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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, August 28, 2009

NFL: Denver Broncos suspend receiver Brandon Marshall


Associated Press

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall, openly unhappy with the Denver Broncos, was suspended by the team through Sept. 5 for what Coach Josh McDaniels called "detrimental" conduct.

Marshall, who has brooded since demanding a trade and asking for a new contract, was informed of the suspension by McDaniels on Friday.

"We tried to handle this situation with Brandon as privately and professionally as we could throughout the entire process with he and his agent, Kennard McGuire," McDaniels said at a news conference. "This morning, we made the decision as an organization to go ahead and suspend Brandon and that suspension will last through Sept. 5th. We'll look forward to having him back on Sept. 6th as we begin our preparations for Cincinnati" in a Sept. 13 opener.

McDaniels did not single out a specific episode but said the suspension resulted from a series of incidents.

"He was given a warning Wednesday about his conduct being detrimental to the club and his actions didn't really change after that warning," McDaniels said. "That leads us to today."

The warning to Marshall was issued prior to Wednesday's practice, McDaniels said. Marshall then went out during pre-practice warmups and walked while the rest of the team ran. He punted a ball away instead of handing it to a ball boy and swatted a pass thrown to him. His actions were caught on video and broadcast by KMGH-TV.

Marshall told ESPN on Thursday night he wasn't trying to force a trade through insubordination but that frustration got the best of him.

Marshall, who had 206 receptions the past two seasons, is also upset with what he feels was the team's misdiagnosis of a hip injury that required offseason surgery. He pulled a hamstring during the first weekend of training camp and didn't return until a week ago.

The receiver apparently was held out of practice Thursday as punishment for the churlish display, but McDaniels wouldn't discuss it afterward.

"I'm not going into it," the coach said. "If they're not ready or able, they're not out here."

McGuire didn't immediately return a phone call Friday. McGuire was out of the country until Monday.

McDaniels said Marshall didn't play against the Seahawks because he wasn't prepared to take the field.

Marshall also missed the team's exhibition opener against San Francisco two weeks ago because he was on trial in Atlanta, where he was acquitted of a misdemeanor battery charge. Prosecutors had accused him of beating his then-girlfriend.

Marshall hoped the acquittal would give him leverage for a new deal in Denver or elsewhere. He was angered when the Broncos prohibited teammates from saying they were happy for Marshall about the verdict.

That's when Marshall began spending more time between drills with the scout team and the defensive unit instead of his fellow offensive players.