Denver LB out for season with torn ACL

Denver LB out for season with torn ACL

ENGLEWOOD, Colo.

The Denver Broncos began the season without strongside linebacker Von Miller, and they’ll end it without him, too. Miller is done for the year after tests Monday revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, which he injured in the first quarter of Denver’s 37-13 win at Houston over the weekend.

“It’s definitely going to be a blow,” executive vice president John Elway said on his weekly podcast on the team’s website. “But I think that we’ve done a good job of handling adversity throughout the year. This is another bump in the road for us.”

Miller’s injury ended a rough third season for the Broncos star, which began with a six-game drug suspension and included just five sacks and 33 tackles in 10 games.

CSU assistant coach suspended for gay slur

FORT COLLINS, Colo.

Colorado State defensive line coach Greg Lupfer has been suspended without pay for two weeks for using a gay slur when yelling at Washington State quarterback Connor Halliday in the New Mexico Bowl last weekend.

Athletic director Jack Graham also ordered Lupfer to undergo anger management and diversity training at his own expense.

Lupfer issued a statement saying he was grateful to keep his job on Jim McElwain’s staff and said “I am deeply sorry for my behavior, which does not represent who I am or my values.”

Lupfer got into a verbal altercation with the Cougars’ QB after Halliday’s first TD throw. Lupfer’s slur was caught on ESPN cameras and marred the Rams’ comeback from a 22-point deficit for a last-second 48-45 win.

Akron football assistant killed in car accident

AKRON

Akron says assistant coach Alan Arrington has been killed in a car accident. He was 44. The school says the accident occurred on Monday in Mississippi. Arrington was born in Oxford, Miss.

Arrington, nicknamed Tank, was an assistant head coach on Terry Bowden’s staff and also worked with the offensive line. He coached at North Alabama and Mississippi earlier in his career.

Bowden calls Arrington “a very good friend and a great person.” He says he is heartbroken.

Michigan QB Gardner still slowed by turf toe

PHOENIX

Michigan coach Brady Hoke says quarterback Devin Gardner is still slowed by a turf toe injury. Hoke says if the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl was on Monday, freshman Shane Morris would take snaps for the Wolverines against Kansas State.

The coach says Gardner, who is wearing a protective boot, would have to practice by Wednesday to play in Saturday night’s game. Hoke says Gardner had a setback and met with doctors last Friday.

Morris was 5 of 9 for 65 yards with one interception in two games this season.

Hoke says kicker Brendan Gibbons won’t be with the team in Arizona because of a family matter. Matt Wile will kick in the bowl game as he did against Ohio State.

Clippers F Barnes fined $25,000 by NBA

NEW YORK

The NBA has fined Los Angeles Clippers forward Matt Barnes for failing to leave the court in a timely manner after he was ejected in the third quarter of Sunday’s game against Minnesota. The league announced the $25,000 penalty on Monday.

Barnes was thrown out with 56.8 seconds left in the period after he was whistled for a flagrant 2 foul against Kevin Love on a drive to the basket. The Clippers went on to a 120-116 overtime victory. Barnes’ foul was downgraded to a flagrant 1 after it was reviewed by the league.

Reporting prep results

The Vindicator encourages coaches and statisticians to report prep results by email (sports@vindy.com) or fax (330-747-6712).

Phone calls (330-747-1478) are also acceptable but emails and faxes are strongly preferred. Deadline is 10:30 p.m.

Staff reports/Associated Press