Brandon Marshall Apologizes to Dolphins Defense for Play of Offense

MIAMI -- Judging by the expression on the face of Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall as he stepped to the podium for his postgame press conference, you wouldn't know that he had his best receiving day of the season in terms of receptions. That's because his team lost, 17-14, to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday at home and was officially eliminated from playoff contention.

But what happened next, as a reporter started to ask him about his day and the frustration of losing for the sixth time in seven games at Sun Life Stadium, was unexpected. Marshall cut off the reporter and took control of the interview session.

"First, before I take any questions, I want to apologize to the defensive guys, especially the players," said Marshall, who caught 11 passes for 106 yards and a touchdown. "All year they played their hearts out, they played together. They played like a unit's supposed to play, and I'm not sure if we're out of the playoffs but I know (we'll) probably need a miracle to get in."

Obviously, Marshall had yet to be briefed on the playoff scenario the Dolphins were no longer a part of.

"Offensively, all year we didn't get the job done and we didn't make enough plays. Today we didn't make enough plays. Today we didn't get the job done and it's embarrassing. It's just a shame because if you have a defense like that you don't have to be great as an offense.

Bills 17, Dolphins 14: Quick Hits | Recap | Box Score

"You just have to be okay and we haven't been that all year and it's embarrassing. So, I apologize to each guy on the other side of the ball. And myself (you know) I'm held accountable too. I'm not pointing fingers at anyone on the offense, it's all of us as a group, coaches too. We just didn't get the job done today and it's been that way all season."

All season long, as he went game after game after game without catching a touchdown pass, media and fans alike wondered when Marshall was going to explode and say something he might regret during an interview or on the field. He never did. The fifth-year receiver who had a three-year streak of at least 100 catches heading into the season soldiered on and always stopped short of shifting blame to his quarterback, Chad Henne, or offensive coordinator, Dan Henning.

Two questions after his opening statement, Marshall was pressed on Henning's decision to pull Henne in the final three minutes on a 2nd-and-10 play from the Buffalo 31 -- two plays after he had completed a 16-yard pass to tight end Anthony Fasano -- and go to the Wildcat formation. Running back Ronnie Brown was held to a 1-yard gain and Henne's third-down pass was broken up, forcing Dan Carpenter to try what would have been a game-tying 48-yard field goal that was wide right.

"Well, the Wildcat is a part of our offense. It's been that way before I got here and it's not going anywhere I don't think," Marshall said. "So, that's part of our preparation, it's part of our game plan. We as players have to make it work. Coaches, they prepare themselves to be able to put us in the position to be successful. And like I said all year, we haven't gotten the job done.

"The fans have all the right to boo us, talk bad about us, but I think it needs to be directed to our offense, starting with myself as a leader or whatever you want to call me on the offensive side of the ball. Our defensive guys, they were awesome."

Now Marshall and the Dolphins will have to play for pride, which are difficult words to swallow for any NFL player as the season winds down. He came in with a lot of fanfare after Miami traded two second-round draft picks to the Denver Broncos for him, and as a competitor he feels like he and the entire offense didn't deliver. And that will sting a lot longer than he'd care to admit.

More from NFL.com: