This isn’t a criminal or even a civil case. It’s an administrative case, and has nothing to do with criminal history. The issues considered are whether the player has engaged in behavior that could bring negative publicity to the League. Marshall is subject to this kind of review because he signed a contract with a clause that is even endorsed by the players’ union.

It isn’t illegal for me to go to a strip club or to a liquor store, but when I was a teacher I could have lost my job for it. I took my job knowing the rules and signing a contract that I wouldn’t engage in any behavior that threatens the school’s reputation. Military officers have lost their entire careers for engaging in legal, but “unbecoming of an officer” activities, including having affairs. Currently working in law enforcement, I could lose my job for writing to the local paper and expressing an opinion.

As Guru pointed out in a story he wrote on the matter, we can all disagree on how many (if any) gmae suspensions Marshall should get, but the process itself is endoresed by the owners and the players’ union, and is a process used in many career fields where personal integrity has an impact on either the product (like pharmacies), the service (police, teachers, military), or the public image of a business that is based on public relations (sports).

I’m pulling for Marshall to get the reduction, or even get the suspensions thrown out all together. But this doesn’t mean I think the process is unfair. Marshall has certainly had many brushes with the law, and that alone is fair game in an administrative review for employment in certain jobs.

Granted nothing has gone to court, but I doubt that he will not get something for the DUI, and it remains to be seen what will happen with the stuff in Atlanta, although my guess is that he will end up paying off the ex-girlfriend to drop all charges.

One game. No big whoop!