Getty ImagesWhen news surfaced this morning that Broncos linebacker Von Miller is facing a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy, we noted that something out of the ordinary must have taken place: Usually, a first suspension under the league’s substance-abuse policy is for four games, while a second suspension is for a full year. A six-game ban would represent an unusual middle ground.
Now we have some idea of the unusual circumstances that may have led to the NFL planning to give Miller more than the normal four-game ban for a first suspension. Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that when Miller went to give a urine sample to the drug tester, it was spilled. When Miller then came back later to give the drug tester another urine sample, that sample was found to be diluted.
It’s possible, of course, for those things to happen innocently. Someone could drop a bottle of urine accidentally, and a player’s urine could be diluted simply because he drank a lot of water. But the NFL makes clear that a positive drug test isn’t the only way to violate the substance-abuse policy. Failing to produce a testable sample when asked to submit to a drug test can also be considered a violation.
That’s something Miller should have known, because one of his teammates, D.J. Williams, was suspended six games last year under similar circumstances. The league said Williams twice provided a substance other than human urine for his drug tests, then was seen attempting to pour something from a bottle hidden in his waist band into his urine sample.
Now Miller is facing a similar accusation, and may face the same six-game suspension.
lol, like a kid who doesn’t want to pee clean to stay off of probation. Grow up Von.
As a Broncos fan… Can someone give a time machine for the 2014 season?
He is pretty important to their season. A 6-game suspension just might cost the Broncos a trip to the playoffs.
None of the performance enhancers in the world will stop the eventual Burgundy and Gold Beatdown for the Broncos in this upcoming season. #42-10SuperbowlXXII
Funky urine sample to confuse the test?
WOW..NO ONE EVER THOUGHT OF THAT BEFORE VON.
He’s lucky it’s if it’s only 6 games.
Drug testers know what they are doing.
He was hardly the first to attempt this.
Busted!
Maybe the wizzinator was hooked up to the faucet? *sprrraaayyyy* oh my bad my bad oh geesh its everywhere *spritz*
At least he didn’t roll in there with a whizzanator.
What a loser.
Ah, the old, “I spilled my urine excuse.” Wonder if his dog ate his homework.
It won’t matter if he’s there or not come Week 1 because the Ravens are gonna kick their butts either way! Not having Von just makes it that much easier!
What about the cocaine?
This is why aldon smith is the best pass rusher!!!!
no cheatin von ….another lights out canidate
seriously, are the drugs so good you will throw away potentially millions of dollars?
I see another Sean Merriman type collapse.
@dennis, i don’t think it’ll cost them a playoff spot, but definitely runs the risk of having home field advantage, or the division.
except, you know, Miller and Williams’ circumstances really aren’t similar at all
And how is it similar to the Williams case? Did Miller have a bottle that he hid in his pants and accidentally dropped and was caught tampering like Williams? Did his urine test positive or was not his? What I understand he couldn’t piss again since he apparently just did and had to do his workout in which he drank fluids while working out so that he could piss a second sample. Did he bring a filled bottle back or was he monitored the second time and he then turned in the second bottle? Sounds to me innuendo rather than actual facts. All we really know is he violated procedure and they count that as a failed drug test. End of story.
He is clearly a whizzinator
You a cheater Von! I’m thinkin you on the Jjuice!!! Gonna go the way of LIGHTS OUT MERRIMAN!!! Get off the sauce donks! Denver needs an intervention!
He should have called Ryan Braun.
Hey Joey, how many sacks did also. Have without Justin? We’ll wait…
Millions of dollars or a blunt?
Millions of dollars or PED’s?
Some people just don’t get it.
Hey Von Miller, Kids look up to you, lots of kids. 10 year olds, 5 year olds, 16 and 17 year olds. You’re making a bad impression dude!
He spills his sample on purpose so he has to come back – he waters up to dilute the sample – and he wants to get off?!
Come on Von…guilt as charged.
For some reason I suddenly have the urge to pee.
Von must think he is still in High School
He plays in a state where weed is legal. I don’t think he should be punished if that’s all he would test positive for.
Really, I don’t think anyone should be tested for recreational drugs, as what people do privately is their own business.
Legalize weed
EJ says:
Aug 19, 2013 8:11 PM
Millions of dollars or a blunt?
Millions of dollars or PED’s?
Some people just don’t get it.
Hey Von Miller, Kids look up to you, lots of kids. 10 year olds, 5 year olds, 16 and 17 year olds. You’re making a bad impression dude!
