Broncos' Marshall tells his side of domestic violence story
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_12489895
Wearing a dark pinstriped suit, white shirt and plum tie, Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall sat on the griddle that was an ESPN show this morning.
ESPN's "Outside The Lines" had just finished a report that rehashed his domestic violence incidents with his former girlfriend Rasheeda Watley.
"I would like to say again, I never put my hand on Rasheeda Watley," Marshall said.
The segment reviewed Marshall's numerous police-related incidents with Watley, who said she had first become his girlfriend 12 years ago, when they were both 13 years old.
The report portrayed Watley as the victim of domestic violence and Marshall as an abuser. It played several 911 recordings of a hysterical Watley. It interviewed Watley, who often spoke through tears, and her parents, Clarence and Vienna Watley. Marshall was interviewed live, after the taped report.
While the Watleys were thoroughly questioned about the details of the domestic incidents, ESPN did not ask them about two attorney-drafted letters that sought $500,000 from Marshall in one and $100,000 for the other. ESPN did report the request for the money in exchange for not pressing charges.
"It's evident that this is clearly about money," Marshall said.
Although the Broncos were caught up in the Marshall crossfire, the team declined comment on the report today. Vienna Watley said after one incident, she received a call from Betsy Klein, who was then the Broncos' director of player and organizational development.
"She was calling on behalf of Brandon," Vienna said. "She said Brandon had obviously hit her, assaulted her and he's very upset by it and we needed to understand where he was coming from and he tried to get (Klein) to help him work through it. ... That's what she said, that we needed to give him a second chance."
Said Clarence Watley: "I told Betsy, I said 'you guys put the trophy case in the Broncos organization more than you are valuing the protection and safety of my daughter."'
Klein is no longer employed by the Broncos.
Among the more possible incriminating details in the report was a kitchen knife wound Watley received in her thigh, and an e-mail Marshall sent to Watley. In the e-mail, Marshall wrote to Watley, "please don't take everything away from me."
As for the knife wound, Marshall said today: "Let's talk about the facts here. ... She told the police that she accidently cut herself with the kitchen knife. She also told police that she and Marshall had a verbal dispute but that no physical contact had occurred."
The most recent incident between Marshall and Watley occurred March 6, 2008 in Atlanta. Marshall received misdemeanor battery charges and will go to trial in June.
The ESPN report was aired as the NFL office is reviewing another police-related matter involving Marshall and his current fiancé, Michi Nogami. The couple were arrested following a quarrel on March 1, although charges were dropped by a court judge the next day.
In his interview, Marshall did admit that his numerous incidents would be considered "a problem" by people observing him.
"As a professional athlete there's a certain standard you should uphold," he said. "Me being in the NFL there's a certain image I have to protect. Every day I put in the back of my mind that the NFL shield not only represents me but everyone involved in it."
Marshall has been rehabbing from hip surgery in Orlando, although he returned Saturday night to Denver for the ESPN interview.
#7 - JOHN - #44 - FLOYD - #80 - ROD
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Italianmobstr7
