Guilty Conscience

Denver Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall recently testified that he may have “escalated” an altercation which led to the killing of teammate Darrent Williams early on New Year’s Day 2007.

The first-degree murder trial involves Willie Clark, 26, as the alleged gunman. Another man, Daniel Harris, was also accompanying Clark the night of the altercation.
As a witness in the trial, Marshall remembered how he and another teammate approached Clark and Harris to defuse an altercation in the VIP section of a club in downtown Denver. Darrent Williams was sitting nearby with family and friends. A cousin of Darrent Williams allegedly began an argument after spraying Clark and Harris with champagne. Marshall initially thought nothing of it.

As the party concluded Clark and Harris threw up hand gestures towards Williams and his group reigniting the conflict. Marshall, angered by the continuation of the dispute, remembers antagonizing Clark and Harris, joking that they had no gun. He was wrong.

Marshall admitted he escalated the initial argument, “I kind of got angry at the time and probably escalated the situation, but I got angry because it was New Year's and we were trying to have fun.”
The anger may have also stem from earlier convincing a bouncer into allowing the men into the club. This upset Marshall because the men he advocated for eventually restarted the conflict later in the night and proved to be trouble.

With Marshall admitting his involvement in the murder of Darrent Williams, many interesting questions have arised. Does Marshall’s association to the murders have anything to do with his desire to leave Denver? Could it be attributed to his bad experience with the city, or the guilty feelings he has recently expressed during the trial? Other teammates experienced similar feelings which made playing in Denver virtually impossible.

Former Broncos receiver Javon Walker was in the vehicle when Williams was shot. The team soon grew critical of Walker’s mental state which led to his release in the offseason. Walker was noted for cradling Williams as he bled to death. Certain players close to Williams, or those involved in the altercation, soon departed from the team as well. Tatum Bell was traded, while good friend Al Wilson was released. Many felt Tatum Bell, a college teammate of Williams, no longer desired to play for the Broncos. Wilson was initially traded to the Giants, but after failing the physical, was released. Wilson, the defensive team captain, was also deeply affected by the murder and perhaps requested a trade.

This pattern shows the effects of the murder on certain players. Marshall perhaps desired to leave Denver much earlier because of the murder as well, or maybe it was the accumulated guilt concerning the escalation of the argument.

One thing is for sure, the trial involving the death of Williams proved hard for those involved. For Marshall it may present an opportunity to release suppressed emotions. The case not only provides justice for the vicious murder, but it may also create closure for Marshall. His departure out of Denver, which many believe is imminent, could be altered if the true source of his persistence to leave is understood.