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Wednesday Whys

The NFL looked into Marshall’s case and decided the only punishment necessary was a stern letter from Commissioner... Andrew Brandt

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Why did the Cowboys waive Greg Ellis instead of trading him? No choice there. Once it was known to the football world that there was little to no chance Ellis would remain on the Cowboys’ roster, the trade market for his services dried up. The Cowboys replaced Ellis with Anthony Spencer a year ago. The argument from the Cowboys – or any team trying to trade a player whom they will eventually release – is that a team will have to trade for the player rather than compete for him with other teams upon his release. That argument, however, was not good enough for any team to give up anything – even a conditional seventh rounder in future years – for Ellis.

Ellis was picked eighth overall in the 1998 draft (the same draft in which Randy Moss went to the Vikings with the 20th selection). Ellis is a class act and made the Pro Bowl just one year ago after coming back from a torn Achilles tendon, a rare achievement for an older player.

Why is Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall not being suspended by the NFL for his latest incident with alleged domestic violence? The NFL looked into Marshall’s case and decided the only punishment necessary was a stern letter from Commissioner Roger Goodell advising him to watch himself, as there will be no similar benefit of the doubt should this kind of incident happen again.

Interestingly, Marshall avoided discipline as a repeat offender. He was suspended for the opening game of the 2008 season after an incident involving a former girlfriend (this incident involved his fiancé, who refused to testify against him). Perhaps the police report didn’t show enough to warrant any discipline; perhaps the efforts of high-powered Denver attorney Harvey Steinberg helped.

During the tenure of former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, discipline on matters involving the law had to wait until the case winded its way through the court system and resulted in some sort of verdict or plea agreement. With Commissioner Goodell, not so. The Personal Conduct Policy has become a signature policy of the league in its effort to continue to promote the integrity of the game. Is it working? Generally, yes, although having high-profile repeat offenders doesn’t help.

The league will enforce its personal conduct policy without delay from the courts, looking into whatever available evidence or circumstances it can find. Evidently, such information on Marshall didn’t warrant even the one-game suspension he received a year ago.

And, for my pet peeve “Why of the Week”:

Why do athletes, especially NBA players, refer to the game they play as “the game of basketball” or NFL players as “the game of football”?

We know what sport they’re talking about.

Happy seventh birthday, Max Brandt!

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Pete A
Jun 03, 2009
10:47 AM

Why does every network commentator have to say "The National Football League" instead of NFL?

Zeus
Jun 03, 2009
12:07 PM

Didn't the Cowboys reduce the market value for Ellis when JJ announced that they were going to trade or release him?

dan
Jun 03, 2009
12:52 PM

This Marshall sounds like a sketchy dude.

Jerry in Texas
Jun 04, 2009
12:54 AM

dan-
OK- Marshall sounds like a jerk to most of us. However, if you are a Broncos fan, hoping to win games, you overlook the problems and hope he has a good rapport with your your new QB. Or, you admit he sounds like a "sketcy dude" and take a bite of the s**t sandwich, and back him anyway- because he is a Denver Bronco and a part of your football hopes and dreams. Or you strike a really moral pose, and hope he is gone. See how many SB's that will win you. Just ask Ray Lewis or Michael Irvin.

Remi
Jun 04, 2009
05:17 AM

I agree with this, Why does every network commentator have to say “The National Football League” instead of NFL?

albert moss
Jun 04, 2009
08:56 AM

This Marshall guy get's away with quite a bit! I would take care of him myself if he hit my daughter and there would be no need for a commissioner or courts!

Scot
Jun 04, 2009
12:57 PM

I don't believe that there are any credible allegations that Marshall "hit" his girlfriend. They had a very tumultuous relationship, so that arguments became physical. As noted, she is not the one reporting him, so this is really nothing more than a bystander reporting a big fight between a guy and his girlfriend, based on mere "concern." There is nothing wrong with reporting it out of an abundance of caution, but that doesn't mean he was hitting on his girlfriend, and it doesn't make him "sketchy," unless every poster on here can say that he has NEVER touched, restrained, or made any physical contact with a girlfriend in the course of an argument.

Will
Jun 05, 2009
01:23 AM

Andrew, there are some points that I think you may have overlooked about Marshall.

First off, he really is a great guy, he's just stupid. He's been in several shouting matches - and from reports, that's all they were - in clubs with his former and current girlfriend, but there was no abuse. The ESPN piece, from what I'm told, was incredibly slanted, though I didn't see it, so I can't form an opinion. I'm not saying what he's done is OK, but his reputation is largely undeserved. He's still young and stupid. He is an A+ citizen in Denver, though, and that isn't lost on Goodell.

Also, he wasn't suspended because he's already been suspended for the stuff that ESPN reported on for OTL. You can't suspend him twice for the same thing. The latest incident was basically nothing, according to what I've read. He's gotta grow up. There's no denying that. But the media has to give him a chance to grow up.

Will
Jun 05, 2009
04:54 PM

Is there a bit of a comment glitch here recently? The most recent comments don't show up when I return to the page later.

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