Fate of Broncos' Marshall pending
NFL in 'final stages' of case for violation of its conduct policy
By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published August 1, 2008 at 1:59 p.m.
Photo by Ken Papaleo © The Rocky
Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall has been suspended for three games by the NFL.
Practice times and dates are subject to change without notice. Gates open to the public at 7:30 a.m. for morning practices and one hour before afternoon practices.
| Date | Morning | Afternoon |
| Aug. 5 | 8:30 | 3:40* |
| Aug. 6 | 8:30 | 3:50 |
| Aug. 7 | 8:30 | 3:40* |
| Aug. 8 | 8:30 | None |
| Aug. 9 | at Houston | 6 p.m. |
| Aug. 10 | None | None |
| Aug. 11 | None | 2:45 |
| Aug. 12 | 8:30 | 3:40* |
| Aug. 16 | Dallas | 7 p.m. |
| Aug. 22 | Green Bay | 7 p.m. |
| Aug. 29 | at Arizona | 8 p.m. |
The Broncos will practice with the Dallas Cowboys on Aug. 13 and Aug. 14 at their Dove Valley facility, but those sessions will be open to the media only.
* Special teams only; ** Media only
Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall will know his disciplinary fate in the coming days.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Friday the league was in "the final stages" of reviewing Marshall's case and said he expected to make a decision by early next week on the punishment Marshall will face for violating the league's conduct policy.
Goodell is attending the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies this weekend and monitoring the negotiations between Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers about Favre's potential return to the field, so he is not expected to get to other issues again until at least Monday.
"But we are in the final stages of that," Goodell said. "We've had a hearing, we've had discussions. We've got a little more work to do - which was actually done (Friday) morning -- and we should be making a ruling very shortly."
Marshall, as well as former Broncos wide receiver Rod Smith and his
Denver-based attorney, Harvey Steinberg, met with Goodell last month to review Marshall's off-the-field troubles in addition to discuss the discipline he could face from the league.
On Friday, Goodell said that when he met with Marshall or meets with any other player in regard to the conduct policy, he wants to review what has happened to the player thus far and also hear the player's plan for the future.
"First is to understand all the facts, to understand all the perspective," Goodell said. "So we clearly understand the circumstances in which an incident or incidents occurred. Then we also look at the individual player and how they view the incident and how they view their behavior and how they understand that there are consequences with the kind of action they may have been involved with.
"They also understand what I expect of them, and I communicate with them what I expect of them as an NFL player."
Goodell traditionally has levied stricter penalties on players he deems "repeat offenders," and most who have had extended discussions about the conduct policy with the commissioner say Goodell is intent on hearing a player's plan to avoid additional trouble beyond simply saying there won't be any more trouble.
Smith has said he intends to mentor Marshall, who led the Broncos in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns (102 for 1,325 yards and seven touchdowns) last season.
If Marshall were to be suspended for four games, he would miss the Broncos' first three AFC West games - Denver faces Oakland, San Diego and Kansas City in the first month of the season.
Even if suspended, Marshall can continue to practice in training camp and play in all of the Broncos preseason games.
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August 1, 2008
3 p.m.
Suggest removal
bigbadthor writes:
I am guessing he will get suspended for at least two games, hopefully that is enough for him to learn.
August 1, 2008
3:03 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dynamicdave writes:
bigbadthor, even if it's for 2 games, that doesn't bode well, because he still has the DUI on his head. He hasn't been judged by the NFL for that yet because he hasn't been convicted, yet. I think we may not see much of Marshall, this year. Only time will tell.
August 1, 2008
4:20 p.m.
Suggest removal
EdVMorales writes:
2 to 3 games and a fine of $50k
August 1, 2008
6:18 p.m.
Suggest removal
lamborghini2415 writes:
I THINK HE WONT GET SUSPENDED this season. Im staying positive and if he does get suspended who will they rely on during those key catch situations. Kerry kolbert. NO def. not. Hes not a proven player in this league and wont do much against the corners in this division. They will probably rely heavily on their running game, but i wouldnt be suprised if i saw alot of 5 reciever sets this year much lik pats last year
August 1, 2008
6:40 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dynamicdave writes:
lamborghini2415, Colbert (not Kolbert) can do more then you think, so yes, it's possible. It could also be someone fast in there. Royal maybe? There is also Parker, who has experience. There are several others but lets wait till preseason to see who shines. When Marshall was out last year, we went to Stokley. Now we have some speedsters in there so anything is possible.
August 1, 2008
7:44 p.m.
Suggest removal
bronco4428 writes:
I WANNA KNOW HOW MARSHAWN LYNCH CAN HIT SOMEONE WITH HIS CAR LEAVE THE ACCIDENT AND NOT BE SUSPENDED BY THE LEAGUE FOR IT ?? IF MARSHALL GETS 4 GAMES THAT RIDICULOUS
August 1, 2008
8:01 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dynamicdave writes:
bronco4428, agreed, but my concern is more about about what will happen after he goes to court for his DUI? Hopefully he can prolong it till he gets through the season, then take his lumps. No point in speculating though. It will all be decided, soon enough.
August 2, 2008
8:06 a.m.
Suggest removal
Littleboyblue writes:
Stop supporting ignorance to win a football game. If B Marshall wasn't a stud wideout in the NFL none of you would care about this man. It's obvious that he has some character flaws and needs help before it's too late. Bring in Chris Carter to assist Rod Smith with this young man, or Jim Brown or his mama or something!
August 2, 2008
10:54 a.m.
Suggest removal
BMat writes:
"Smith has said he intends to mentor Marshall." How many 24 year old men are so socially incompetent that the company for which they work hires them a full time baby sitter?
On the other hand Marshall didn't get his DUI on the way to practice. And he didn't knock the snot out of his girlfriend at the Bronco's facilities. None of his other 5 arrests in the last 24 months were on game day. Why should the NFL meddle?
How many people reading this post weren't arrested at least 5 times in the last 2 years. C'mon, it could happen to anybody!
But it didn't.
August 2, 2008
2:56 p.m.
Suggest removal
Kevin27 writes:
Although Brandon Marshall is responsible for his own behavior, almost every incident where the police have been involved has had something to do with this phsyco girlfriend of his. For his sake as well as all Broncos fans, I really hope that he can find a way to separate himself from this girl and focus on football. A DUI is a serious red flag when it comes to his commitment to his team and his future in the NFL. Even if he is only suspended for two games, that could make a huge impact on the Broncos season. We might be able to slide by the raiders without him, but we are going to need this team firing on all cylinders to beat the chargers.