Quarterback Colin Kaepernick may want the New York Jets, but they don't want him. Well, at least one Jets player doesn't. Mercurial Jets wideout Brandon Marshall, never one to shy away from sharing his opinion, appeared on ESPN's First Take on Wednesday and told the hosts that he's got zero interest in the embattled San Francisco 49ers signal-caller. Why?
Because he's already got "his guy" in Ryan Fitzpatrick.
"I don't want Kaepernick," Marshall said. "I think he's good. My guy's Fitz. Nothing against Kaepernick, but what I'm saying is that I have my quarterbacks and I'm good."
As part of the report of Kaepernick's interest in making the jump to New York, The New York Daily News' Manish Mehta made clear that while the Jets are at least intrigued by Kaep, they're too early into the season-planning process to give serious thought to such an addition.
Marshall has no such qualms. He believes that the latter portion of Fitzpatrick's career, which may very well come in New York, "is going to be amazing." Marshall also said that he believes the combination of Fitzpatrick and offensive coordinator Chan Gailey is a perfect one for New York.
Fitz finished this season with 335 completions for a career-high 3,905 yards, 31 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. And it makes sense that Marshall would want Fitzpatrick back considering he caught 14 touchdowns, the highest total of his career, and eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the eighth time, falling just six yards short of his career-best.
Of course, the idea of Kaepernick joining the Jets is mostly a pipedream. Not that it can't or won't happen - crazier things certainly have come to pass in the NFL - but Jets head coach Todd Bowles has already stated his desire to see Fitzpatrick return and the quarterback himself has also said he'd like to be back.
There's also Kaepernick's contract - inflated though the overall numbers may be - and tarnished reputation - he had a down year statistically amid reports that he wasn't prepared from the jump - to consider.
In the end, Kaep's future certainly may not be in San Fran, but it seems likely that Marshall will get his wish and Kaep will be kissing his guns in another NFL city.
