Usually I don't make a big deal out of radio interviews. After all, athletes are as accessible as ever now thanks to the numerous forms of media.
But when the newest Dolphin star and perhaps face of the franchise makes the radio rounds, it deserves some attention.
Before we get into what Brandon Marshall said, I want to point out what Marshall was promoting. Brandon is hosting a free football camp at the Dolphins Training Facility in Davie on Saturday. It's open to children 6 to 14 years old. But you have to be one of the first 500 to sign up. For more into, head over to the team's official website.
While it's great to see the new star in town already getting involved in the community, let's get into the real meat of these interviews he did on Monday with the South Florida radio stations.
First off, what does Brandon think about his new quarterback? He loves him, of course! While it's expected that the new star receiver would be nothing but complimentary towards Chad Henne, Marshall really went above and beyond just simply complimenting him:
"Chad's ball is easier to catch. He has one of the most talented arms that I've seen. It's going to be fun. This guy -- his work ethic in the classroom and on the field -- it's going to be exciting to play with him and to grow and learn from him, too."
And what about getting in sync with Henne?
"Well, you know, it’s amazing. We’ll come to the sideline – and it may be something that happened on the field - he may have seen something, I may have seen something. And it’s like we’re little kids. We’re so excited. It’s like if we’re in the game and if that happens, I’m going to do this. What are you thinking? What do you see? I think that’s the biggest thing – trying to pick each other’s brain."
This is what we all want to hear. We want to hear about how excited these two guys are. We want to hear - and eventually see - this enthusiasm. After all, these two have a chance to become a dynamic duo for years in Miami. And it's awesome to hear how they are working hard to get on the same page.
Speaking of enthusiasm, Marshall also was borderline over-the-top complimentary of his new head coach - a far cry from how he felt about his last head coach (though I can't say I blame him...Josh McDaniels seems like a tool):
"I don’t know the last time I’ve been so inspired just in the team meeting room in the offseason from a player or a coach or someone just talking about football. It seems like every day, the hairs on my arms stand up. I mean, he’s amazing. He’s amazing. He’s a football guy. I don’t know, I can’t even explain it.
"There are no individuals. He treats everyone the same. You know what you are going to get, I've learned that in my short time here already. I look forward to just trying to run through a brick wall for him. He's an awesome guy and an awesome coach."
Marshall was also asked about his potential impact on this offense and if he feels any pressure at all from the expectations being placed on him and his new team:
"It definitely feels good to have that type of talk around you. But at the end of the day, it’s all about the team. The thing that I’m going to do is help our running game get better. So now we can be the number one rushing offense in the league. And I’ll probably get more one-on-ones outside because of our offensive line, our quarterback situation, and also the running backs. So I’m looking forward to seeing more one-on-one coverage and watching Ronnie and Ricky run loose."
Marshall makes a good point and it's one that I don't think has been talked about enough. Brandon is an excellent run blocker for a receiver. Unlike many receivers in this league, he's not afraid to throw his body around and make key down-field blocks. This, along with the threat he poses as a pass catcher on the outside, should really help out Miami's rushing attack.
And hearing Marshall say exactly that is awesome, to be honest.
So what does Brandon feel like he needs to work on? Apparently it's his red zone production:
"It’s something I have to get better at. You look at guys like Randy Moss, catching 20-something touchdowns. Compare myself to that, ten. So that’s a goal of mine - to be up there with the best and I have a lot of work to do. I think it’s going to get better and it’s going to be a better year in the red zone for us. But it’s something I have to focus on and try to work at every day."
I'll tell you one thing - if Marshall plays on the field as well as he's been handling himself off the field during his brief time in Miami, we have a lot to be excited about.
To listen to Brandon's full interview on WQAM, click here. To hear some clips from his interview on 790 The Ticket, click here.