THOUSAND OAKS, CA — Newly acquired outside linebacker Von Miller appeared before the Los Angeles media on Wednesday afternoon, with his million dollar smile and charisma, Miller described his arrival like a major film script written specifically for him.
“It feels like a movie…from coming in to work on Monday, and I was in the training room and they said (General Manager) George [Paton] wanted to talk to me,” Miller said. “I’ve been in the league 11 years, so I already know what that talk was about. And initially it hurt and it felt like removing a splinter and at first it hurts. I’ve been there for 11 years and I don’t know anything else, I was a Denver Bronco and they told me I was getting traded to the Rams.”
After landing in his new city and surrounded by cameras, Miller headed straight to the Rams facility, took and passed the physical and engaged with his new teammates. Before his departure from Denver he recorded a heart felt message to everyone in the Broncos organization and the fans.
In that video message he thanked—by name—more than 50 Broncos players, coaches and staff in a series of videos from his home.
In those 11 years, Miller has been nightmare to opposing offenses throughout his career and helped guide the Broncos to a Super Bowl championship in 2015 with an aging Peyton Manning as his quarterback. Miller brings his 110.5 sacks, two touchdowns, and most importantly his experience to a defense that consist of Leonard Floyd, a young Ernest Jones, Jalen Ramsey and Aaron Donald. The plan for Miller by Rams head coach Sean McVay when he arrived was to get through the walk thru as his status for Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans remains in the air.
“He’ll do some limited work off to the side with [the training staff], just getting a feel for where his ankle is. He hasn’t been with us. Want to be smart, we want to be able to ease him back in,” McVay said about Miller.
Pairing Miller with Donald will keep opposing offensive coordinators up for many nights scheming to attempt to contain this high powered and cerebral defense.
“I cried a lot of Monday but all the tears weren’t sad, I had tears of joy too coming here playing with Aaron Donald,” a smiling Miller said. “I’ve been familiar with Aaron and the pass rush and how he prepares. You watch film each and every week you watch all the highlights and the sack reels and you see him going crazy.
“These guys triple team him and I’ve been getting triple teamed for the last ten years so that’s six people right there. Then you got Leonard Floyd and all of the guys and it’s going to be fun man. I’m exciting to be apart of this team, coach McVay he’s just so energetic.“
Besides getting the playbook down, one teammate in particular in Jalen Ramsey reached out to him, as the two have known each other with over the years.
“Jalen was the first guy to hit me,” he said. “I’m probably most familiar with Jalen than anybody on this team, we go way back.”
Miller wants to recreate the legend defenses from the Rams past with Donald and the rest of the current defense. If this feels like a movie truly for Miller then this film will have a blockbuster Hollywood ending that results in the raising of the Lombardi trophy at Super Bowl 56 in SoFi Stadium on Feb 13, 2022. He knows he’s truly on the right path towards that goal.
“I went to sleep 4-4 and I woke up 7-1.”
