Bears receiver (as of almost exactly one week ago) Brandon Marshall has said he has “no fear” that he’ll be suspended for allegedly slugging a woman in the face outside a New York City nightclub earlier this month. New teammate Brian Urlacher is slightly less optimistic.
“The only thing I worry about is him getting suspended,” Urlacher told ESPN 1000 in Chicago on Tuesday, via NFL.com. “The NFL is pretty harsh on stuff like that. That’s one thing I worry about, is him missing time.”
Urlacher’s right. When it comes to repeat offenders under the personal conduct policy, a guy putting himself in the wrong place at the wrong time enough times may be enough to trigger a punishment.
And so, even if Brandon Marshall is never arrested or charged, he could still be suspended in light of his history and as a result of whatever the NFL determines when conducting its own investigation regarding the incident.
It wouldn’t be the first time the NFL suspended a player under the personal conduct policy despite not being arrested. Ben Roethlisberger, for example, received a six-game suspension (reduced to four) after a pair of sexual-assault allegations that never resulted in criminal charges.