Aug 12, 2013; Englewood, CO, USA; Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller (58) during training camp at the Broncos training facility. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
The hammer has dropped. Von Miller, former golden boy, is out for the first 6 weeks of the regular season due to violations of the leagues drug policy.
The suspension was reportedly 8 games and has been reduced to 6. If that is true, it would seem that this could be Vons third violation of the policy.
No matter what the violation, the result is the same. Von Miller will be out for the season opening matchup against the Ravens. On one side, you want to beat the Broncos at full strength, on the other, Von being out makes the Broncos decidedly more beatable. Especially since the Broncos other elite pass rusher is now wearing a purple jersey.
The Broncos have had a nightmare preseason, Miller is just the latest in a long list of Broncos who are going to be MIA for at least part of the season. They already lost their starting center, Champ Bailey is out indefinitely, Derrick Wolfe was carted off the field in an ambulance this past week. Nothing seems to be going right for them. Despite all of those injuries and issues, they still have arguably the best QB in NFL history so they will still be tough to beat, just maybe not as tough.