CHICAGO — Less than a day after the Bears traded for Brandon Marshall, the Pro Bowl receiver has been accused in yet another off-field incident.
New York City police say a woman has filed a complaint alleging Marshall punched her in the face at a nightclub over the weekend. Marshall has not been charged in the incident, which the woman says occurred at 3:50 a.m. Sunday outside the Marquee in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood.
Marshall was traded from the Miami Dolphins to the Bears on Tuesday for two third-round draft picks. Both teams said Wednesday that they knew about the alleged incident before the trade.
“Both the Bears and Dolphins were aware of what occurred over the weekend,” Chicago general manager Phil Emery said. “We decided to move forward with the trade. We have high expectations for Brandon as a Bear.”
In a statement that Fox Sports reporter Jay Glazer posted on Twitter, Marshall’s attorney, Harvey Steinberg, said a fight broke out that did not involve his client or his friends. He said Marshall’s wife was struck in the face by a thrown bottle and “suffered serious injury” as they were leaving the club. He said Marshall’s wife was taken to a hospital and that Marshall “is hoping to assist authorities in regards to this matter.”
Steinberg and agent Kennard McGuire did not return calls for comment. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello wrote in an e-mail the incident “will be reviewed like any other matter of this nature.”
The trade for Marshall was the first big move by Emery, who replaced the fired Jerry Angelo, and it gave Jay Cutler the go-to receiver he’s been seeking since he arrived from the Broncos three years ago. That it reunited him with one of his top targets in Denver was an added bonus.
Cutler made it clear on Twitter that he was happy with the move: “Told you we could get that (hash)15 out of storage. Getting the band back together! Good to have (hash)15 back.”
Marshall made the Pro Bowl for the third time last year, when he had 81 catches for 1,214 yards and six scores. But he also dropped at least four potential touchdown catches and failed to end his career-long playoff drought.
He also has a history of off-the-field problems.
Last year, Marshall’s wife was arrested after he was stabbed in the abdomen during a domestic dispute. Charges were later dropped.
Marshall also was involved in a 2007 fight in Denver that led to the drive-by slaying of the Broncos’ Darrent Williams.
Last July, Marshall disclosed he was diagnosed earlier in the year with borderline personality disorder, which stems from such things as a negative self-image and a fear of failure. Then, at midseason, he said efforts to keep his emotions on an even keel have hurt his play, and before a Monday night game he claimed his goal was to get ejected before halftime.
Marshall sparred with quarterback Chad Henne during his first season with the Dolphins, but he seemed popular in the locker room last year.
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