Rules change OK for Miller
Willing to give QBs fair shake
Von Miller said he’s unaffected by the new NFL rule prohibiting defenders from landing on top of quarterbacks, requiring them instead to shift his weight to the side to avoid a flag.
“None of the rule changes affect my game. I don’t really tackle quarterbacks with all my weight anyway. With all 185 pounds? No, I wouldn’t treat a quarterback like that,” said Miller, who’s actually 250.
“I like going for the ball. If you’ve seen me play over the years, I’m not really (going to) lower the head or try to injure a quarterback,” Miller said. “The most I’ll do is fake handshake.”
That move cost Miller a personal foul at key moment last year and led to a loss at Buffalo.
Miller said he has no issue with the league’s new helmet rule that’s causing so much consternation at training camps this summer as teams wonder what all will constitute a foul.
Gordon texts away
Josh Gordon remains absent from Cleveland Browns training camp in Berea, Ohio, but he’s been in contact with one of his fellow wide receivers.
Third-year pro Rashard Higgins exchanged texts with Gordon on Friday, and said he’s in good spirits. Higgins said he and Gordon didn’t talk about football, but “family, just little things like that.”
Gordon is undergoing treatment for his longstanding drug and alcohol addictions. A league spokesman said he has not been suspended. There is no timetable for his return.
The Browns remain confident that Gordon, who has been suspended multiple times by the NFL for drug violations, will return at some point. Cleveland opens the exhibition season on Thursday against the New York Giants.
Gordon is in Stage 3 of the league’s substanceabuse program and faces another indefinite ban for any violation.
Cards’ Shipley hurt
Arizona Cardinals starting center A.Q. Shipley was carted to the locker room after injuring his leg during practice yesterday in Glendale, Ariz.
Shipley was able to walk off the field on his own but after a brief time in an examination tent was taken to the locker room on a cart, a towel draped over his head.
The six-year NFL veteran started all 16 games in each of the past two seasons.
There was no post-practice coach availability and the team has today off so the extent of the injury might not be publicly known until the team resumes training camp tomorrow . . . .
Green Bay Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari was taken off the field on a cart, dampening the spirits at Family Night at Lambeau Field. He walked to the cart with his left shoe removed.
Bakhtiari was named a second-team All-Pro each of the last two seasons, the first Packers offensive tackle to earn back-to-back AllPro accolades since Hall of Famer Forrest Gregg . . . .
Kenny Vaccaro signed a one-year deal with the Tennessee Titans, and was with them for individual drills at practice in Nashville hours later. He had been waiting for a team to sign him since his contract with New Orleans expired in March.
The Titans also signed safety Jason Thompson after placing safety Johnathan Cyprien on injured reserve with a torn left ACL . .. .
Free agent kicker Mike Nugent signed with the Oakland Raiders, while waiving kicker Giorgio Tavecchio.
Nugent, 36, spent last year between Chicago and Dallas with four starts for each team. He made 11-of-13 field goals in all with a long of 55 yards while converting 4-of5 between 40 and 49 yards. He went 15-for-17 on PATs.