A Denver Broncos practice squad safety was sent back to Denver after he was questioned in a Santa Clara County sheriff’s prostitution sting near Mineta San Jose International Airport on Tuesday, team and sheriff’s officials said.
Broncos safety Ryan Murphy was questioned during a sheriff’s human trafficking task force sting at the Motel 6 at 2081 N. First St. between 4 and 5 p.m., sheriff’s Sgt. James Jensen said.
Though he was determined to not have been involved in any criminal activities, the Broncos took swift action and returned him to Denver.
“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,” Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak said in a statement Tuesday.
“Ryan is returning to Denver but his status as a practice squad player has not changed at this time,” Kubiak said.
The sheriff’s office has been conducting prostitution stings in the area for weeks now in the run-up to Sunday’s Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara since the Super Bowl can be a focal point for prostitution.
In the recent stings, 10 men have been cited for soliciting prostitution or assisting prostitution. Twenty women have been provided with resources by victims’ advocates assisting with the law enforcement stings, Jensen said.
Scott Morris, Bay City News
