Marshall's wife won't face assault charge in alleged stabbing

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- South Florida prosecutors have dropped charges accusing the wife of Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall of stabbing him.

The Broward County State Attorney's Office said Friday it wouldn't pursue an aggravated battery charge against 26-year-old Michi Nogami-Marshall. A charge of violating pre-trial conditions also is being dropped.

Nogami-Marshall was arrested in April after Marshall was stabbed in the abdomen during a domestic dispute. He was treated and released from the hospital the next day.

Nogami-Marshall would only say that she acted in self-defense. Marshall told police that he slipped and fell onto broken glass from a vase. Police found no blood on the broken glass and charged Marshall's wife with the stabbing.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

View the original article here

Bucs CB Talib faces assault trial in March, attorney says

Aqib Talib had his assault trial scheduled for March 26, 2012, his attorney told the St. Petersburg Times, increasing the chances that the troubled Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback might not miss any playing time this season.

Police in Garland, Texas, charged Talib with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, stemming from a March 21 domestic incident. The second-degree felony is punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison, and Talib is out of jail on $25,000 bond.

Wyche: Challenges face young Bucs It's common for a team to rise in one season, spark optimism, then plateau. The ingredients are there for that to happen in Tampa Bay, but Steve Wyche doesn't see it. More ...

Talib attended the Bucs' player-run minicamp workout this week in Bradenton, Fla. He could be subject to discipline from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who doesn't have to wait for a court ruling to punish Talib under the league's personal-conduct policy.

Talib seemingly has been in trouble ever since he entered the league. He was involved in a fight with fellow Bucs rookie Cory Boyd at the 2008 NFL Rookie Symposium, hit teammate Torrie Cox in the face with his helmet while scuffling with Donald Penn during a minicamp workout in May 2009, and was charged with simple battery and resisting arrest in connection with an assault on a taxi driver in Tampa in August 2009. Talib received a one-game suspension for the latter incident.

But Talib, a starter since the Bucs drafted him in the first round, has done well on the field, intercepting 15 passes in his three NFL seasons. He's coming off a fine 2010 campaign in which he had 50 tackles, 11 passes defended and six picks, one returned for a touchdown.

Talib isn't the only Bucs defensive back who has experienced off-the-field issues. Safety Tanard Jackson received a one-year suspension for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy last season and isn't eligible to return until Sept. 22.

Jackson joined Talib on the field for this week's workouts and was happy to see his teammates for the first time since the suspension started.

"It's good to be back," Jackson told the Tampa Tribune on Wednesday. "(I've) just been trying to stay in shape and doing what I can do. There's not much that I can do with this lockout and being in the situation that I was in."

Said Talib: "That's my guy. He's out here. That's always good."

View the original article here

Eagles' Jordan charged with misdemeanor assault in hometown

Eagles linebacker Akeem Jordan, who started three games for Philadelphia last season, was arrested early Sunday in his hometown of Harrisonburg, Va., and charged with misdemeanor assault and battery, The Daily News-Record reported Monday.

According to the Harrisonburg Police Department, the incident occurred in the parking lot of the Firetap Bar and Grill. Jordan, 25, was released on his own recognizance Monday.

"They got into a verbal altercation, which led to a physical disorderly incident," police spokeswomen Mary-Hope Vass told the Philadelphia Daily News. "The incident was reported to us on Sunday afternoon. The victim went to the magistrate and obtained the warrant. Jordan turned himself in Sunday without any issues."

She said the victim's condition is "nothing life-threatening."

Jordan's agent, Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, told the Daily News, "It's always unfortunate when these things happen. Circumstances happen, but I'm confident it will be figured out.

"He is cooperating fully. Getting into the details doesn't help anybody; it impedes the process. I stand behind the kid 100 percent. He's a first-class kid, but you always wish these things never happen. He's got a great track record as a citizen."

The Eagles are aware of the incident, but a team spokesman told the Daily News the club would not have a comment.

Jordan is a fifth-year pro who played collegiately at James Madison University. He started 10 games during the 2009 season, his best statistically in the NFL. That year, he had 71 tackles and two interceptions.

View the original article here

Report: Assault indictment expected for Bucs' Talib in Texas

Tampa Bay Buccaneeers cornerback Aqib Talib is expected to be indicted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon by a Dallas County grand jury, the St. Petersburg Times reported Thursday, citing Texas law enforcement authorities.

