Former Super Bowl MVP Suspended Four Games
The NFL announced that Buffalo Bills’ outside linebacker Von Miller has been suspended four games without pay for violating the league's personal conduct policy. Miller will be eligible for reinstatement on October 28th after the Bills’ Week Eight game against the Seattle Seahawks. This would be the second suspension of Miller’s career. In 2013, he was suspended six games for attempting to cheat a drug test. Miller had been playing at the top of his game before the suspension and had been on pace to finish top 10 all-time in sacks.
Seven-Time All-Pro Suspended
Miller is in his 13th NFL season and has many accolades to prove why he’s been in the league this long. Coming out of Texas A&M, Miller was taken second overall in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. He played 10 seasons in Denver, accumulating 509 tackles, 142 tackles for loss, and 110.5 sacks. Miller earned many awards during his time in Denver, including Defensive Rookie of the Year, three First-Team All-Pro selections, four Second-Team All-Pro selections, eight Pro Bowls, and a Super Bowl MVP. Since leaving the Broncos, Miller helped the Los Angeles Rams win Super Bowl LVI and signed a six-year, $120 million contract with the Bills in 2022. The 35-year-old is one of only 19 players to have 125 career sacks and will forfeit $333,333 of his $1.5 million salary due to the suspension.
Miller Impressed Through First Four Games
Miller has been a very effective pass rusher so far this season; he sacked the quarterback in each of the first three games. Last season, Miller was still recovering from the torn ACL that he suffered on Thanksgiving of 2022. In Miller’s 12 games in 2023, he looked sluggish, racking up just three tackles the whole season and no sacks. Since he was improving, his suspension will be a real gut punch for the Bills’ defense. Buffalo will now have to lean on A.J. Epenesa and rookie Javon Solomon to replace Miller’s production.
2023 Legal Issues Could Be Reason for Suspension
Though the NFL didn’t state how Miller violated their personal conduct policy, it most likely ties back to his legal incident during last season. On November 30th, 2023, Miller was accused of assaulting his pregnant girlfriend. A warrant was issued for Miller’s arrest and he turned himself in to the Glenn Heights, Texas Police Department. He was booked into DeSoto Tri-City Jail before being released on a $5,000 bond. Since the incident, Miller has denied the allegations and said that they are "100 percent false."
