Thank you Von Miller

[Brucker]

For being an irresponsible, young man who speaks and acts before he thinks. You promised the fans of Denver a Superbowl victory this year and then go and get yourself suspended for the first 6 games of the season. Maybe I am starting to see why Dumervil was ok with jumping ship.

Link to story here: http://www.9news.com/news/article/351288/339/Von-Miller-suspended-for-six-games

And for the lazy:

Broncos linebacker Von Miller suspended for six games
ENGLEWOOD - Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller will be suspended without pay for the first six games of the season.
The six game ban is the result of negotiations between the NFL, Miller's lawyers and the NFL Players Association after the league found Miller in violation of the league's substance abuse program this offseason, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told USA TODAY Sports.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of confidentiality rules.
There will be no further appeal, and Miller will begin serving his suspension after the Broncos' final preseason game.
Miller could have been suspended for as long as the full year. Instead, Miller will miss games against the Baltimore Ravens, New York Giants, Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys and Jacksonville Jaguars. He will be allowed to return to the team before its Week 7 game at Indianapolis.
The suspension was trigged this summer after Miller, who was placed in the NFL's drug program after a positive test for marijuana in his rookie year in 2011, spilled a urine sample during a scheduled test at the Broncos' facility before an offseason workout. The urine sample Miller provided after the practice was found to be diluted, the person said.
In dispute was whether this should count as a third or second violation of the league's drug policy. A second violation would result in a four-game suspension, while a third offense would trigger the year-long suspension.
Miller, who finished second in defensive MVP voting last season, was informed of the results of the negotiations about an hour after practice ended Tuesday afternoon.

Earlier, Miller met with reporters and said he was hopeful there would be a "speedy and fair" resolution to his month-long ordeal.
"I'm just trusting in the process," Miller said. "I'm hoping for a speedy and a fair decision, whatever it might be."
Losing Miller will be a major blow to a Broncos team that is considered the favorite to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. Miller is the team's best defensive player, with 30 sacks in his first two seasons since he was the No. 2 pick in the 2011 draft.
The Broncos, despite knowing a suspension was possible, spent all of training camp acting like Miller would be in the lineup for the Sept. 5 season opener against the Baltimore Ravens. He took nearly all of the first-team reps at strong-side linebacker, and missed only one day of practice to deal with appeal-related meetings.
In that one missed practice last week, the Broncos showed what the defense might look like without him, with Nate Irving at strongside linebacker in the base defense, and Shaun Philips taking over Miller's pass-rushing role.
Miller, who was also arrested on Aug. 11 on an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court on a traffic violation, said his daily football responsibilities have helped him focus while his appeal to the NFL was pending.
In his five-minute press conference Tuesday, he said he grateful to have the support of his teammates, from quarterback Peyton Manning down the undrafted rookies on the Broncos' roster.
"Von is one of our teammates, he's part of our family, and I certainly have his back as his teammate," Peyton Manning said Tuesday, before learning the result of Miller's appeal. "I know that all the players do and the organization does. We'll get through this time. We support him 100%."

STATEMENT RELEASED ON BEHALF OF VON MILLER ON SIX-GAME SUSPENSION

"The Substances of Abuse policy requires everyone to comply with the rules. Although my suspension doesn't result from a positive test, there is no excuse for my violations of the rules. I made mistakes and my suspension has hurt my team, Broncos fans, and myself. I am especially sorry for the effect of my bad decisions on others. I will not make the same mistakes about adhering to the policy in the future. During my time off the field, I will work tirelessly and focus exclusively on remaining in peak shape. I look forward to contributing immediately upon my return to the field and bringing a championship back to the people of Denver."

[Tom]

Yep and he didn't show up for court appearance a week or so ago on a traffic offense and smirked about it during an interview. Total jerk. I don't think much about how the broncos are handling it either.

Just my $.02. I know others won't agree.

[xaza]

I seem to have a different opinion. He is young a stupid as we all were. For him to drop a diluted sample after practice is to be expected. When you are on the field and working in the heat you have to drink a lot of water to stay hydrated, otherwise injuries and even worse a stroke can happen. While sweating and working out more of the THC is pushed out of your system and into urine. The drug test is testing for electrolites to determine if it is a diluted sample. Electrolites are lost during intense workouts naturally. Rules are rules and he deserves a suspension for failing to follow them but it doesn't mean the rules are right. If I read things correctly he is being given a more harsh punishment for the diluted sample than if he tested positive since this is only his second offense deserving of 4 weeks according to article. Shame on the NFL for trying to give the Chiefs and Raiders a run at the playoffs by holding back another team. As a Bronco Fan I can only be glad we have only one division game in that run but how bad will the defense timing be off by having him gone for so long. When he returns you can expect a couple games before defense is back in sync. Shame on Von Miller for putting team through that but it is the challenges in life that help us to grow. How he moves forward is much more of indication of who he is as a person. We all have to grow up and man am I glad I wasn't in the public eye at his age. The things I was doing at his age were way worse and I think I have grown into a fairly decent responsible adult and expect he will too.

