Brandon Marshall's Charges Dismissed

When word came down Sunday that Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall was arrested (again), the reaction was pretty swift. In fact, 94 percent of those who voted in our online poll said he deserved a "lengthy suspension" (yes, I understand that online polls are unscientific, but it's still 94 percent).

Luckily, the judicial system isn't as quick to judge. Charges of disorderly conduct against Marshall were quickly dismissed Monday morning.

Marshall's attorney is pleased but slightly annoyed.

"Based on my investigation yesterday, he shouldn't have been charged in the first place and I was confident the charges would be dismissed," said Harvey Steinberg, Marshall's attorney.

Of course, Marshall would have faced a long suspension from the NFL if he had been convicted of anything. However, the dropping of charges doesn't close the matter in the eyes of the NFL.

Pro Football Talk quotes NFL spokesman Greg Aiello as saying the league is "looking into" Marshall's latest brush with the law. The argument exists, as Mike Florio points out, that the arrest does as much damage to the league as anything. After all, people usually don't get arrested at random.

As for the NFL policy, it's very clear.

"As an employee of the NFL or a member club, you are held to a higher standard," the policy states. "Persons who fail to live up to this standard are guilty of conduct detrimental and subject to discipline, even where the conduct itself does not result in conviction of a crime."

Obviously, Marshall is out of legal trouble this time. He might not escape when it comes to NFL discipline.