Bills GM says edge rusher Von Miller to practice and play while facing domestic violence charge

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Though shaken by Von Miller being charged with domestic violence, general manager Brandon Beane and the Buffalo Bills proceeded cautiously on Wednesday in awaiting the legal process to play out before rushing to judgement or discipline.

For now, the NFL’s active leader in sacks and two-time Super Bowl winner will continue practicing and is expected to suit up on Sunday, when Buffalo (6-6) travels to play at the Kansas City Chiefs (8-4). And that will remain the Bills’ approach until more information surfaces from either a Dallas police or NFL investigation into allegations of Miller assaulting the mother of his children, who is pregnant.

“No one wants their name associated with any accusation like that, so that’s a natural disappointment. I’m sure he’s disappointed,” Beane said. “But things happen sometimes, and again, we have to remember people, we have to give them their fair due process. That can happen to anyone in this room. And I would hope we would all wait and let that play out before we rush to judgement.”

Beane spoke for the team as the Bills returned from their bye week, and a week after Miller turned himself in to police in a Dallas suburb after being charged in a warrant with domestic violence. Miller faces a charge of third-degree felony assault of a pregnant woman, which is punishable by 2 to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. He is free after posting a $5,000 bond.

The woman and Miller have been in a relationship for seven years and have children together.

Beane said the Bills are following the NFL’s lead. In calling the allegations serious, he said they seemed “out of character” for a person he has come to know over the past year and a half since signing Miller in free agency.

In Dallas, the district attorney’s office informed The Associated Press that it had no updates on the investigation since Miller turned himself in, a day after the alleged assault occurred on Nov. 29. According to a police affidavit which officers wrote, Miller twice put his hands on the neck of the woman, pulled out a chunk of her hair and threw her onto a couch. The woman was treated for minor injuries, including bruising on her neck, police said.