Thursday could be the beginning of the end of Brandon Marshall’s career with the Denver Broncos.
Marshall, the Pro Bowl receiver, faces the start of a trial in Atlanta on Thursday for a misdemeanor battery charge. With his checkered past and previous NFL suspension, Marshall could be exiled for a significant period by commissioner Roger Goodell if found guilty in the trial.
Goodell informed Marshall last year, when he suspended the receiver for the opener over a series of domestic disputes with his former girlfriend, that a negative outcome in this case could lead to another suspension.
It’s been a rocky offseason all around for Marshall, who had 104 catches for 1,265 yards and six TDs last year. He has demanded a new contract or a trade from Denver, which doesn’t want to deal another Pro Bowler after already doing so with Jay Cutler.
In addition, Marshall hasn’t shown up to any workouts except on the first two days of camp due to a hamstring injury. Although most people believe he’s not hurt and just upset he will be making only $448,000 this season. The Broncos currently list Marshall on the second team, with Eddie Royal, Brandon Stokley and Jabar Gaffney all ahead of him.
New coach Josh McDaniels tried to dampen the notion that Marshall was either seriously injured or dogging it this week when he said he was confident his recalcitrant receiver will be ready for the regular season.
“Mentally, he’s in all the meetings, he sees all the film sessions, sees all the corrections, so I’m not concerned with that — we still have over a month left for that to come into the fold,” McDaniels said.
The projected starting lineup for the Broncos’ preseason opener Friday night at San Francisco – bet on the game at WagerWeb.com — includes four new starters on offense, eight on defense and two on special teams. Marshall will not play in the preseason opener.