[Brucker]

I seem to have a different opinion. He is young a stupid as we all were. For him to drop a diluted sample after practice is to be expected. When you are on the field and working in the heat you have to drink a lot of water to stay hydrated, otherwise injuries and even worse a stroke can happen. While sweating and working out more of the THC is pushed out of your system and into urine. The drug test is testing for electrolites to determine if it is a diluted sample. Electrolites are lost during intense workouts naturally. Rules are rules and he deserves a suspension for failing to follow them but it doesn't mean the rules are right. If I read things correctly he is being given a more harsh punishment for the diluted sample than if he tested positive since this is only his second offense deserving of 4 weeks according to article. Shame on the NFL for trying to give the Chiefs and Raiders a run at the playoffs by holding back another team. As a Bronco Fan I can only be glad we have only one division game in that run but how bad will the defense timing be off by having him gone for so long. When he returns you can expect a couple games before defense is back in sync. Shame on Von Miller for putting team through that but it is the challenges in life that help us to grow. How he moves forward is much more of indication of who he is as a person. We all have to grow up and man am I glad I wasn't in the public eye at his age. The things I was doing at his age were way worse and I think I have grown into a fairly decent responsible adult and expect he will too.

I can understand where you are coming from. Yes, he is young. Yes, the punishment may be a tad harsh. yes, we have all done bad, stupid things, and made mistakes. But he gets paid a lot of money to be more responsible than the average young, dumb, youth that this country normally has to offer. He was chosen for his athletic ability and his brains.

And as for the rules? If everyone else in the NFL can abide by them, why can't he? I know in most jobs I have held, that I would have been lucky to still be employed after one failed drug test, no matter the reason. Let alone be given the opportunity of a second chance, or even a third. I

For the record, I have nothing against MJ. Nothing at all. Whatever people do on their own time is up to them, as long as they don't affect anyone else. This affected everyone else...

[Brad]

Stop thinking professional athletes should be role models. They are held to a high standard only because you want them to be. They are human just like all of us and will let you down. re: MLB, NHL, NBA, NFL all have players with criminal activity.

I love to watch sports, but they are just entertainment to me, not a basis to a moral high ground.

[Java]

I think pro athletics shouldn't drug test anymore, it's pointless, everyone is doping. The NBA doesn't test for MJ, everyone would be cut. Dana White just commented on MJ in MMA and said if they tested regularly over 90% of the fighters would be cut, it' everywhere. And awesome and harmless in my opinion, and shouldn't be tested for, but who asked me... this is a great documentary on a fighter's life and what it takes to compete at the pro level.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyfA8dwABJg

[Chris]

Whatever people do on their own time is up to them, as long as they don't affect anyone else. This affected everyone else...

Absolutely not! What Von Miller does not affect me in any way. That applies to any individual sports figure or team. They're entertainers and should be treated as such. I agree with Brad, holding athletes up as role models is rediculous and the wrong message for kids of all ages.

[Brucker]

Absolutely not! What Von Miller does not affect me in any way. That applies to any individual sports figure or team. They're entertainers and should be treated as such. I agree with Brad, holding athletes up as role models is rediculous and the wrong message for kids of all ages.

Maybe I should have said, it affected everyone that cares about Broncos football then. Losing a key player for 6 games will have an affect on Broncos football. May not affect you, but it sure affects those who pay good money to be entertained by a winning team, not a losing one.

I also agree with Brad that players shouldn't be role models for kids. But they should be held accountable for their actions. Nothing to do with moral high ground. Miller chose to be a "professional" at his age. So then he should act and be treated as one. And be held accountable when he isn't. He needs to grow up quick or he won't be worth a penny. That isn't moral high ground. That's just being accountable for your actions. And I don't care what your age, EVERYONE should be held accountable for what they do. Dropping regulations because they are hard, is why this country is failing.

[Chris]

I can't disagree with what you said there. Everyone should be held accountable for whatever job they're doing. It would be great to see that standard held for sports figures to Wall Street thieves to poltitians to the kid flipping burgers. I don't expect to see that happen in my lifetime.

Here's a disturbing graphic that neatly shows the priorities of our states.

[xaza]

That is very disturbing but not surprising.

[dscowell]

You can hate Von Miller but he is a hell of a football player. He may have taking performance enhancing drugs (or whatever he did) but think about it I bet more players do it then what is publicized. They are just more discreet and smart about it. You can hate him and bash on him for being stupid but it may have been influence or pressure. You can't tell me you have never done something you shouldn't have outta of influence or pressure from outside sources. I'm not saying what he did is right cause it is not and I am completely against it but he is a great player he has one of the best rip moves in the game and we could really use him this year. Hopefully he will learn from his mistake instead of making it again that's when I think we should be mad.