NEW YORK (AP) Denver All-Pro linebacker Von Miller is among 20 NFL players suspended for the beginning of the NFL season.
Miller
will be out for six games for violating the league's substance abuse
policy. He will miss Thursday night's opener between Super Bowl champion
Baltimore and the Broncos.
The league wanted a longer penalty
for the third-year linebacker, but the sides agreed to less than half
the season. It will cost Miller about $800,000.
"I made mistakes
and my suspension has hurt my team, Broncos fans and myself," Miller
said when the agreement was reached last month. "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. "
Two
players are suspended for eight games: Ravens defensive back Asa Jackson
and Cincinnati defensive end DeQuin Evans, under the
performance-enhancing drugs policy.
None of the 20 players has
been suspended for violating the personal conduct policy, although Jets
running back Mike Goodson was arrested in New Jersey in May on drugs and
weapons charges and will miss four games for substance abuse. His case
was sent to a grand jury.
Also suspended under the substance
abuse policy for four games each were Jacksonville receiver Justin
Blackmon, Indianapolis receiver LaVon Brazill, New York Giants safety
Will Hill, Washington linebacker Rob Jackson, Arizona linebacker Daryl
Washington and Baltimore safety Christian Thompson.
Also barred
for substance abuse, but with lesser suspensions, were Minnesota
fullback Jerome Felton (three games), Cleveland receiver Josh Gordon
(two), San Francisco tight end Demarcus Dobbs (one), Rams running back
Isaiah Pead (one) and Chiefs offensive lineman Rokevious Watkins (one).
Suspended
four games for using performance enhancers were Seattle linebacker
Bruce Irvin, St. Louis linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar, Oakland receiver Andre
Holmes, Washington defensive lineman Jarvis Jenkins and Minnesota
tackle DeMarcus Love.
