Two weeks ago, the Kansas City Chiefs cut wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, much to the surprise of most football fans, who did not expect to see an affordable Pro Bowler jettisoned in June.
Well, you know who else was surprised? Jeremy Maclin himself.
In an interview with Pro Football Talk on Thursday, Maclin said he found out about his release via voicemail. Asked to rate his level of surprise on a scale of one to 10, he replied, “11,” then explained his version of how he was cut. Via PFT:
“Through a voicemail,” Maclin said. “[From G.M.] John Dorsey. I was upset, I was shocked. Apparently, they had been trying to trade me for two or three months. Which who knows if that’s true or not? I would just think that . . . a guy who is going into his ninth year would know if he’s being shopped or not. It is what it is. I still have respect for Big Red, still have respect for the organization. I’m not going to bad mouth anybody or talk any dirt on anybody. It was an unfortunate situation. They felt like they didn’t want me as a player anymore, so it is what it is. I’m happy with where I am right now, and I think that might be the last time I talk about what I call my former life. So I don’t think I want to talk about that anymore.”
Maclin nevertheless addressed one final topic: Did they approach him about taking a pay cut?
“There was not a discussion with me or my team,” Maclin said. “I’ve heard a lot of rumors coming out of there. I’ve heard they thought I lost a step, my price tag was too high. Whatever the case may be, I’m ready to play some football. That flame that burns inside of a competitor, that thing got a lot brighter.”
Maclin missed four games to injury last season and accounted for career lows in receptions (44), receiving yards (536) and touchdowns (2). Only a year earlier, he had led Kansas City in all three of those categories in his first year with the team.
After being cut, Maclin did not remain unemployed long. On Tuesday, he signed a two-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens. Unfortunately, the Ravens do not play the Chiefs in 2017.
Glad to see Maclin land on a team with an elite quarterback.