Cromartie Says Marshall, Dolphins Should Focus On Winning
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Brandon Marshall promises to come out swinging, and the New York Jets hope it's an early KO.
The Miami Dolphins wide receiver said Thursday that he plans to show more passion in the game between the teams Monday night, with his goal "to get thrown out midway through the second quarter." He added that he might even fight Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie or linebacker Bart Scott.
"If he wants to get kicked out of the game in the second quarter," a smiling Jets coach Rex Ryan said Friday, "I think he should."
The Jets (2-3) have lost three straight, but the Dolphins (0-4) are looking for their first victory.
"I mean, he had to give you something to write about," Cromartie said. "You all don't have anything else to write about. I really don't even care. This is my 11th time facing Brandon, so we've got a lot of history together. For a guy to come out and fight, they better be trying to win game one rather than coming out to try to fight."
Cromartie, who has been friends with Marshall since their high school days in Florida, calls the receiver "a front-runner." ''It's all talk," Cromartie said. "I mean, he's got to give you something to write about because there's no talk going on down there because they're 0-4."
Marshall's comments amused Ryan, who made headlines two years ago when he got into a playful feud with former Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder.
"I'm just happy that he's not picking on me to fight him," Ryan said of Marshall. "We've had that issue before and, quite honestly, I was a little nervous running across that field. I feel good. At least he never called me out.
Scott wasn't in the locker room during media availability, but defensive coordinator Mike Pettine laughed when asked about Marshall's fightin' words.
"I shook my head when I saw that one," Pettine said with a grin. "As long as it's not a 1-for-1 trade, he can go right ahead."
