The Denver Broncos rookie Ryan Murphy will play no further part in his team’s Super Bowl campaign after being caught up in a prostitution sting.
Police detained and questioned Murphy and his brother over the incident before the Denver safety – who is part of the practice squad – was released without charge. The Broncos, however, decided to send Murphy home.
“Although practice squad safety Ryan Murphy was not cited by police, we decided it was best for the team if we continued our preparations for Super Bowl 50 without him,” the Broncos coach, Gary Kubiak, said in a statement. “Ryan is returning to Denver but his status as a practice squad player has not changed at this time.”
According to KPIX-TV police detained a suspected prostitute near a motel in San Jose. When she told the police she needed to get something from her car, they found Murphy and his brother in the vehicle. Murphy’s brother was reportedly cited for solicitation.
A spokesman for the Santa Clara Country Sheriff would not comment on the case but told the San Jose Mercury News officers had been conducting anti-human-trafficking operations in the area recently, and had cited 10 individuals for solicitation.
On Sunday, the Carolina Panthers were given a talk by the former Atlanta Falcons safety Eugene Robinson, who was arrested for solicitation the night before the Super Bowl in 1999. The Falcons lost the game to the Broncos. Robinson, who is now a broadcaster, called the incident the “worst night of my life”.
“Coach Kubiak made it clear, everybody has to be accountable,’’ said the Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall. “That’s an unfortunate situation, that he had to go home, because I think he’s a good guy. Just unfortunate.’’
Murphy was drafted by the Seahawks in the seventh round of last year’s draft before he was waived in September. He joined the Broncos in November.
