Marshall to Sit Arkansas Game

Auburn head football coach Gus Malzahn announced that starting quarterback Nick Marshall will not start in the Tigers' season opener against Arkansas.

Notice Malzahn said not start. He didn't say he wouldn't play. Big difference.

Here's his response to an inquiry from al.com:

How long will Marshall ... be held out in the opener? "I'm not ready to say that yet."

Not starting could mean he won't be in the first series for the Tigers. Not playing means he wouldn't play the entire game. Malzahn won't be the first or last coach to pull this kind of stunt.

Texas A&M, for example, sat Johnny Manziel for the first half of a game last year because of NCAA violations, but he did play in the second half.

But should Marshall be playing at all? He didn't rob anyone, get into a fight, or assault a woman. He was just caught with some weed; he wasn't even arrested.

If Malzahn wants to send a message to his players, then should Marshall play at all?

This is not Alabama we're talking about. This is Arkansas, a team the Tigers beat last year. So, Malzahn could afford to sit Marshall. He could look tough, punishment could be handed out, and most importantly, he wouldn't look like a hypocrite.

But something tells me that's not how all of this is going to play out.