Brandon Marshall Signs 2-Year Deal With Giants
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Brandon Marshall will continue his great career in New York, after all.
Just a few days after being released by the Jets, the veteran wide receiver signed a two-year, $12 million contract with the Giants on Wednesday.
Done Deal!!!! #GMEN pic.twitter.com/9sFpQBXjFx
— BEAST (@BMarshall) March 8, 2017
Even on the verge of his 33rd birthday, Marshall is still one of the league's most dangerous offensive threats and will help take the pressure off of the talented but mercurial Odell Beckham Jr.
As CBS2's Steve Overmyer reports, he's also expected to help the Giants as a red zone target, and his downfield blocking abilities will go a long way with Big Blue's run game.
Marshall told WFAN's "PapaCast - GiantsCast" podcast that the possibility of winning a championship attracted him to the Giants.
"It starts with the organization. Starts with ownership," Marshall said. "There's a lot of stability there. The way the Giants are viewed around the league is second to none, and that was important.
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"The second thing is being able to play with an amazing quarterback. And this team is complete. You look at what we have on the defensive side."
A year removed from a season in which he rewrote the Jets' record book, Marshall, who will turn 33 on March 23, suffered through a dreadful 2016 season, finishing with just 59 receptions, 788 yards and three touchdowns. The drop in production came in stark contrast to 2015, when he put up a franchise-record 109 receptions, 1,502 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Entering his 12th NFL season, Marshall has 941 career receptions, 12,061 yards and 82 touchdowns, numbers that could very well land him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame someday.
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More importantly, Marshall will get to continue his pursuit of his first playoff appearance. The six-time Pro Bowler, who has recorded at least 1,000 yards receiving in a season with four different teams, will be paired with explosive Odell Beckham Jr. and impressive slot receiver Sterling Shepard, as the Giants look to take the next step following their postseason appearance last season, their first since 2011.
"The thing that I love the most about playing the wide receiver position and the thing that I always focus on every year is being the best tandem or trio in sports," Marshall said. "Like, when I read things, when I hear things as far as the wide receiver position, I want our names to be mentioned as the best corps in the business."
The Jets, who are in the midst of a massive rebuilding effort that has included the departures of longtime stalwarts Nick Mangold and Darrelle Revis, reportedly wanted to keep Marshall, but ended up granting him his wishes with his release. With the move, Gang Green saved $7.5 million under the NFL's new $167 million salary cap.
In addition to the Jets, Marshall has previously played for the Broncos, Dolphins and Bears.
To help offset the Marshall signing, the Giants are expected to try to restructure the contract of receiver/kick returner Dwayne Harris, ESPN reported. If the Giants released Harris, they would save $1.4 million toward the salary cap, but they would also be hit with $2.4 million in dead money.