Broncos player and East Bay native questioned in prostitution sting

A Denver Broncos player, who grew up in the East Bay, has been sent back to Colorado by the team, after police questioned him about a prostitution sting in San Jose.

Ryan Murphy is a rookie safety on the Broncos' practice squad. He regularly practiced with the team, but never played in a game this season.

As part of the crackdown on human trafficking at the Super Bowl, the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office detained him around 5 p.m. Tuesday, at a Motel 6, near Mineta San Jose Airport.

A source told KTVU, that a prostitute went to the motel, and told undercover officers she needed to get something from her car.

They followed her to a nearby parking lot, where they found Murphy and his brother waiting in the car.
Murphy's brother was cited for solicitation and released.

Murphy was questioned, but was not cited or arrested.

"There was a whole bunch of them congregated over here," said witness Rick Suter. "Within 20 minutes to half an hour, we had black vans with people in suits mulling around with the Sheriff's Office and everything."

Suter manages the gas station next door and witnessed the incident play out. He didn't realize it involved a NFL player.

The Denver Broncos are staying roughly four miles away at the Santa Clara Marriott for the Super Bowl.

"They have to understand they are taking on a job and this is a job," said Suter. "They have to meet a standard people want to accept."

Murphy graduated from Oakland Tech, and went to Oregon State University.

Denver Broncos head coach, Gary Kubiak, issued a statement. "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... Ryan is returning to Denver but his status as a practice squad player has not changed at this time."