Police say they believe Talib and his mother, Okolo Talib, shot at Shannon Billings, the boyfriend of the player's sister. Billings wasn't injured.

Talib -- who has denied wrongdoing -- is charged with assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony that is punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison.

The March 21 incident wasn't the first brush with trouble for Talib, a first-round draft pick by the Bucs in 2008.

Talib was charged with simple battery and resisting arrest in connection with an assault on a taxi driver in Tampa in 2009. He was suspended by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for the 2010 season opener as punishment for that incident, and Talib settled out of court with the cab driver.

Talib's troubles date to 2008, when he was involved in a fight with fellow Bucs rookie Cory Boyd at the NFL Rookie Symposium. In May 2009, Talib wound up inadvertently hitting teammate Torrie Cox in the face with his helmet while fighting with Donald Penn during a minicamp workout.

The team has yet to take any disciplinary measures against Talib for the latest incident.

"We have not talked about that," Bucs coach Raheem Morris told WHBO-AM earlier this month. "That has not taken place. We will, but that time has not come yet."

Former Bucs defensive tackle Chris Hovan spoke out about Talib last month, saying he believed team management has been too lenient on his ex-teammate.

"(Talib) has been given too much leeway from Raheem Morris because, I guess, coach Morris (the Bucs' former secondary coach) has favoritism towards him because he played defensive back," said Hovan, who started all but one game for the Bucs between 2005 and 2009. "Again, they are giving this young man way too much leeway. Any other individual would have been cut way before this. But Aqib's got so much talent -- his talent goes through the ceiling. But you can't have these offseason issues and you can't keep covering for this kid because they're saying it's OK for what he is doing."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

View the original article here

Road-rage assault trial for Redskins' Haynesworth postponed

FAIRFAX, Va. -- A judge on Thursday postponed Albert Haynesworth's road-rage assault trial to give the Washington Redskins' defensive lineman an opportunity to settle the matter with the alleged victim.

A Fairfax County prosecutor said at Thursday's hearing that Haynesworth is pursuing an "accord and satisfaction" agreement with the alleged victim. In misdemeanor cases, a judge can dismiss assault charges when the victim acknowledges that he has received satisfaction for any injuries, usually in the form of a financial settlement.

The judge rescheduled the case for Tuesday, the second time it has been postponed.

Haynesworth's lawyer, Steven Merril, declined comment after the hearing, which lasted less than two minutes. But Merril indicated to the judge that he didn't believe a trial would be necessary.

The judge also maintains discretion to reject any accord and satisfaction agreement under Virginia law.

Haynesworth didn't appear in court Thursday.

Police say the alleged victim accused Haynesworth of punching him in January during a traffic altercation in Reston. The man told investigators that he made a gesture at the driver of a pickup truck he believed was following too closely. The two vehicles stopped, and the truck's driver, later identified as Haynesworth, got out of his pickup and allegedly punched the other driver.

Haynesworth's agent has said his client is innocent.

Haynesworth also is scheduled to go on trial in July for misdemeanor sexual abuse after he was accused of fondling a waitress at a hotel bar in Washington. He has pleaded not guilty.

Haynesworth is two years into a seven-year, $100 million contract with the Redskins, who signed him in 2009 to what was then an NFL record of $41 million in guaranteed money. But Haynesworth repeatedly has clashed with Mike Shanahan and frequently skipped workouts since the coach was hired after the '09 season. Shanahan suspended Haynesworth for the final four games of the 2010 season for conduct detrimental to the team.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

View the original article here

With run game grounded, Orton leads Broncos' aerial assault on Titans

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Denver Broncos couldn't be more one-sided offensively right now. The way Kyle Orton's playing, it doesn't matter.

Orton threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Correll Buckhalter with 1:33 left, and the Denver Broncos rallied and beat the Tennessee Titans 26-20 on Sunday.

In what is quickly becoming a weekly routine, Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton had another 300-yard passing game. Find out where he ranks among the top performers.

» More: NFL.com blogs

The Titans held Denver to 19 yards rushing, forcing Orton to put the ball up 50 times even as he was sacked six times. Orton responded by throwing for 341 yards and two touchdowns.

