Jets’ Brandon Marshall to refs: Dolphins’ Byron Maxwell holds
New York Jets' wide receiver Brandon Marshall before the Week 4 game against the Seattle Seahawks at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016. Credit: Lee S Weissman / Lee S. Weissman
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Brandon Marshall has a score to settle, and he used the media to deliver his message — both to Byron Maxwell and the game day officials.
Marshall will return to Miami this weekend for the first time since the Dolphins dealt him to Chicago in 2012 for a pair of third-round picks. The Jets receiver already knows what to expect from Maxwell.
“I played against him last year in Philly and he just held every single play,” Marshall said Wednesday, adding that the Dolphins acquired Maxwell in the offseason specifically “to stop me.”
His film study has revealed nothing new about the Dolphins’ cornerback. “He’s still the same guy,” Marshall said. “Still the same player. Holds every single play.
“I don’t know him. But I don’t like him. I’m being honest,” added the Jets’ star, who caught seven passes for 128 yards in a 27-14 victory over the Dolphins at Wembley Stadium last year. “I never had a conversation with this guy. He seems like a real ly nice guy. He doesn’t say much on the field, but because he holds every single play, I don’t like him.”
Maxwell was flagged for 11 penalties, including five holding and four pass interference calls, in 2015. On March 9, the Eagles traded him, linebacker Kiko Alonso and the No. 13 overall pick in the 2016 draft to the Dolphins for the eighth pick.
“A great trade for the Eagles,’’ Marshall said. “A great trade.”
The Jets (3-5) and AFC East rival Miami (3-4) are looking to build on two-game winning streaks. The Dolphins, coming off a bye week, have the 10th-ranked pass defense, and according to Marshall, “They don’t give up big plays.”
He did, however, point out that the Dolphins’ defensive backs play “a lot of Cover 2, they play a lot of quarters,” so the matchup between him and Maxwell won’t be the main event. “But I will say, I’m excited to play against Maxwell. I owe him one,” Marshall said. “It’s not a lot of one-on-ones, so hopefully they’ll let him do what they traded for him to do. So we’ll see.
“I’m just going to bring it to him this game. I’ll hold him and I’ll push him around if that’s the type of game it’s going to be.”
By calling out Maxwell, Marshall ensured that all eyes will be on the pair Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium. And that’s exactly what he wants.
Asked if he plans to talk to the officials during warmups about Maxwell’s penchant for penalties, Marshall laughed and said: “I’m talking to the officials now. What do you think I’m doing? He’s going to hold me. Duuuuh! This isn’t about Maxwell. This is to the officials: Maxwell is going to hold every single play.”
So, what makes him so sure that the refs will hear his complaints?
“They’ll read the papers. This is New York,” he said, laughing again. “You guys will do a great job of getting it out there. Come on! You guys know the game.”
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