EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – OCTOBER 18: Brandon Marshall #15 of the New York Jets warms up prior to the game against the Washington Redskins at MetLife Stadium on October 18, 2015 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

New York Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall has had his fair share of negative publicity throughout his career. But, on Friday he got a win for his reputation as a federal jury cleared him of any wrongdoing in a civil suit alleging he punched a woman back in 2012.

The key to Marshall’s civil exoneration was the fact that the video allegedly showing Marshall throwing a punch at the plaintiff, Christin Myles, was wholly inconclusive at best.

According to an Associated Press report, the jury quickly came to the conclusion that no matter the guilt or innocence it would not award the plaintiff any monetary damages.

A male juror who refused to identify himself for reasons he did not specify said the jury decided immediately after starting deliberations that it would award no damages even if it concluded Marshall punched her because it was impossible to know how her injuries occurred.

Myles’ case hit a big snag when she was asked how she knew it was Marshall that hit her. She alleged it was because she could see the tattoos on his arm, however the video in evidence clearly showed Marshall wearing a long-sleeve shirt on the night in question.

It also didn’t help that Marshall’s wife had come under attack in the club, and Marshall testified to what happened next:

Testifying Thursday, Marshall said he feared for his life outside the club when Myles and several men charged toward his group as they waited outside the club for an ambulance with his wife, who had lost several teeth and was bleeding from a cut to the mouth after she was hit by a thrown bottle inside the club. He was never criminally charged.

There was also testimony from others at the club, including former NFL player and Marshall’s former teammate, Mike Sims-Walker, who claimed that neither Marshall or he struck anyone that night via deposition read in this case. He also testified that he’d take the blame for the incident, an offer Marshall refused.

Now Marshall can focus his attention on his 11th year in the NFL, and is coming off one of his best seasons as a professional. He caught 109 passes for 1,502 yards and a career-high 14 touchdowns in 2015.

Topping that may depend a lot on what the Jets decide to do at quarterback. Last season’s starter, Ryan Fitzpatrick still sits out there on the free agent market and there’s still plenty of indecision on what will happen if he isn’t brought back. The Jets now actually have some additional cap room given the unexpected retirement of D’Brickashaw Ferguson.

From one distraction gone to another one looming — Marshall will likely take it all in stride just as he did this past season.

[Bleacher Report]

About Andrew Coppens

Andy is a contributor to The Comeback as well as Publisher of Big Ten site talking10. He also is a member of the FWAA and has been covering college sports since 2011. Andy is an avid soccer fan and runs the Celtic FC site The Celtic Bhoys. If he's not writing about sports, you can find him enjoying them in front of the TV with a good beer!