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Broncos report: Marshall's last pitch for less time

Receiver has his appeals hearing with NFL officials

By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 26, 2008 at 2:26 p.m.

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He said it

"I'm not excited, I'm not happy. . . . I think I could have made more plays. I was doing my job, I just wasn't making a lot of plays out there."

Niko Koutouvides, on not winning the starting middle-linebacker job.

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Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall had his last day in NFL court Tuesday, when he traveled to New York for an appeals hearing with league officials.

Marshall continued to try to get his three-game suspension for violating the league's personal-conduct policy trimmed, as the Broncos prepare to open the regular season Sept. 8 in Oakland.

The penalty is slated to be reduced to two games if Marshall complies with league guidelines during the suspension. Tuesday's hearing will be the last on the matter before NFL commissioner Roger Goodell makes a ruling.

Though Goodell is not always present at the appeals hearings, depending on his schedule, he does make the final rulings.

A ruling is expected before the start of the regular season. If nothing changes, Marshall's suspension is scheduled to begin Saturday - the day after the Broncos play their preseason finale at Arizona (8 p.m. MDT Friday, CBS 4).

"We're going through the appeal process. (I have) no clue as to what went on (Tuesday), when it's going to be finished," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "I'm sure it will be done in a timely fashion.

"Sometimes, it happens in a couple days - sometimes it takes a couple weeks,"

Earlier this month at the Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremonies, Goodell said it is important for him to hear how any player he meets with under the policy views the incidents in which the player was involved and for the player to outline any steps he can take to avoid trouble in the future.

Marshall was arrested three times in a little more than a year. The league also examined several transcripts of 911 calls made to police to request assistance at his Douglas County home, though most of those incidents were classified as minor and only one resulted in an arrest.

Charges from that particular arrest were later dropped.

If Marshall's suspension is reduced to two games, he could return to the team Sept. 15, once he is formally reinstated by Goodell. If the suspension remains three games, Marshall could return Sept. 22.

Marshall, who cannot use team facilities during the suspension, has said he plans to live with quarterback Jay Cutler during the punishment to watch video, go over the team's game plans week to week and catch some passes.

Last week, Green Bay Packers linebacker Nate Barnett's one-game suspension was reduced to a $155,882 fine - one game check - for an incident at an Appleton (Wis.) bar more than a year ago.

Barnett argued that, because the charges in his case had been reduced from two counts of disorderly conduct to a civil-ordinance violation, the original penalty was too harsh. Marshall's attorney, Harvey Steinberg, has been publicly critical of the league's handling of Marshall's suspension.

Because he is a starter, Marshall is not expected to play against the Cardinals.

About the mechanics

The Broncos' defensive reserves - the players who will be on the field Friday night - are certainly getting a good look this week at what an NFL offense looks like.

That's because Cutler has been running the offense's scout team in practice.

Cutler is not slated to play against the Cardinals - Patrick Ramsey, who has been running the Broncos offense in team drills, is expected to start; Darrell Hackney, the only other quarterback on the roster, will also play - but has taken scout-team snaps this week to give the defense an idea of what they might face in the game.

"I'm just working on some things, working the scout team, trying to stay sharp," Cutler said.

He is also using the week as his last real opportunity to work on his mechanics. During the season, so much practice time is devoted to game planning for the next opponent that there isn't much time left to simply break down his pass drops and throwing motion.

This week, however, when the Broncos offense goes in to run its team drills, Cutler said he is taking wide receivers Eddie Royal, Brandon Stokley and Marshall to an adjacent field to work on some of the basics."We just go to work on footwork, ball placement, things like that," Cutler said. "I want to make sure it's all ready, because this is the week to do it."

Need tickets

Usually, a "cheering section" isn't really a section, but Broncos linebacker Spencer Larsen is going to come pretty close at University of Phoenix Stadium on Friday night.

A native of Gilbert, Ariz., in suburban Phoenix, Larsen figures to get his most playing time of the preseason in front of a bevy of family and friends.

"My dad, he bought 40 tickets, and they're already all gone," Larsen said. "He sold them, but they are all gone and people were looking for a few more. And there are a lot of others we know who are coming on their own.

"So I'm definitely excited because it is my home and the last preseason game . . . probably the most important game I've ever played in for a lot of reasons."

Etc.

* As expected, the Broncos moved rookie defensive tackle Carlton Powell, who suffered a torn Achilles' tendon in offseason workouts, to the reserve/physically unable to perform list. That move, and the release of wide receiver Taylor Jacobs, got the Broncos' roster to 75 players by the Tuesday afternoon deadline.

* Linebacker Boss Bailey (ankle), who had returned to practice Monday, was held out of Tuesday's workout. Defensive end/tackle Ebenezer Ekuban (back) was also held out again.

