NFL Notes: Broncos, Eagles, Jets

Broncos

Broncos LB Brandon Marshall said he plans to have a completely opposite 2017 season from the down year he had for Denver in 2016.

“It kind of sat on me. I had a bad feeling, I had a bad taste in my mouth all of last year,” Marshall said, via Jeff Legwold of ESPN. “Even during the season, I was like, ‘I’m not making any plays, I’m not making plays.’ It just felt weird. I wanted to do something about that. I plan to have a complete opposite season. I plan to make all the plays. … Linebackers are supposed to lead the team in tackles. We’re supposed to be the playmakers on defense, and I think that’s what we need to get back to.”

Marshall didn’t attribute his down year to any one thing and instead explained that the team appeared to be in a “Super Bowl lull.”

“I wouldn’t blame it on one specific thing. I think there were some distractions and maybe a Super Bowl lull,” Marshall said. “At the end of the day, nobody cares about that. All they care about is: Did you make plays or not? And I didn’t. I want to reverse that this year.”

Eagles

• Jimmy Kempski of Philly Voice was asked about the possibility of the Eagles cutting free agent addition WR Torrey Smith to free up some cap room to sign WR Jeremy Maclin. According to Kempski, “that’s not going to happen.“
• Kempski points out that the Eagles clearly like Smith, considering that they discussed a trade for him last year and signed him to a three-year, $15 million contract this offseason.
• Also, Kempski says making this kind of move would “make the Eagles look like a clown show.”

Jets

• Jets HC Todd Bowles has made a concerted effort to change the team’s locker room chemistry and overall culture this offseason, which has included bringing in outside voices to speak to the team.
• During their annual town hall meeting with season-ticket holders last week, Bowles made a “distinct impression” that Josh McCown will be their opening-day starter, according to Rich Cimini.
• Cimini adds that Browns told the ticket holders McCown has an advantage over Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty because of his familiarity with the West Coast offense, but still expects Hackenberg to play at some point.
• In regards to the Calvin Pryor trade, Cimini says that Pryor’s fate was likely sealed when safety Jamal Adams fell to them in round one.
• The Jets were one of the teams to pick up some cap space last week after they designated Marcus Gilchrist as a post-June 1 release. New York picked up $6 million of cap room, but will carry cap hits of $1.375 million in 2017 and 2018 as a result.
• According to Cimini, it won’t be a surprise to see the Jets address the fullback position in the near future. Cimini notes that the Jets previously showed interest in Zach Line, who remains unsigned.