Jets' Brandon Marshall drops weight with help of infomercial

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) Brandon Marshall was relaxing in his hotel room while vacationing with his family on St. Barts this summer when a TV infomercial caught his attention.

You know the kind, those late-night programs that somehow persuade you that you absolutely need that product. Well, this one was for a 21-day diet that immediately interested the New York Jets wide receiver and his wife, Michi.

''I was like, `That's pretty cool,''' Marshall said Monday after the team's first practice of the regular season.

The couple wasted no time - Order NOW! - and purchased the product, which includes containers for portion-controlled meals and DVDs with short workouts.

The Marshalls started it while still vacationing on the Caribbean island, and saw immediate results. The wide receiver was looking to lose some weight from his 6-foot-4 frame as he enters his 10th NFL season, and he's down to 230 pounds after joining the Jets at 243 in March. He said he played the last few seasons around 236.

His wife also used the plan, dropping even more weight than him.

''I think she lost like 20 pounds,'' he said. ''So, she's doing great.''

Marshall, coming off an injury-plagued season in Chicago, said he hasn't been at this weight since the 2010 season. He has said throughout the summer that he feels better physically than he has in years.

The wide receiver referenced Michael Strahan's Hall of Fame speech, in which he talked about losing weight as you get older. Marshall also pointed out that with less body weight, there's less pressure on your joints.

''That's great for recovery,'' he said. ''I think that's the key, fighting inflammation in the body. When you can do that, recovery is night and day.''

Marshall joked that he wasn't focused on his weight until after getting settled in in New Jersey, after living with Jets quarterback Geno Smith during offseason workouts.

''Geno had a lot of pizza at his house,'' a smiling Marshall said. ''Those young guys.''

NOTES: Rookie DE Leonard Williams plans to switch from No. 62 to No. 92, choosing that in honor of former Jets DE Shaun Ellis. He wore No. 94 at USC, but that's NT Damon Harrison's number. Kevin Vickerson, now on injured reserve, wore 92 during camp. One side note: Williams is nicknamed ''Big Cat,'' while Ellis was affectionately known as ''Big Katt'' during his playing days. ... WR Jeremy Kerley (concussion), LB Lorenzo Mauldin (knee), WR Eric Decker (birth of son) and LB Erin Henderson (knee) all returned to practice. ... Rookie WR Devin Smith (ribs) took part in position drills, but coach Todd Bowles said he doesn't think he'll play this week. Smith has been sidelined since early in camp. ... S Rontez Miles was signed to the practice squad. He made the Jets' initial 53-man roster, but was cut Sunday when New York claimed S Ronald Martin off waivers from Seattle. ''Rontez had a great camp and I told him that myself,'' Bowles said. ''I thought he was the most improved guy, but that doesn't mean he was ready.''

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