New York Jets

Ex-NFL player offered to take blame for Brandon Marshall alleged punch

Published Apr. 7, 2016 12:21 a.m. ET

Nunzio Ingrassia

In a deposition read aloud Wednesday, former NFL wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker said he offered to take the blame for a 2012 altercation in a New York City nightclub that involved Jets wideout Brandon Marshall.

Marshall, being sued in civil court by a woman who claims he punched her in the face, left the club after his wife was hit by a bottle. Christin Myles, the woman Marshall allegedly hit, said that the incident left her with permanent injuries and is seeking unspecified damages.

In the deposition, Sims-Walker said he sent a text to Marshall, telling him "If I need to, I'll take the blame, I'll say I hit her."

Marshall, who was never charged with a crime, declined the offer saying, "We have the (video) footage."

In the deposition, Myles attorney asked Sims-Walker why he would make such an offer.

Mike Sims-Walker last played in the NFL in 2011.

"Brandon has a lot to lose. I don't. So hey, worst case scenario say I hit her," he said.

Marshall was with the Dolphins at the time of the alleged incident. Sims-Walker was a free agent.

Marshall testified Wednesday that fights inside the club annoyed him even before his wife was struck in the face by a bottle and he left the club. Marshall, 32, who was never charged with a crime, said he became annoyed after a couple of fights broke out among a group of people next to his party of four in the VIP section of the dance club.

"Man, the girls are fighting. Can you try to keep your section over there?" Marshall recalled telling a man he thought he had befriended.

He said he thought a man in the section threw a cup or a punch before Sims-Walker threw a punch, something he did not realize until he recently reviewed security videotapes.

"What I remember is a cup being thrown and then all hell broke loose," Marshall said before testimony ended for the day.

His testimony resumes Thursday.

Earlier Wednesday, Myles completed her testimony, but not before Marshall's attorney, Harvey Steinberg, raised doubts about her claims that she saw tattoos on Marshall's forearm that were exposed because his blue shirt sleeves were rolled up. Steinberg has said Marshall never punched Myles.

She conceded that security video seemed to show his arms were covered by fabric seconds before she was injured. When questioned by her attorney, Joshua Moskovitz, Myles insisted that she saw tattoos on at least part of his forearm and that the sleeve moved up enough that she could.

"I have no doubt," Myles said.

Also Wednesday, Sims-Walker said Marshall left the club immediately after his wife was struck by a bottle, leaving her bloody and crying hysterically after her lip was torn and several teeth were knocked out.

Sims-Walker said he and Marshall were waiting for a car outside the club when men spilled out, looking to fight.

Sims-Walker said he pushed Myles when she charged at him. Myles had testified that she took a swing at Sims-Walker because she believed that he and Marshall were responsible for wrecking her birthday party.

"I think she ran into a metal gate or something," Sims-Walker said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.