Denver Broncos Pro Bowl wide receiver Brandon Marshall was arrested in Atlanta yesterday on a disorderly conduct charge stemming from a fight. His latest run-in with the law could result in a lengthy suspension from the NFL.

Marshall arrived at the jail at 5:50 a.m. on a disorderly conduct charge and was released five hours later after posting $300 bond, said Lt. Joseph, the supervisor at the Atlanta City Jail who declined to give his first name.

Joseph told The Associated Press that Marshall was due in court at 8 a.m. today, but he had no other details on his arrest.

ESPN first reported Marshall's latest arrest, his fourth since March 2006.

He was suspended for three games last season for repeatedly running afoul of the law — Marshall's suspension stemmed from seven police-related incidents with his former girlfriend, Rasheedah Wately. But he saw his punishment reduced to a single game when he pledged to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell that he would stay out of trouble.

Marshall, 24, now potentially faces a longer suspension to start the 2009 season, perhaps as much as eight games, which is the punishment other players have received for repeatedly getting into trouble off the field.

The league doesn't require convictions for the commissioner to suspend a player.

Team spokesman Patrick Smyth said the Broncos were aware of reports of Marshall's arrest but had no comment, and Marshall's Denver-based lawyer, Harvey Steinberg, also declined comment in a text to The AP.

Marshall said at the Pro Bowl last month he was ready to settle down and he proposed to his fiance, Michi Nogami, while in Hawai'i for the all-star game. Broncos fans hoped this was another sign of Marshall maturing.

Marshall is expected to seek a monster contract this year befitting his immense talents and reflecting his back-to-back 100-catch seasons.

His arrest came the same weekend another one of the team's leaders found himself in the news. Quarterback Jay Cutler, a fellow 2006 draft pick who also made his first trip to the Pro Bowl last month, is angry he was the subject of trade talks for Matt Cassel and has suggested his relationship with new coach Josh McDaniels has been strained.

Meanwhile, former Dolphins cornerback Andre Goodman reached an agreement on a five-year deal last night with the Broncos.

Goodman's deal is worth up to $25.2 million, with more than $10 million of it guaranteed.

GIANTS

N.Y. HELPS OUT D-LINE

The New York Giants gave new defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan some reinforcements along the line, signing free agents Rocky Bernard and Chris Canty yesterday.

Bernard — a defensive tackle who started 55 of 103 regular-season games with Seattle in his seven-year career — signed what is believed to be a four-year, $16 million deal on Saturday night, hours after the Giants signed former Atlanta Falcons linebacker Michael Boley.

Canty, a defensive end who started every game for NFC East rival Dallas in 2008, received $42 million over six years, according to a person familiar with the contract who requested anonymity because no terms were officially announced.

BUCCANEERS

WR CLAYTON RE-SIGNS

Michael Clayton signed a five-year contract worth nearly $26 million yesterday to remain with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Clayton, the 2004 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year who has struggled since that strong debut, agreed to the contract two days after becoming an unrestricted free agent.

The 26-year-old, who has scored just two touchdowns since his rookie season, has 205 career catches for 2,706 yards and nine TDs.

ELSEWHERE

Seahawks: Seattle and free agent defensive tackle Colin Cole, 28, have agreed to a five-year, $21.4 million contract that includes $6 million in guaranteed money, a person with direct knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press yesterday.

The person, who requested anonymity because the deal has not yet been announced, said Cole — who played the last five seasons for the Green Bay Packers — visited the Seahawks on Friday — the first day of NFL free agency — and the two sides agreed to terms shortly afterward.

http://www.NFL.com reported the deal earlier yesterday.

Jets: New York and fullback Tony Richardson, 37, have agreed to terms on a one-year deal, with $500,000 guaranteed.

Richardson, 37, paved the way for Thomas Jones to lead the AFC in rushing last season.

Texans: Dan Orlovsky, who said he wanted to compete for a starting job rather than be a backup to Daunte Culpepper in Detroit, signed yesterday to play behind Houston Texans' Matt Schaub.

Orlovsky, 25, signed a three-year, $9.1 million contract that included a $2.4 million signing bonus, according to the Houston Chronicle.