Von Miller Jokes: 'What If I Could Play QB?'
By Mark Haas
PA Announcer: "And now playing quarterback for the Denver Broncos…. Von Miller?"
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (CBS4) - Von Miller, the Broncos Super Bowl 50 MVP, was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week this week, and when asked Thursday if his goal is to win the award for Defensive Player of the Year, Miller smiled and announced a different goal he has for himself.
"I have one dream that I thought about the other day, what if I could play quarterback and rush the passer?" Miller joked after practice on Thursday. "You haven't seen that (in the league). I come out to practice every day and throw 100 passes and I try to be clean with my footwork."
But that dream is not close to becoming a reality.
"I talked to (outside linebackers) Coach 'Pug' (Pagac). I asked him, 'Do you think maybe I have a shot?' He quickly disappointed me and said, 'No.'"
Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips agrees Von should stick to defense.
"We really don't want him on the other side of the ball. He's doing pretty well where he is. I think we'll keep him there," Phillips said with his typical sarcasm.
But if given the chance, would Von be able to keep receivers Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders happy?
"I'd spread it all around. I wouldn't run the ball. I'm sure that's what guys would think, that I'd drop back and try to scramble every play. No, no, no—I'm going to throw the ball to D.T and Emmanuel and Jeff Heuerman and all these guys," Miller said. "Not as good as Trevor Siemian, but I'll try my best."
As for real goals for the season, Miller is keeping those to himself.
"If I got up here and said some of the stuff that I expected out of myself, I'm sure it would shock all of you guys. It just wouldn't look right," Miller said. "As far as accolades, it's only the second week. The consistent guys get those honors. The consistent guys get those awards.
"You have guys that come out the first couple of weeks and they're on fire, but in Week 14 or 15, you are looking around and you don't see those guys. You have to be consistent. You have to string those days together, string those games together. That's what I'm trying to do."
And if Miller keeps stringing together the type of games he's had so far, Phillips is ready to up the ante on the postseason awards Von will be in consideration for.
"I think he ought to be MVP," Phillips said.
Mark Haas is a sports anchor/reporter for CBS4. Read his bio or follow him on Twitter @markhaastv or on Facebook.
