USA TODAY International Edition
Miller won’t call Broncos D best ever
Comparisons with ’ 85 Bears, others make him uncomfortable
“It was truly a team effort. We all had a percentage in this Super Bowl win.” Super Bowl MVP Von Miller, after the Broncos beat the Panthers 24- 10
SAN FRANCISCO Von Miller’s place in Super Bowl history is secure. Two critical forced fumbles and 2 ½ sacks in the Denver Broncos’ 24- 10 win against the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50 will do that for you.
But Miller, selected as the game’s MVP, isn’t joining some of his teammates in trying to declare the 2015 Broncos defense as one of the best of all time.
“I mean, for me, I’m uncomfortable with comparisons. The game is the way it is because of the players that have come before us, the defenses like the ( 1985) Bears defense,” Miller said Monday morning at his MVP news conference. “Those guys really put their back and necks on the line for the game, so I’m very uncomfortable with comparisons.”
But several of Miller’s teammates chose to make the argument.
It wasn’t just that the Broncos were statistically dominant while leading the NFL in total defense, pass defense and sacks in the regular season or that they were exceptional in the playoffs as they held Super Bowl- winning quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger and Tom Brady and their teams to fewer than 18 points before limiting NFL MVP Cam Newton and the Panthers’ top- ranked scoring offense to a season- low 10 points.
“We went through the gantlet,” Broncos cornerback Chris Harris said Sunday night. “How can you not say we’re one of the greatest defenses all of time?”
Further adding to Denver’s case is just how dependent the team was on that defense given the performance and injury struggles 39- year- old quarterback Peyton Manning experienced all season. Never was that more evident than in the Super Bowl, when the Broncos recorded 11 first downs, converted one of 14 third downs, gained 194 yards ( fewest ever by the winning team) and didn’t score an offensive touchdown until late in the fourth quarter — after a stripsack by Miller set them up on the Panthers 4- yard line. ( The other time Miller knocked the ball from Newton’s hands, the Broncos recovered it for a touchdown.)
Manning committed two turnovers in the game, but Denver’s defense recorded four takeaways.
“It was truly a team effort. Everyone’s used to seeing Peyton go out there and throw for 45 points a game. But this year, it was truly a team effort. We all had a percentage in this Super Bowl win,” Miller said.
He thanked many of his teammates by name and said he wanted to rattle off everyone on the 53- man roster. It was a fitting public performance by Miller, who has been the glue on the Broncos defense.
Miller grinned plenty Monday and chuckled when he was told by a reporter that he probably made himself a lot of money with his Super Bowl performance.
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2011 draft, right after Newton, Miller has a contract that is set to expire March 9. However, the Broncos won’t let him get that far.
General manager John Elway told USA TODAY Sports on Sunday night that the team would begin contract negotiations with Miller’s agents soon and the Broncos would likely use the franchise tag on Miller if they couldn’t reach a deal.
“Mr. Elway, he’s played in the National Football League, he’s one of the best GMs that there is. We’re here today because of him. And I have my people representing my situation as well,” Miller said. “It’s going to be a peaceful thing. I’m not really worried about it. It’s another thing that the media tries to play up.
“But for me, I’m just enjoying being with my teammates, celebrating with those guys. That’s where I want to be at right now.”