NFL locals roundup: Former Fresno State star reflects on NFL career and his kids

Former Fresno State star Richard Marshall spent nine seasons in the NFL, fulfilling a dream.

That doesn’t mean he’s done playing in the league. It’s been more than a year since the cornerback saw action on the field, but if the right opportunity arises, he is ready to go wherever he might be needed.

“You don’t know what the outcome is. You never know,” said Marshall, who, while in town Tuesday, distributed 300 turkeys at the West Fresno Family Resource Center. “As of right now, I work out just to keep myself in shape, and if somebody was to call and it was the right situation for me or if it was me going back and playing safety, I would. But I feel like it has to be the right situation.”

Marshall last played for San Diego in an Oct. 23, 2014, game against Denver.

At age 30, he has played for four teams and accumulated 612 tackles, seven sacks, three forced fumbles and 18 interceptions.

Marshall was picked by Carolina in the second round (58th overall) of the 2006 NFL draft. He signed a three-year, $16 million contract with Miami in 2012, but saw his run there derailed after one season by a back injury.

“Playing nine years, a lot of people don’t know the aches and pains that an NFL season would do to your body,” he said. “Fortunately I had one surgery in nine years. It was unfortunate that it was my back. I was able to come back from that and play two more years.”

One benefit from not playing this season is that Marshall is spending a lot of time with his three children – twin 5-year-old boys and his youngest son, who will be 3 in two weeks.

“It’s more about my kids. I want to be there for my kids,” he said. “If my kids are playing sports, I want to be there. I want to be there for practice and a game … that’s what I want to do for my kids. I want to be there. I don’t want to talk to my son on the phone and ask, ‘How was your game?’

“My kids are a little older and I’m around a lot more because I’m not in the season. If it takes me not playing no more to be there for my kids, then that’s what I would do. I’ve played nine years in the NFL and I’m happy to play that long … a lot of players’ careers are a lot shorter than that. For me to play nine years and have a long career in the NFL … I’m fine, whether I go back and play or I don’t go back and play.”

Carr, Raiders struggle in loss – Oakland quarterback Derek Carr didn’t have his best game last week and neither did the Raiders.

The former Fresno State star completed 13 of 25 passes for 169 yards and no touchdowns as Detroit defeated the Raiders 18-13, Oakland’s third straight loss.

Carr was held without a touchdown pass for the first time since the season opener against Cincinnati.

“You’ve got to make sure that we’re just doing our job,” he said. “You hear it all the time. You hear it, coaches always say, ‘just do your job.’ If we just stay focused on that, we’ll get back to what we’ve been able to do.”

Et cetera – Green Bay receiver Davante Adams (Fresno State) had three receptions for 36 yards in the Packers’ 30-13 victory over Minnesota. Vikings middle linebacker Eric Kendricks (Hoover) finished with seven tackles in his return from a rib injury.

▪ Chicago receiver Marquess Wilson (Tulare) had four receptions and a career-high 102 yards. He was targeted seven times, though Denver held on for a 17-15 win. Broncos tight end Virgil Green (Tulare) had a nine-yard reception.

▪ Carolina linebacker Ben Jacobs (Fresno State) didn’t pick up a tackle as the Panthers downed Washington 44-16. Redskins tight end Anthony McCoy (Bullard) was inactive and a day later was waived.

▪ Cincinnati linebacker Chris Carter (Fresno State) had a special-teams tackle in the Bengals’ 34-31 loss to Arizona. Bengals rookie safety Derron Smith (Fresno State) didn’t record a tackle.

▪ Dallas fullback Tyler Clutts (Clovis/Fresno State) played in a 24-14 victory over Miami. He didn’t record a rushing stat.

▪ Kansas City rookie cornerback Steven Nelson (College of the Sequoias) and San Diego offensive tackle Kenny Wiggins saw action as the Chiefs rolled past the Chargers 33-3.

▪ New York defensive end Sheldon Richardson (Sequoias) was inactive as the Jets fell to Houston 24-17.

▪ Tampa Bay left guard Logan Mankins (Fresno State) started in a 45-17 victory over Philadelphia. The Eagles played without running back Ryan Mathews because of a concussion he suffered the previous week. Eagles linebacker Mychal Kendricks (Hoover) finished with five tackles and had a forced fumble. Teammate Seyi Ajirotutu (Fresno State) didn’t record a stat.

▪ St. Louis safety T.J. McDonald (Edison) had seven tackles, but the Rams suffered a 16-13 defeat to Baltimore. Rams right guard Cody Wichmann (Fresno State) made his first career start.

▪ Former Fresno State tight end Marcel Jansen had his contract terminated by Atlanta on Tuesday.

▪ Former Kingsburg High standout quarterback Tyler Bray (ACL) returned to practice with Kansas City but remains on the reserve/nonfootball Injury list.

This story was originally published November 25, 2015 at 3:08 PM with the headline "NFL locals roundup: Former Fresno State star reflects on NFL career and his kids."