If Brandon Marshall has made one thing clear during his nine-year career, it's that he's not afraid to share his opinion, and the Jets wide receiver did exactly that during the season premiere of Showtime's Inside the NFL on Tuesday.
During a discussion about Deflategate with co-panelists Boomer Esiason and Phil Simms, Marshall said that he -- and other players -- believe race played a factor in Tom Brady's suspension getting overturned on Sept. 3.
"There are a lot of players out there that believe that white players -- specifically, at the quarterback position -- are treated differently," Marshall said.
Marshall said that most NFL players felt one of three ways about Brady's suspension.
"I think that there are three different types of players' views in this thing," Marshall said. "No. 1 is the fighter. I think there are guys in the fight with Tom. When one player's rights are upheld, then all players' rights are upheld. It's not about what he did, if he's right or wrong. It's more about the process. Is it fair?"
Marshall's second group consists of players who wanted to see Brady suspended.
"The second is cowards -- I call them cowards," Marshall said. "That's the guys that are afraid to face Tom Brady. They want him suspended; I don't believe in that."
Marshall said the third group was players who thought Brady got off because of "the race card."
Esiason was quick to interject after Marshall made his point.
"So you're telling me that there are players out there -- and I don't know if you believe this -- that there are players out there, that if this were Cam Newton, that his suspension would be upheld," Esiason said. "And he would be there, that the judge would see Cam Newton differently because of the color of his skin?"
Marshall's answer for Esiason?
"Well, when you look back at the history of this sport, you can build a case on that, yes," the Jets receiver said.
Marshall made sure to emphasize that this wasn't just his opinion, it was also the opinion of other NFL players.
"This is not just from our locker room, this is from locker rooms across the States," Marshall said. "This is how guys are feeling; this is not just my opinion. These are conversations I'm having with guys."
Host Adam Schein then asked Marshall if he though black players were held to a different standard.
"Absolutely," Marshall replied. "At times, yes."
Throughout the 2015 season, Inside the NFL will air every Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET on Showtime.
