Brandon Marshall, the Jets' 2015 Curtis Martin Team MVP, spoke candidly to members of the media on Monday in the aftermath of the Green & White having their postseason hopes dashed by the Buffalo Bills.
"It's still the same feeling, a little numb, "said a somber Marshall at his locker. "Disappointed."
After finishing his first season wearing the green and white with 109 receptions for 1,509 yards and 14 touchdowns, all team highs, Marshall is unfortunately ready to recharge his battery.
"I'm just taking it one day at a time," he said. "I've been in the league along time and for me, I'm going to take the time I need to rejuvenate. Physically, I feel like I can play forever. Mentally, with so much failure, you've just got to keep picking yourself up and sometimes it's harder than others but you have to do it. So I'm going to take as much time as I need to pick myself up and get back healthy mentally and be the best teammate I can be."
With 10 seasons in the NFL and having played for four different franchises, Marshall knows all too well that opportunities to make it to the postseason don't come around too often. And for the Green & White, who haven't been to the playoffs since 2010, he believes the Jets are on the right path.
"I think that we have something special here," he replied. "I thought that we had the formula to make a run at it and like I said after the first Patriots game, I felt like my play was the play that was the difference. I felt like I let the team down. And I say that because that's a microcosm of our season. I think that's a microcosm of each and every game where it comes down to one or two plays and details. I feel like across the board, if we can be better there with the details and taking advantage of each and every opportunity playing it like it's our last, we'll be an even better team."
The Jets offense finished this campaign 10th overall in the NFL and Marshall is optimistic at where this offense can go in 2016.
"It's all on the guys in the locker room if we choose to do that," said the 6'4", 230-pound wideout. "We have the core in place to be able to build on it. Who would have thought coming in that we would be a top-10 offense? But again, that was a surprise to many, that was a surprise to us in this locker room and in this building. So we'll see how next year goes and we'll try and figure it all out."
The Jets are the fourth stop for Marshall. And coming into a new situation, the 10th-year veteran had his reservations.
"I'm going to be honest, I came into this situation not wanting to build relationships, not wanting to get attached to anything because I had a bitter taste in my mouth as far as how things happened in Chicago," he said. "I've made not only awesome relationships with my teammates but also with the guys in the building. People in the community, that was the first place that I felt like it was home, and when I got in here that immediately changed.
"There was a perception around this building and I have to tell you that this is the best locker room, the best team that I have ever been on as far as a management standpoint. It's first class from top to bottom. I'm just honored and proud to be a part of it."
Marshall is the only player in NFL history to have six 100-catch seasons and is also excited to represent his new team in Hawaii at the Pro Bowl for the sixth time in his career.
"I want to take a team picture with my Jets uniform," said Marshall with a proud smile. "It's such an honor and you don't know when you'll be voted back and I want to be able to show my kids that I made the Pro Bowl as a Jet."
