Spiritguy
03-25-2009, 11:38 AM
Marshall must wait for league to decide fate
The Denver Post
DANA POINT, Calif. — Unlike in McJaygate, in which the involved parties have the final say on who starts the season at quarterback, there isn't much the Broncos can do for star receiver Brandon Marshall.
Broncos coach Josh McDaniels is confident he can repair his fractured relationship with quarterback Jay Cutler. The fate of Marshall, however, rests with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
Marshall is coming off consecutive 100-catch seasons while also confronting the possibility of starting back-to- back seasons under suspension.
"As you know we spent a fair amount of time talking last summer," Goodell said Tuesday at the league's owners meetings. "I mentioned to him before that he needs to stay out of the way of any legal issues and criminal issues. While there are no charges here, at least something occurred, and we'd like to understand (it)."
Marshall was suspended for the opener of the 2008 season after Goodell ruled the receiver was in violation of the league's personal conduct policy for repeated domestic incidents. Marshall was arrested again last month after a quarrel with his fiancee. Charges were dropped the next day, but a conviction is not necessary for a player to be found in violation of the league's conduct policy.
"Obviously it's a concern," McDaniels said. "I'm sure in due time the league will address that. Charges were dropped, and we'll see where it goes if there is anything more to it."
Alleged drug dealer clears Buckhalter.
Convicted drug dealer Styles Beckles apologized to Correll Buckhalter after a prosecutor mentioned the Broncos running back as a client during Beckles' trial last week in Delaware County near Philadelphia. Beckles was convicted Friday of drug possession with intent to deliver.
"I never sold marijuana to Correll Buckhalter," Beckles said in a statement issued by his attorney. "The police listened to one conversation I had with Correll and decided it was about marijuana. It's not the truth. I have never sold, talked about selling, or given marijuana or anything else illegal to Correll Buckhalter."
Buckhalter was not charged. He played his first eight seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles until he became a free agent last month and signed a four-year, $10 million contract with the Broncos.
"I talked to Correll," McDaniels said. "I'm not doing cartwheels here, but if it's verified that (a conversation) is all it was, I would be happy about it. But we're going to make sure that's the case. It did sound like a step in the right direction."
Scheffler situation.
Broncos tight end Tony Scheffler is in impressive physical condition, thanks to intense personal workouts with Denver Nuggets strength-and-conditioning coach Steve Hess. After Scheffler suffered foot injuries on the first day of mini-camp each of the past two years, he didn't want to break his conditioning momentum, so he continued to train with Hess last week while his teammates, minus a certain quarterback, participated in the Broncos' offseason conditioning program.
It appears Scheffler has been encouraged to start showing up at Dove Valley.
"He worked out with the team today and I believe he'll continue to do so and I'm happy about that," McDaniels said.
Change to running game.
Never mind the new set of running backs (Buckhalter, J.J. Arrington and LaMont Jordan) the Broncos acquired through free agency. Perhaps the most significant change to the Broncos' offense this year will be the diminished role of the zone-blocking scheme that had been a Denver staple since the Mike Shanahan era began in 1995.
"That was really their bread-and-butter," McDaniels said. "We did more gap schemes in New England, where we're going to pull a guard. I can't give that up. That's kind of my baby. But you're going to see both."
The new running scheme will showcase the agility of Broncos guards Ben Hamilton and Chris Kuper.
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_11991316
The Denver Post
DANA POINT, Calif. — Unlike in McJaygate, in which the involved parties have the final say on who starts the season at quarterback, there isn't much the Broncos can do for star receiver Brandon Marshall.
Broncos coach Josh McDaniels is confident he can repair his fractured relationship with quarterback Jay Cutler. The fate of Marshall, however, rests with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
Marshall is coming off consecutive 100-catch seasons while also confronting the possibility of starting back-to- back seasons under suspension.
"As you know we spent a fair amount of time talking last summer," Goodell said Tuesday at the league's owners meetings. "I mentioned to him before that he needs to stay out of the way of any legal issues and criminal issues. While there are no charges here, at least something occurred, and we'd like to understand (it)."
Marshall was suspended for the opener of the 2008 season after Goodell ruled the receiver was in violation of the league's personal conduct policy for repeated domestic incidents. Marshall was arrested again last month after a quarrel with his fiancee. Charges were dropped the next day, but a conviction is not necessary for a player to be found in violation of the league's conduct policy.
"Obviously it's a concern," McDaniels said. "I'm sure in due time the league will address that. Charges were dropped, and we'll see where it goes if there is anything more to it."
Alleged drug dealer clears Buckhalter.
Convicted drug dealer Styles Beckles apologized to Correll Buckhalter after a prosecutor mentioned the Broncos running back as a client during Beckles' trial last week in Delaware County near Philadelphia. Beckles was convicted Friday of drug possession with intent to deliver.
"I never sold marijuana to Correll Buckhalter," Beckles said in a statement issued by his attorney. "The police listened to one conversation I had with Correll and decided it was about marijuana. It's not the truth. I have never sold, talked about selling, or given marijuana or anything else illegal to Correll Buckhalter."
Buckhalter was not charged. He played his first eight seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles until he became a free agent last month and signed a four-year, $10 million contract with the Broncos.
"I talked to Correll," McDaniels said. "I'm not doing cartwheels here, but if it's verified that (a conversation) is all it was, I would be happy about it. But we're going to make sure that's the case. It did sound like a step in the right direction."
Scheffler situation.
Broncos tight end Tony Scheffler is in impressive physical condition, thanks to intense personal workouts with Denver Nuggets strength-and-conditioning coach Steve Hess. After Scheffler suffered foot injuries on the first day of mini-camp each of the past two years, he didn't want to break his conditioning momentum, so he continued to train with Hess last week while his teammates, minus a certain quarterback, participated in the Broncos' offseason conditioning program.
It appears Scheffler has been encouraged to start showing up at Dove Valley.
"He worked out with the team today and I believe he'll continue to do so and I'm happy about that," McDaniels said.
Change to running game.
Never mind the new set of running backs (Buckhalter, J.J. Arrington and LaMont Jordan) the Broncos acquired through free agency. Perhaps the most significant change to the Broncos' offense this year will be the diminished role of the zone-blocking scheme that had been a Denver staple since the Mike Shanahan era began in 1995.
"That was really their bread-and-butter," McDaniels said. "We did more gap schemes in New England, where we're going to pull a guard. I can't give that up. That's kind of my baby. But you're going to see both."
The new running scheme will showcase the agility of Broncos guards Ben Hamilton and Chris Kuper.
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_11991316