Oakland Raiders fans who heard Brandon Marshall was released by the team were probably surprised by the choice. They also probably understood the decision after a minute of thinking, as well.
The former Denver Broncos linebacker was signed early in the offseason with the expectations of becoming the team's starter. However, he performed poorly during the preseason, making it increasingly likely the team would cut him instead.
Raiders GM Mike Mayock explained the team's decision to cut the player they signed to a one-year deal in March.
Mike Mayock said Brandon Marshall took some time to show the burst expected from him. And, if the Raiders were going with four or five LBs due to spread formations, that extra linebacker has to be a special teams fixture. That wasn't going to be Marshall.
— Scott Bair (@ScottBairNFL) August 31, 2019
Mayock: Marshall is just getting his speed and flexibility back and not playing special teams hurt him
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) August 31, 2019
Marshall was selected in the fifth round of the 2012 Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He made five starts for the team but failed to record a single statistic before being released.
The Denver Broncos then picked Marshall up, jump-starting his career. He was a part of the Broncos team that won Super Bowl 50, making five combined tackles to help defeat the Carolina Panthers, 24-10. He notched 423 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, nine QB hits, five forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one fumble recovery touchdown, 6.5 sacks, two pass interceptions, and 21 pass deflections during his six seasons with Denver.
Raiders head coach Jon Gruden called Marshall “one of the best coverage linebackers” earlier this year, but his health apparently got in the way of securing a final roster spot with the team. Of course, there's no time for Marshall to hang his head. If he focuses on getting his condition back, there could be a slew of NFL teams looking to acquire his services.
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