There has been some debate regarding the Chicago Bears and whether or not they had prior knowledge about a recent incident involving their new wide receiver Brandon Marshall. Marshall is accused of punching a woman in the face outside of a nightclub. How much of an issue is this latest personal scandal for Marshall?

Brandon Marshall was acquired by the Bears to fill a gaping hole in the offense. The team has been in need of a top-notch wide receiver, and GM Phil Emery believes that he has found that in the former Miami Dolphin. The Dolphins saw this as an opportunity to get rid of a player who has a history of anger issues both on and off of the field. For his part, Brandon Marshall admitted last year that he has borderline personality disorder, and is seeking treatment. Still, his on-field antics have been nothing compared to those of, say, Detroit Lion Ndamukong Suh. As long as Marshall knows what to do with the ball and avoids excessive penalties, Bears fans will be happy with Marshall's talent.

Marshall had three years left on his contract in Miami, and the Bears traded two third-round draft picks in the deal. The question as to whether or not Emery knew of the incident involving Brandon Marshall outside of the nightclub is an important one, considering the player could face a season-long suspension as a result of the altercation. So far, the Bears and the Dolphins both say that everyone was aware before the trade took place.

Any punishment handed down by the NFL would be strict in Marshall's case because he has been in trouble before. He was involved in another incident at a Denver nightclub that ultimately led to the shooting that killed Marshall's former teammate, Darrent Williams.

As far as the accusation that Marshall punched a woman outside of that nightclub, not all of the facts have been made available. His wife was also involved in the incident, and he later brought her to the hospital to receive medical attention. It is possible that Marshall will be cleared of any wrong-doing, which is what Emery is banking on. If that is the case, the Bears have nothing to worry about. They will walk away from the whole issue with a talented wide receiver and a stronger team.

What if Marshall is found to be at fault and is sanctioned by the NFL? We could blame Phil Emery for taking a risk on a player with a questionable past, or we can sit out yet another season without a receiver. Having our newest player sit out the entire season due to something that happened off of the field is not something that anyone wants to think about. I have to believe that if Phil Emery knew about this and still went through with the trade, we should have some faith that Marshall will be in uniform and on the field for the first game of the season.

Whitney Levon is a Chicago native whose dedication to the Bears goes back to her first football memory; the Bears' 1985 Super Bowl victory

See the original post here:
Brandon Marshall's Latest Personal Troubles Shouldn't Affect Performance with Bears: A Fan's Take