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I read it was molly.
At least PED’s make sense. You’re trying to get a competitive advantage.
Anyone else think Miller learned how to cheat the tests from D.J. who did the same thing last year?
That’s a clown sample, bro.
gloryfromheaven says:
Aug 19, 2013 7:55 PM
As a Broncos fan… Can someone give a time machine for the 2014 season?
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You should probably enjoy Peyton Manning while you have him as healthy as he is. Who knows if he can even play in 2014.
Give me a good portion of your salary Von. I’ll pee in your cup.
Dude lives in a state where smoking pot is 100% legal, is employed by a company headquartered in a state where smoking pot is 100% legal. However, he is being suspended for testing positive for pot, despite the fact it is 100% legal. It seems like some labor lawyer could have a case.
It’s not the 1950’s, why are players being tested for weed anyway? Is it a concession to the small segment of the population that thinks Refer Madness was a true story and calls people who smoke grass hop heads?
What is the deal with the Broncos players and urinalysis irregularities? Once could be an accident. Twice is a coincidence. Three times is a pattern. At four times it starts looking more like policy or at a minimum it is condoned.
Ahhhhh. Another innocent guy gets railroaded.
well maybe the afc worse, i mean west is becoming more equal..broncos are no doubt best team ..but if manning goes down, can brock osweiller get a w.
Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiight
notoriousjebus says:
Aug 19, 2013 8:32 PM
Dude lives in a state where smoking pot is 100% legal
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but the dude works for an employer who says you can’t smoke dope. If he doesn’t like it…he can get another job at a bong factory. In your logic I guess he should only be able to play at home games, where he hopes he does not run into any feds from the DEA, FBI, or ATF
BWAAAAAHHHHAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is hilarious. Grow up Miller. Ur great dont blow it
Von has vowed to put this behind him and learn from the experience moving forward. No point crying over spilled urine.
radrnt :
easy compadre you could use a puff or two yourself.
And thanks for pointing out the hypocrisy of the government.
“Dude lives in a state where smoking pot is 100% legal, is employed by a company headquartered in a state where smoking pot is 100% legal. However, he is being suspended for testing positive for pot, despite the fact it is 100% legal. It seems like some labor lawyer could have a case.”
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His union agreed to the restrictions, and he signed on with that union, agreeing to abide by league policy. When the union renagogiates, perhaps they can take that part out.
I still like his glasses.
Urine trouble Mr. Miller!
How do they expect to compete with the Patriots if they aren’t as proficient at beating the PED system. Poor coaching.
What a dummy. An asterisk will follow him everywherenow
Super surprised that the urine wasn’t positive for pregnancy. Dope
Water is now officially an NFL banned substance. Too much in your urine will get you 6 games. What a joke.
notoriousjebus says:Aug 19, 2013 8:32 PMDude lives in a state where smoking pot is 100% legal, is employed by a company headquartered in a state where smoking pot is 100% legal. However, he is being suspended for testing positive for pot, despite the fact it is 100% legal. It seems like some labor lawyer could have a case.
Uhhh its still considered illeagal by the federal gubmint…so its really like 50% legal…
In other news: habitual users of thc aren’t good at math…
If he dropped spilled or through his urine it should not be the issue. You keep him there and you monitor his fluids so there are no issues for both sides. Yes its sad that it might take that to hold him accountable. it beats the money and time wasted to argue over how much water he drank prior to second test. Seems like the NFL doesn’t want to stop the bs.
I thought weed was legal in C.O
“It’s possible, of course, for those things to happen innocently. Someone could drop a bottle of urine accidentally, and a player’s urine could be diluted simply because he drank a lot of water. ”
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Drinking a lot of water will not “dilute” your urine. Make it clear, yes. But not dilute it. Unfortunately, I had the honor of conducting countless unit urinalysis tests in the military, which entails going to school for it. If Miller was in the Army he would be in the process of getting kicked out right now.
I get the skepticism, athletes haven’t earned the benefit of the doubt from fans but I guess I’m surprised that almost nobody is allowing for the possibility that the sample really was accidentally spilled. If you needed to provide a sample, wouldn’t drinking a lot of water seem reasonable? I’ve been tested for pre-employment and had the staff tell me to do so. Seems crazy to ban him for 6 games if this story is true. IF!!
The fact that human beings transport and otherwise tote about other human being’s urine is absolutely disgusting. The hypocrisy associated with the muti-billion dollar industry is truly disconcerting.
