Police investigating Broncos’ Miller

Titans OC Smith to be Falcons’ head coach

DENVER — Broncos linebacker Von Miller is under investigation by police in a Denver suburb.

Parker Police Department spokesman Josh Hans confirmed the investigation Friday, but couldn’t provide additional details. Hans wrote in an email that, “if the investigation determines a crime has occurred, charges will be submitted to the DA’s Office for their review.”

The Broncos released a statement saying they were “aware of an investigation involving Von Miller and are in the process of gathering more information.”

Miller missed the 2020 season with an ankle injury he suffered just before the opener.

The Broncos have a decision to make on Miller for next season. They hold a club option that must be exercised by the first day of the new league year in March that would guarantee him $7 million.

The 31-year-old Miller is due $17.5 million in salary in 2021, the final year of the seven-year, $114 million contract he signed months after his Super Bowl 50 MVP performance.

Miller has 106 career sacks in 135 games since being taken second overall by Denver in the 2011 draft. He’s been selected to the first-team All-Pro squad three times.

FALCONS: Atlanta agreed to terms with Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith on Friday to become the team’s head coach.

The Falcons announced the agreement. Smith held a virtual interview with the team Monday and he also interviewed with the New York Jets and Detroit Lions. The Jets reached an agreement with Robert Saleh on Thursday night to be their coach.

The 38-year-old Smith has served on the Tennessee staff for 10 seasons, including two as offensive coordinator. The Titans finished this season tied for second in the NFL in total yards.

Under Smith’s leadership, the Titans finished behind only Kansas City in total offense with 396.4 yards. They had the NFL’s second-best rushing offense as Derrick Henry became only the eighth back to rush for at least 2,000 yards.

Atlanta’s choice of Smith was applauded by Titans wide receiver A.J. Brown, who said on his Twitter account “Held me accountable from day 1. Always trying to improve. Atlanta got a good one.”

BROWNS: Joel Bitonio’s long playoff wait with the Browns is over.

The Pro Bowl left guard has was activated from the COVID-19 list Friday after missing last week’s wild-card win over Pittsburgh.

Cleveland’s longest-tenured player, Bitonio had to isolate at home and missed his first career postseason game — and the Browns’ first since the 2002 season. It was a devastating development for Bitonio, who had endured so much losing with the Browns before this turnaround season.

But he’ll get his long-awaited chance to play in the postseason this week. The Browns, who stunned the Steelers in the wild-card round, face the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in the AFC divisional round.

“It was just really cool to see those guys step up and make plays,” Bitonio said Friday following his first practice in two weeks. “Obviously, I’m pumped to keep playing and ready to get after it this weekend.”

GORDON: The conditional reinstatement of wide receiver Josh Gordon has been rescinded by the NFL, and Gordon is once again under suspension.

The change in Gordon’s status was listed on the NFL’s official transactions on Friday.

Gordon was signed by the Seattle Seahawks in September despite being under an indefinite suspension. That suspension ended in early December when Gordon was conditionally reinstated by Commissioner Roger Goodell.

He was allowed to begin strength and conditioning work with the Seahawks staff, and attend meetings. He was expected to be eligible to play the final two weeks of the regular season.

It was the eighth time overall Gordon had been suspended by either his team or the NFL, including six times since 2013, mostly for violating the league’s policies on banned substances.

BEARS: The NFL suspended Chicago defensive lineman Mario Edwards Jr. for the first two games next season Friday for violating the league’s policy against performance-enhancing substances.

Edwards, who is not under contract for 2021, will be able to participate in preseason practices and games.

He had four sacks last season.