* Shanahan said he might try to get linebacker Manny Padilla into Friday's game. Padilla, who played at Monterrey Tech in Mexico, is part of a program to assign international players to teams, and those players can then spend the season on the practice squad. That means Padilla can play only in a preseason game, not during the regular season. He has not appeared in the Broncos' first three preseason games.

Comments

  • August 26, 2008

    2:40 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope it's only 2 games. The way I see it, if Goodell dangled the carrot in front of Brandon, providing he meets conditions (which he has) then it would be wrong to deny him the reduced suspension. It sends a message to others that Goodell won't keep his word or that his promises are worthless, even if you meet his conditions. I feel in my heart, that Goodell will reduce it to 2.

  • August 26, 2008

    2:47 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    CourtneyBrown98 writes:

    Cross our fingers..
    Pray to God
    to Allah
    Burn some incents
    Whatever!!!!!!
    We need this guy on the field PERIOD! I pray Goddell have mercy on the young guy for things he was not convicted of and reduce everything to just fines!!!

    ANyone knows the verdict of Marvin Harrison shooting someone
    and Matt Jones having cocaine?

  • August 26, 2008

    6:57 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    STR8_THINKER writes:

    The message that Goodell IS sending that every NFL player interested in remaining on the field (and protecting his income) needs to come to grips with is that he is clearly serious about protecting the league's image. Regardless of whether one feels he's been heavy handed or not, bottom-line is, he has the power and he's not suffering knuckleheads. Ergo, don't be a knucklehead.

    Another compelling element of this article is Cutler taking Royal, Stokley and Marshall to an adjacent field to continue work while the rest of the offense participates in team drills. Friends, Cutler seems willing and able to step into the leadership vacuum created by the losses of Al Wilson, Rod Smith and John Lynch. And that, Bronco fans, is a positive development and a very good thing.

  • August 26, 2008

    7:38 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    OPETH72 writes:

    Dave, a reduction would leave it at 2, with the opportunity of it just being 1 if he follows through with the counseling agreement. So if he is successful with his appeal I am thinking 1 game (against the raiders, not capitalized on purpose) and a hefty fine. All I know is that if Marshall is on the field against the chargers (again, not an accident there, haha), and "steroid boy" is not, the line in that game should surely change. The Broncos still won't be favored, but it should change.

  • August 26, 2008

    8:10 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    kidbronc11 writes:

    I would love to see Marshall's suspension lessened to 2 games (1 if he follows the rules). He has been a model citizen since. I love how he gives his touchdown balls and gloves to kids in the stands. Let's keep our fingers crossed. GO BRONCOS!!

  • August 26, 2008

    9:27 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Spider writes:

    As much as I would love to see him on the field for the first two games, I feel he needs to experience the penalty of the suspension. If he's given a break by the commish he won't really learn the lesson of staying clean to have the priveledge of playing in the NFL.

  • August 26, 2008

    10:39 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    OPETH72, incorrect, he is looking at 3 games now. If he is following the rules (he has been), they will reduce it to 2 games. He will not be at the Dolts/Broncos game. He might be at the Saints/Broncos game if it's reduced.
    Spider, I would like to see him play, also, but it won't happen. I do think, however, that losing over $50K a game and having to go through counseling, is a severe penalty. Now if they changed their mind and happened to reduce it to 1 game and a hefty fine, I'm all for it. I don't see that happening though. I do, however, believe that Goodell will make it a 2 game suspension, instead of 3. I just don't see them reducing it any more. So shall it be written. So shall it be done.

  • August 26, 2008

    10:50 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    OPETH72 writes:

    Dave, it is 3 right now, 2 if he follows the rules. If the appeal lessens that by 1, that would mean a 2 game suspension, 1 if he follows the rules. What would be the point in appealing just the 3rd game? He can already have it at 2 with counseling. That would mean his appeal would be to get out of counseling, which would not look good, and I don't see that as what he is doing. I am crossing my fingers for him to show up at the chargers game, and I think there is a realistic shot at that happening considering Steinberg's handling of Barnett's case in GB. Wishful thinking? Yes. However, realistic in my opinion.

  • August 27, 2008

    1:11 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    mveillette writes:

    BM's bad moves and bad company got him there, but no convictions...man, I gotta believe he is gone for 2 at max. Go Broncs!

  • August 27, 2008

    3:54 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Brain writes:

    OPETH72; I agree, if it goes to 2 games he should still have the option to reduce to 1 by doing counseling, and that is what I hope for but can't hold my breath on it because I would probably die. He should have to give-up at least 2 game checks as punushment to address Spider's concern.

    chargers will not make playoffs; Norv the idiot will make sure of no better than 9-7, Gates is not 100% and LT is all they have besides Gates (Chris Chambers is ok)