The Buffalo Bills have established one of the most talented rosters in the NFL over the past several seasons including the addition of former Defensive Player of the Year Von Miller. After a tough start to the season, Buffalo has made a huge push over the past two months to be right in the playoff push with a possibility to win the AFC East with a showdown with division leader Miami Dolphins next week.
It is important in such a critical window to avoid any off-field drama but it looks like one of the biggest players on the team has generated quite a bit.
Bills’ Von Miller Playing Status Locked in for Week 17
Unfortunately, Miller has made news lately for the wrong reasons as he was recently arrested for assaulting a pregnant woman and has been facing a legal battle for it this week. The news was broken by NFL Insider Ian Rappaport.
Von Miller is healthy and him being inactive is a coach’s decision. https://t.co/QvFh2sGNDA
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 31, 2023
“It’s been a crazy month,” Miller told reporters in an opening statement before he took questions at a press conference Thursday. “Obviously, there are things that I can’t talk about but everything that was out is completely wrong and blown out of proportion.”
Miller surrendered to police on Thursday after a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was released on a $5,000 bond and will be going through the legal battles as well.
“Me and my girlfriend, we have problems just like any other couple does but there has never been any of those things that was alleged against me,” he added. “Hopefully, over time all of this stuff will get cleared up. Life, sometimes life just… be life-ing. You’ve just got to keep pushing and keep moving. The people who know me and the people who have been around me know my character, they know who I am.”
The linebacker stated that “all of it is incorrect and all of it is untrue” when reporters asked what aspects of the allegations made against him are untrue, according to ESPN. Miller said that domestic violence has never factored into his relationship and noted that he and his girlfriend are expecting a third son, per the outlet.
Miller has struggled to be on the field this season and with the domestic violence charges, it has been decided that he would be a healthy scratch for the Week 17 matchup with the New England Patriots. After being a huge acquisition for Buffalo last season, he has completely failed to make an impact particularly this season. So far this year, he has only managed to make two tackles as he has been a complete non-factor in the pass rush.
A lot of credit should be give to the Buffalo franchise for showing the moral fortitude to essentially suspend a star player after a domestic violence incident. As a society, we have struggled to defend our athletes in these incidents far too much. After all, even in 2023, could anyone ever imagine that former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice would be honored in Baltimore after he was caught on video mercilessly beating his girlfriend in an elevator in 2014. Rice never played another down of football in the NFL after the incident but will be honored in Baltimore this Sunday.
Buffalo has made a great statement for the NFL that domestic violence will not be tolerated by going against the NFL and making a star player a healthy scratch. These incidents should no longer be swept under the rug and the players should be held accountable for their actions.
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