Marquette King is one of the most efficient punters in the NFL. On March 30, he was released by the Raiders after spending six seasons with them due to “personality issues,” according to Head Coach Jon Gruden.
After being released for the most ridiculous reason, King decided that it was only right to get some payback on this former team. He decided to sign with the AFC West division rival Broncos. Prior to his release, King was going to meet with Gruden and the new coaching staff. He was bringing a box of Snickers and a bottle of Limoncello.
When King was released, he was just as shocked as everybody else.
“It was like you’ve been punched in that MMA game and you’re in a daze, and if you get hit one more time, you’ll get knocked out,” said King. (Via Jim Trotter of NFL.com) “That’s what it felt like. I finished the meal, but everything was surreal. It’s one of those things where, God forbid, but if somebody calls and says somebody has died that you’re close to, there’s nothing you can do in that moment. It’s going to hit you a little later. But it definitely felt unreal.”
King went on to say that if coaches are concerned about him, they need to sit down and talk with him and not judge him by what they think.
“You can’t judge me by what you see on TV or social media, and sadly, a lot of people do that,” said King. “If those things were an issue, just sit down and tell me. I can be a zombie if you want me to. But everybody knows what they sign up for when they get into professional sports. You know there are going to be ups and downs, and you’ve got to be able to handle them regardless of the situation, with professionalism and a positive attitude.
In the end, the Raiders lost real talent on special teams. King had a net average of 42.7 yards per punt last season. Now they’ll see his efficiency work against them when they take on the Broncos twice a year.