You carry around other people’s pee for a living? Really?
The family that fake-pees together stays together.
It wasn’t pot, not sure if any of you have TV. The NFL stated it was “not a recreational drug”
Von is another step closer to his dream of being a chicken farmer.
This is dumb there’s only one way to pee more. Drink water, of course his piss is diluted you are making him piss again. Open and shut case they should not even suspend him.
Once Sizzle breaks 18 in half opening night the trifecta will be complete and the broncos season over……
And the collapse continues. Elway doesn’t have a clue. Expect them to finish 8-8. Von’s a bum.
newcomer2013 says:
Aug 19, 2013 8:59 PM
Water is now officially an NFL banned substance. Too much in your urine will get you 6 games. What a joke.
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Nice logic there, chief. Water is not banned. “Accidentally” spilling the first sample and then super-hydrating in a lame attempt to dilute a dirty sample deserves punishment. It should be considered equal to a positive test. There is no legit reason to do that unless you KNOW it’s dirty. No sense trying to make up an excuse about it.
Onterrio Smith is shaking his damn head.
Accident? Right. Those lids screw on. I think if my job depended on it, I would be careful. Freaking simpleton.
Can’t fix stupid.
I’m confused, is this article about A-Rod?
rcali says:Aug 19, 2013 8:49 PM
Urine trouble Mr. Miller!
Well done! lol
Why didn’t Von just do what Richard Sherman did? “Ya gots da crak dat cup bro! I’m betta at cheatin da system dan you”
Like Peyton says “don’t spill urine samples on my leg then tell me it’s raining”
When did it become ok to ask someone for their urine?
Bailey’s injured and no Von means Broncos should no longer be a Top 10 Def on Yahoo FF.
all he had to do was take some b12 vitamins to get some color in his piss and he would have been solid. instead he diluted with just drinking water, a simple Gatorade would have worked as well its not like those aren’t everywhere in the NFL.
“This could cost the Broncos a playoff spot…” blah, blah, blah, “Peyton Manning won’t last 4 games in 2012…” blah, blah, blah, The Broncos will work through this.. Last time I checked Von Miller didn’t throw any touchdown passes last year and we still swept the division..
I’m done defending him. He deserves to serve the whole suspension.
demolition510 says:Aug 19, 2013 8:54 PM
What a dummy. An asterisk will follow him everywherenow
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Ok I will address THIS guy then I wont defend Von anymore.
Sir, urine idiot!!
It was for either molly or marjiuana. Neither is a steriod dummy.
Oh please stop it with the “accidents can happen” kind of talk. We all know what’s up here.
You should be required to take a drug est before you are allowed to post…..know Federal drug laws and the particulars of the CBA….which apply to ALL players in the NFL! Von is either an idiot or………….
It doesn’t seem that unusual. People are spilling their urine in the men’s room at work all the time.
And how is it similar to the Williams case? Did Miller have a bottle that he hid in his pants and accidentally dropped and was caught tampering like Williams? Did his urine test positive or was not his? What I understand he couldn’t piss again since he apparently just did and had to do his workout in which he drank fluids while working out so that he could piss a second sample. Did he bring a filled bottle back or was he monitored the second time and he then turned in the second bottle? Sounds to me innuendo rather than actual facts. All we really know is he violated procedure and they count that as a failed drug test. End of story.
wow seriously, captain obvious? he just happened to “drop his urine” then of course he was unable to go do it again immediately following… that was all part of the plan. if you really think that the only way to screw around with a urine sample is to have a secondary source of urine, then i feel bad for your lack of logic.
what he did was similar to me as a kid when i was grounded and i would happen to go out to the mail box and shut the door and it happened to be locked ; uh oh, guess i have nothing else to do but play football in the yard with my friends.
if they didnt count it against them, then all cheaters would be “dropping their urine” and retaking a few hours later.
The joke is the Bronco’s organization.
Horse face is allowing everything under the sun to try to win another Super Bowl.
It’s no secret they circumvented the salary cap to win their two Super Bowls.
He should have called Mrs. Costanza.
“It’s possible, of course, for those things to happen innocently.”……….yeah, right….and you know that because the Easter Bunny told you.
I haven’t heard anything concrete that says it was pot. That being said in CO pot has been decriminalized yes but the Feds still say no just like his employer. But again I haven’t heard anyone say he was smoking refer just that he messed around with his sample