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Dolphins to continue investigation into Brandon Marshall incident

The Dolphins can’t communicate with Brandon Marshall or get more information about an alleged incident in which he was stabbed.

BY JEFF DARLINGTON

jdarlington@MiamiHerald.com

Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland expected to give his staff a day off Sunday, allowing for family time on Easter. Given their upcoming schedule, they probably will need the extra rest.

Along with final preparations leading into the start of the three-day NFL Draft on Thursday, the Dolphins also must continue their investigation into the incident that allegedly left their star player, Brandon Marshall, with a stab wound to the stomach.

The Dolphins are unable to communicate with Marshall directly — the NFL is restricting such contact because of the lockout, and with government offices closed Sunday, no new information was released.

This lack of information, aside from medical knowledge that Marshall should make a full recovery within weeks, could change as soon as Monday for two reasons:

First, the NFL Players Association reportedly is expected to hear this week (possibly as soon as Monday) whether Judge Susan Nelson rules in favor of the players’ injunction to lift the lockout.

If she does lift the lockout, while also refusing an expected request from the owners to stay her own ruling, it would allow communication to resume between Marshall and the organization.

Of course, if the lockout is lifted, it also could create a number of new responsibilities for the team (such as an abrupt free agency period), which could put Marshall’s situation on a backburner regardless of the ability to communicate.

Should Nelson’s ruling favor the owners — or should it be delayed — there still is a second way the Dolphins would be able to learn more about the incident.

The Broward Sherriff’s Office soon is likely to release 911 calls that were originally made Friday evening, which could shed more light on the situation.

Emergency vehicles were dispatched to Marshall’s home after the incident that led to the arrest of Marshall’s wife, Michi Nogami-Marshall, on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

However, Marshall declined an ambulance ride, instead choosing to be transported to Broward General Hospital by a private car, sources said.

The police report from the incident did not provide many details to the events leading up to the alleged stabbing. The arresting officer wrote that “both the victim and defendant provided scant information regarding the incident itself.”

There remain plenty of details that will need to be sorted out privately and legally.

After Marshall’s wife had been read her Miranda rights, “she stated she stabbed the victim out of self defense,” according to the report. Marshall’s own testimony — that he slipped and fell on a broken glass vase — was unsubstantiated by police because there was no blood within the immediate area, the report said.

The Broward County Sherriff’s Office plans to continue an investigation into the situation, according to BSO representative Veda Coleman-Wright.

In the meantime, it’s important to point out that Miami’s findings this week regarding Marshall’s situation aren’t expected to impact the way Ireland approaches the NFL Draft, which takes place Thursday through Saturday.

Especially since the team believes Marshall’s health is not in jeopardy, it stands to reason the Dolphins’ main focus will remain on preparations for the draft.

Once they get through next weekend, they will be able to take a more thorough look into the domestic dispute involving their star player.