Jul 22, 2013 5 min read

Robert Griffin III has passed a major test toward his goal of playing in Week 1, getting the go-ahead from the team doctors days before the Washington Redskins open training camp.

”Doctors cleared me to practice. Coach is going to ease me in,” Griffin announced Monday on Twitter.

The two sentences represent hurdles past and future. Even though Griffin says he has the medical OK, it is now up to coach Mike Shanahan to determine how often and how vigorously Griffin practices when the Redskins open camp Thursday in Richmond, Va.

The Redskins had no comment on Griffin’s tweet. However, a person familiar with the situation said the Redskins have cleared Griffin to practice. The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the club has not made an announcement.

Still, it seems more likely than ever that Griffin will be under center when the Redskins open the regular season against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 9, just eight months after he had reconstructive surgery on his right knee.

Reports: Broncos’ Miller suspended 4 games: The latest distraction for the Denver Broncos comes from All-Pro linebacker Von Miller, who insisted Monday he did nothing wrong in the face of reports he could miss four games for violating the NFL’s drug policy.

Miller will miss the first month of the season for violating the NFL’s drug policy, pending an appeal, a person with knowledge of the situation told the Associated Press. The person did not want to be named because the league hasn’t announced any punishment.

ESPN first reported the pending discipline for Miller, who responded on his Twitter account, saying he had seen the reports about the four-game suspension.

”I know I did nothing wrong. I’m sure this’ll be resolved fairly,” he tweeted, adding he was disappointed the Broncos have to open training camp with this news hanging over them.

Miller and his agent didn’t return messages left by the Associated Press.

Union, players talk about testing: The NFL and players union are talking again about getting a test in place for human growth hormone as early as the upcoming season.

An email obtained by the Associated Press from the NFL Players Association indicates that the league and the NFLPA have jointly hired a doctor to conduct a study on NFL players to determine a good threshold for a positive HGH test. The email was sent by the union to players, in part to explain that the study requires them to have blood drawn during their physical when training camp begins. The email said the blood samples will only be used for the study.

Browns’ Gordon says ‘I’m sorry’: Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon has apologized for being suspended for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy.

Gordon was suspended for the first two games of the upcoming season by the league. Gordon, who was also fined two additional game checks for the violation, spoke about his penalties on Monday for the first time as Cleveland’s players trickled in for the start of training camp.

Gordon apologized to his teammates and Cleveland fans. He wants to earn the trust of the team’s front office and acknowledged that his suspension “hurt a lot of people.”

He wants to move on from the suspension and Gordon maintains he does not have a substance-abuse problem. He claims he failed a drug test because cough medicine he was taking for strep throat contained codeine a banned substance.

Jets sign Geno Smith: The New York Jets have signed quarterback Geno Smith, their second-round draft pick, to a four-year contract that is worth about $5 million.

Smith, drafted 39th overall after an unexpected slide out of the first round in April, is competing with incumbent Mark Sanchez for the starting quarterback job. The signing Monday was announced by the team, which still has its two first-round picks cornerback Dee Milliner and defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson unsigned.