Report: Broncos LB Miller faces 6-game ban
Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller will likely be suspended six games by the NFL, according to ESPN.
Miller was originally suspended four games for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy and an appeal hearing that was scheduled for last Thursday was postponed.
"We haven't been aware of really any of it to be honest with you," Broncos head coach John Fox said Monday. "We don't know the suspension. There is no suspension and at which time there is we'll report that, but anything else right now is really just talking heads."
The unusual length of the suspension may be the result of issues that occurred during collection of the drug test.
According to a report by ESPN's Adam Schefter, Miller's urine sample was spilled when he gave it to the drug tester. A second urine sample Miller subsequently submitted as a replacement was found to be diluted.
Failing to produce a sample that can be tested when asked to submit to a drug test can also be considered a violation of NFL rules.
D.J. Williams was suspended six games last year after the league said he twice provided a substance other than human urine for his drug tests. Williams was observed trying to pour something from a bottle into his urine sample.
Miller is also facing further discipline following his recent arrest for failing to appear in court for an outstanding warrant.
Miller was at a gun club in Araphoe County (Colo.) at the time of the arrest. He was booked and released Aug. 11, which was an off day for the team.
The 24-year-old Miller had failed to show up for a scheduled court date in January after he was charged in October with careless driving, driving without a license and having no proof of insurance.
NFL Players' Association assistant executive director George Atallah has said the suspension is not for a violation of the league's PED policy.
In their first six games of the season, the Broncos face the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens, New York Giants, Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys and Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Broncos led the league with 52 sacks last season but lost linebacker Elvis Dumervil to the Ravens. Dumervil and Miller combined for 29.5 sacks, with 18.5 coming from Miller.
"When you're worrying about someone else's business -- that's when you're losing out on what you need to handle," safety Rahim Moore said of Miller's situation. "Who am I to judge Von or what he's going through? I have some problems I have to work on too, and there are some things on the field I need to work on.
"At the end of the day, you still care. But all I can do is pray for him and it's going to be what it's going to be."
Also Monday, 9news.com, the website of a Denver television station, reported that Miller was listed as a possible witness in a murder trial. According to the report, Miller is mentioned in court documents as a possible acquaintance of a friend of the defendant, who is standing trial for the death of five people last October in a bar and grill.
A Broncos spokesman told multiple media outlets that Miller had "no direct involvement" in the case.
--Defensive end Derek Wolfe was categorized as "day to day" by Fox. Wolfe was taken off the field by ambulance in Seattle on Saturday night and treated for a cervical spine injury, but had movement in all of his extremities. All tests were negative and Wolfe returned to Denver with the team on Saturday evening.
"I think there is some soreness as you'd expect, but from a medical standpoint he's fine," said Fox.
--Cornerback Champ Bailey is also day to day with a sprained left foot, leaving his availability for the regular-season opener in doubt.
"We just take it one day at a time. I know I say it all the time but I truly mean it," said Fox. "He's day-to-day and right now we got Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie back. We like to have everybody healthy, but that's not the case."
