shoulder. … I think he has something to prove,” Rodgers said.
Richardson did not agree with Rodgers.
“I’m proven, honestly,” he said. “I’ve just got to get some stats, contract year.”
During the past two years, the Jets have asked Richardson to play some outside linebacker, something he said he gladly did to help the team, but it may have hurt his production.
How much linebacker he played depends on who you ask. Coach
Todd Bowles said Richardson did not play linebacker at all last season. Richardson and Rodgers indicated he did. Anyone who watched the Jets play last year also saw Richardson line up as a linebacker. He played 76 snaps at outside linebacker and 11 at inside linebacker, according to ESPN’s stats.
Rodgers said playing out of position has hurt Richardson.
“We ask him to do a lot of stuff, and [it’s] probably a detriment to him,” Rodgers said. “We ask him one game to play [inside] linebacker, and he never said a word, [saying], ‘Whatever you need me to do coach.’ Really, at the end of the day he’s a true three-technique.”
The three-technique lines up on the outside shoulder of the guard. That is where the Jets say Richardson will be this year.
“We’re going to try to let him do what he does best,” Rodgers said.
Ri c ha rd s on welcomes t hat news.
“I haven’t played there for a consistent, whole year since I went to the Pro Bowl [ in 2014],” Richardson said. “That’s fine with me.”
So is Brandon Marshall being out of the Jets’ locker room.