By John Sarianides 

Brandon Marshall and the Patriots are rumored to have mutual interest in each other after the veteran receiver was released by the Jets last week. My initial reaction to that rumor? No thanks!

Marshall is not a good fit for the Patriots on or off the field. On the field, the Patriots have four receivers in Julien Edelman, Chris Hogan, Danny Amendola and Malcolm Mitchell that are a better fit schematically than Marshall. 

Marshall is a big receiver but he is not a quick twitch receiver who can get in and out of his cuts like the Patriots receivers can. He is more a body up, jump ball receiver. The Patriots already have that type of receiver in tight end Rob Gronkowski. They don’t need Marshall.

Never mind the fact that Marshall will demand touches and you know that “feed me the ball” nonsense doesn’t work with the Patriots. Touches are based on the opponent and the game plan not your salary and the name on the back of your jersey. 

Off the field, I think Bill Belichick would have an issue with Marshall doing Inside the NFL every week. A weekly television appearance as an analyst doesn’t exactly jive with the Patriots way. 

 Marshall has also had some well documented issues with teammates in the past. Last season’s very public feud with teammate Sheldon Richardson is proof of that. Marshall has grown up a lot in recent years but he still has a tendency to be negative.

Brandon Marshall will have plenty of suitors for his services but I don’t think the Patriots should be one of them. Marshall is still a productive player but he doesn’t make a team like the Patriots better.

 The Patriots aren’t in need of a “missing” piece and even if they were, it wouldn’t be Marshall. Caveat Emptor as far as I’m concerned.