Broncos' Marshall says he needs to grow up

ENGLEWOOD - Denver Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall decided to clear the air Thursday.

Not only about the incident that led to serious injuries to his right arm, but about his other off-field drama during the past two years.

"Being truthful, it is time for me to grow up on and off the field," said Marshall, who sported a huge cast.

Marshall said he awoke early Saturday to get a drink of water and started waking up family members so they could go jet skiing near the resort in Orlando, Fla.

He and his brother Fred started wrestling and his brother got the best of him, knocking him off balance. He tried to avoid a McDonald's bag on the floor and his arm crashed through a television when he fell.

Thursday, he seemed surprised that his story drew so much skepticism.

"I have nothing to lie about," Marshall said. "It's my arm. It's an accident."

Marshall said he will be fine for training camp, even though his injury is complex: He needed surgery after lacerating an artery, vein, nerve, two tendons and three muscles. In two weeks, the cast will be removed. He will spend four weeks in a splint.

The injury occurred after Marshall settled on some goals - not all football-related - for the season. He said he knows right from wrong and said he is a good person. But he admitted he has to hang around the right people and quit making bad decisions.

"My goal for this summer is to be clean-cut and don't get into trouble," he said. "But it's kind of tough when I put myself in that environment."

Last March, he was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence and false imprisonment after an argument with his girlfriend. A couple of months later, those charges were dropped on the condition he take classes for anger management.

"I deserved to be charged," Marshall said. "The charges were dropped, but I deserved that. I am accountable for my actions."

On Oct. 22, Marshall was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. He entered a plea of not guilty in December and has a June 18 trial date scheduled.

"It's one of those things that I have to take that and better myself, learn from it," Marshall said. "A DUI, it's stupid. I shouldn't have been driving. I could have hurt someone that night. I could have hurt myself."

Marshall said he didn't think much of wrestling around with his brother, who lives with him in Denver, until he got hurt.

"We were just playing around like usual," Marshall said. "We always play around. Maybe it might be in my next contract not to horse play."

Marshall, who said he doesn't know how many stitches are under his cast and doesn't want to know, said he isn't worried about any long-term effects.

"I put the bar pretty high, and I'm going to accomplish those goals," he said. "They're not just 1,000 yards. I'm trying to break records this year, as a team and as an individual."

Finnerty signed

Denver signed quarterback Cullen Finnerty, a second-year player who spent his rookie season with Baltimore. Finnerty was undrafted last year out of Grand Valley State University, where he led his team to three Division II national championships.

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