New York Jets receiver Saalim Hakim challenged new teammate Brandon Marshall to a race for number 15
Brandon Marshall is used to wearing the number 15. He wore it in Denver and Chicago, but if he wants the number in New York, he’d better start stretching.
Often when a veteran, well-known player arrives in a new town, he’ll pay a new teammate for the right to a certain number.
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But Salim Hakim, a Jets receiver and the current owner of the number 15, doesn’t want to give it up that easily. Hakim wants something more than just money for No. 15, writing on Instagram that “I worked hard for this number!!”
Hakim has a more interesting idea — he’s challenging Marshall to a race for the number.
"“So Brandon Marshall is trying to get my number. I told him: If he beats me in the 40-yard dash, he can get the number. But if I beat him, he’s got to give me $25,000 — and he can have the number.”"
So really, it’s not a race for the number, it’s a race for $25,000 for Hakim. That may be the most profitable 40-yard race ever.
In any case, it doesn’t appear that the race will be happening. The video message was since deleted by Hakim, for unknown reasons, and there has been no response from Marshall.
If the two receivers do race for the number, it will join the pantheon of the most interesting ways a player has gotten his jersey number. Players often exchange numbers for money or gifts, but sometimes the gifts get interesting, like the motorcycle Atlanta Braves outfielder Brian Jordan bought his third base coach tor number 33. (Jordan was actually released midseason, so it may not have been worth it). Clinton Portis was even sued once for not paying enough for a jersey number in Washington.
$25,000 might be the magic number for Marshall–it’s the same amount he challenged a Lions fan to fight for back in November.
I’m sure we’d all love to see Marshall and Hakim race for the number–Marshall is also presumably wondering who this guy is right now–but with the video down and no response from Marshall, it looks like it may not happen, which would be a real shame. The true owner of number 15, much like the sword of King Arthur, comes down to who deserves it in their heart.
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