Police in New York City are expected this week to conclude their investigation into a March incident where Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall is alleged to have punched a woman in the face outside of a nightclub, ESPN reported Monday.
According to the report, police have been unable to find evidence against Marshall and the case will likely be closed without charges being filed.
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Marshall was at the club, but denies involvement in any scuffle and claims that his wife, who was hit with a bottle and taken to a hospital, was the victim.
"The situation in New York, it's unfortunate," Marshall told "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on WMVP-AM in Chicago last week. "You never want to see anyone get hurt, but just the allegation of me balling my fist up and hitting a woman is just a lie. When the judicial system takes its course I'm very confident I will be cleared of any wrongdoing.
"My wife was the victim in this situation."
At the time of the incident, Marshall was a member of the Miami Dolphins. Two days later, he was traded to the Bears in exchange for third-round draft choices in 2012 and 2013. Though reports of the incident did not surface until the day after the deal, both teams reportedly knew of the incident at the time of the trade and were aware that, as a repeat offender of the league's personal conduct policy (Marshall was suspended for three games -- which was reduced to one game -- for personal conduct violations in 2008), avoidance of criminal charges from this incident does not necessarily mean he will avoid discipline from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
Considering that Marshall has kept his nose clean in regards to the personal conduct policy for the last few years, and that he was not placed under arrest following the allegations in March, a suspension is highly unlikely as even a one-game ban would amount to a fine of $547,058, one-seventeenth of Marshall's $9.3 million base salary. A fine in a lesser amount is a more likely and suitable punishment.
