NFL Exec Sounds Off on Dre Greenlaw as Broncos Teammate Pays Price

Dre Greenlaw will miss the Denver Broncos’ tilt against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8 while serving a one-game suspension stemming from his alleged use of threatening language with an NFL official in Week 7 against the New York Giants.

He is not the only Broncos player who was punished in that fracas, and the NFL is standing firm in its decision.

The league already upheld Greenlaw’s suspension following the veteran’s appeal.

NFL EVP Sounds Off on Dre Greenlaw

NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent argued that Dreenlaw’s actions were “selfish” and have “no place in the game.”

Vincent, who played 15 years in the NFL, said that Greenlaw should have been celebrating Broncos teammates Bo Nix and Wil Lutz, not seeking out an official. He said that referee Brad Allen did not reveal what Greenlaw said, but that they acted based on his recommendation.

Still, Vincent cited “abusive” and “threatening language” as the basis for Greenlaw’s suspension.

“We’ve been talking about sportsmanship for a few years. It’s the core of our game. And here, as a player, this is a great moment to celebrate. Celebrate the victory,” Vincent told Mike Florio on “Pro Football Talk” on October 23. “This is selfish.

“To run and chase somebody down, just – we’re just better than that. The game’s better than that. We know that’s not being coached, and it was – it just rose to that level.”

Greelaw is eligible to return in Week 9, when the Broncos face the Houston Texans.

Broncos Stand Behind Dre Greenlaw

Broncos head coach Sean Payton said the team stands behind Greenlaw. That was after the suspension was upheld. Payton also drew a penalty during the game after he entered the field of play, protesting a defensive pass interference call on cornerback Riley Moss.

Vincent said that questions about what Greenlaw said should be directed at the linebacker and his head coach.

“We all saw some of the contact, but we really focused in on someone who wasn’t even involved in the play,” Vincent said. “That situation … puts everybody in a bind. Because now you’re in a hearing and you’re the PA, who can defend what we saw? Celebrate the victory. It’s so hard to win during this time on the game day, and there’s just no place, no place in the game for that.”

Vincent relayed advice from Hall of Fame Willie Lanier to not let the game be a “blood sport.”

“‘It’s a sport played by professionals. Everyone wants the same thing. They want to … play hard, have success. Individual [and] team success. But you cannot allow certain things,’” Vincent said.

“Go at one another in between the whistles and, after the game, you shake hands, you pray together, and you move on to the next week.”

Justin Strnad Fined for Making Contact With NFL Official

Greenlaw was not the only Broncos player to feel the NFL’s wrath, with linebacker Justin Strnad receiving a fine for making contact with Allen, who was attempting to escape a celebratory swarm around Lutz, before the official’s interaction with Greenlaw.

“There was some contact with, I think it was Justin, No. 40, and each one of those are just isolated,” Vincent said. “He’ll be held accountable. So, that will come in fine for him.”

Polarizing Broncos' defender can shut the critics up once and for all in Week 8

 

Third-year Denver Broncos' cornerback Riley Moss does have one of the hardest jobs in the NFL - he plays opposite Patrick Surtain II, the best cornerback in the NFL and the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. It's not an easy task for Moss, but he's been a full-time starter since the start of the 2024 NFL Season and has honestly been quite good.

Now that he's in his second year starting, he's seen a good bit in the NFL and is also a part of the most talented secondary in the league, but in the eyes of some, the verdict is still out on Moss. Some think he gives up too many big plays, and he has been called for some penalties in high-stakes situations.

However, the most recent example was in Week 7, and Moss getting flagged for pass interference was a flat-out horrendous call. Anyway, the Broncos host the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8, and this could be a perfect chance for Moss to finally silence the rest of the critics with a strong performance.

Riley Moss has been very good this year, but the critics are still quite loud

It's likely that Riley Moss is seeing a ton of one on one matchups with George Pickens on Sunday, but he could be up to the challenge:

#Broncos CB Riley Moss has allowed the lowest completion percentage (39.1) of any NFL defensive back this season, per @NextGenStats. pic.twitter.com/Vq06IyxvC5

— Zack Kelberman (@KelbermanNFL) October 22, 2025

This also does line up a bit with his 

statistics on Pro Football Reference. According to his personal page, Moss has allowed a 46.3% completion percentage and a 77.7 passer rating, which are both fabulous numbers. Pro Football Reference credits him with just 19 receptions on 41 targets.

Simply put, Riley Moss is a good player and is doing one heck of a job at a super important position. Opposing quarterbacks know that bad things happen when they throw the ball in Patrick Surtain's direction, but Moss has more than held his own.

But with the Cowboys coming to town, Moss is going to see a lot of matchups with George Pickens and may even see a few with CeeDee Lamb. Cowboys' QB Dak Prescott is absolutely playing the best football of any QB in the NFL right now, and with this high-flying Dallas passing attack being as good as they are, a strong performance from Riley Moss would really force the critics to rethink.

There is definitely a scenario where Riley Moss ends up becoming a long-term fixture in the secondary next to Patrick Surtain II. He's eligible for a contract extension next offseason and would absolutely get paid by 

the Broncos if he kept this high-end play up.

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