"I don't think we played our best football the whole time, but anytime you can give yourself a chance to win in the fourth quarter on the road against a good football team, we'll take it," Orton said. "When it got down to it, we made the plays."

Denver coach Josh McDaniels said Orton was hit way more than he wanted.

"But he never lost his poise, continued to be confident on the sidelines, and made a lot of critical throws for us to change field position. He executed when we needed him to execute. I'm very pleased with the way he's leading our football team and the way he's playing," McDaniels said.

The Broncos (2-2) clinched the victory when wind shortened the ensuing kickoff. The Titans (2-2) let the ball bounce, and rookie Marc Mariani, who already had a 98-yard return for a touchdown, ran up and jumped trying to catch it only to be hit by David Bruton.

Cassius Vaughn recovered, and Matt Prater kicked his fourth field goal to pad the lead.

Tennessee had one last chance with 33 seconds left, but Vince Young's third incompletion fell to the turf as time expired to overshadow a game in which Tennessee had a season-high in sacks and an interception. Young's second pass went through Kenny Britt's hands deep in Denver territory.

"This loss is unfortunately an example of just not being able to make the play at the end to close this game out, and that is exactly what happened," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said.

Denver came in with the NFL's top passing offense, and Orton helped the Broncos hold the ball for more than 35 minutes. The Broncos, who got only two field goals on five trips inside their opponent's 20 in losing to the Colts last week, scored on six of seven such trips against the NFL's best defense in that category.

The only time the Broncos didn't score?

When Jabar Gaffney couldn't collect a low throw from Orton at the back of the end zone with 4:33 left. Gaffney atoned for that on the next drive as Orton threw deep to the receiver, and officials flagged Titans safety Chris Hope for pass interference, putting the ball at the Tennessee 1.

Orton put Denver ahead with his TD pass to Buckhalter, his second of the game.

"Jabar had been asking for the ball the whole game," Orton said. "(I) just didn't have time to get him the ball in some of those situations, went back to him, and he made a great play."

Denver's defense also did its part with two sacks and one turnover. The Broncos held Tennessee to just 46 of its 288 yards on offense in the second half with three first downs. Chris Johnson ran for only 53 yards, including an 8-yard run that gave the Titans their lone first down in the fourth quarter trying to protect a lead.

"The situation is we are not a good running team right now," said Johnson, who ran for 2,006 yards last season. "We got work to do."

Tennessee led 20-16 after Mariani's kickoff return for a TD in the third quarter, and Rob Bironas kicked his second field goal of the game with 5:00 left in the third quarter.

The Titans sacked Orton three times in the first quarter and outgained the Broncos 115-15. But Bironas pushed a 35-yard field goal wide right, and Johnson fumbled to end two drives deep into Denver territory.

"We've actually got to start scoring touchdowns on defense and making big plays and interceptions and fumbles," Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan said when asked what more they could do defensively. "We have to put that on ourselves. We have the added pressure ourselves to start making plays."

There's no need to fret about missing any games. You can watch every contest again with Game Rewind. Get more information here.

Denver took advantage of a roughing call by Sen'Derrick Marks on Orton on third down where the lineman appeared to grab the quarterback around the thigh. A play later, the Titans jumped offside for a neutral zone infraction that prompted defensive coordinator Chuck Cecil to throw an obscene gesture at officials that was caught by television cameras.

A play later, Orton put Denver up 7-0 with a 2-yard TD pass to Eddie Royal.

The Titans answered almost immediately. Javon Ringer, Johnson's backup, broke loose on a 54-yard run, and Young found Kenny Britt for an 8-yard TD to tie it up on the next drive. The teams swapped field goals to go into halftime tied at 10 apiece with Bironas kicking a 55-yarder as time expired to atone for his earlier miss.

Notes: Denver rookie Demaryius Thomas had his first career kickoff and took it 36 yards in the second quarter. That's the longest kickoff return for Denver this season. Then he had a 65-yarder in the third quarter. ... Gaffney needed 11 yards to reach 4,000 yards receiving for his career, and he had 51. ... Titans wide receiver Justin Gage hurt his left hamstring, and Fisher said he didn't have updates yet on rookie defensive end Derrick Morgan's left knee or Marks who got hurt late.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

View the original article here