Mark Schlereth eviscerates Von Miller for ‘selfish’ play vs. 49ers

Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller admitted on Wednesday his over-aggressiveness that led to three offside penalties against the San Francisco 49ers was an act of selfishness on his part.

But on Thursday, “Schlereth and Evans” co-host Mark Schlereth called Miller’s mea culpa too little too late.

“You know, you can sit there and say, hey man, I was selfish and I apologize for being selfish and, you know, I’m going to be a whole lot better this week. It’s too late,” Schlereth said. “You are not going to the playoffs. It’s over.”

Miller, who needed two sacks to break a franchise record for career regular-season sacks, said that the mark was on his mind heading into the game.

“I’m coming into that game like. ‘Man, all I need is two sacks.’ So, at the beginning of the game, I’m aggressive all the way. I’m trying to get these sacks out the way, and that’s my fault. It was selfish of me to try to do that,” Miller said. “But that was just my mindset, and it’s a totally different mindset now. That was just the San Francisco game, I’ll be a whole lot better this week.”

Schlereth said he appreciated Miller admitting it was “selfish” but questioned how the prolific pass rusher didn’t already realize that before the game.

“Well, we needed you a whole lot better last week. We need you to lead your team. I appreciate that he can admit that it’s selfish. But how do you not know that it’s selfish before you go into the game?” Schlereth said. “How do you not understand the importance of what you’re doing to help this team win championships?”

After the game Sunday, head coach Vance Joseph called Miller’s three offside penalties “undisciplined” and said “it cost us.”

“You can’t do that. That kept the drive alive and they got a touchdown at the half,” Joseph said of Miller’s third offside penalty just before halftime.

Shortly after the penalty, San Francisco scored to make it 20-0 heading into the second half, a lead Denver was unable to surmount. With the loss, the Broncos playoff hopes have all but completely faded.

The “selfishness or a lack of leadership,” Schlereth said, created an opportunity for the Broncos to “stink.”

“That’s selfishness that costs your football team a chance to pursue a championship or, at least, get yourself into the round of the playoffs. And that’s not good enough,” Schlereth said. “That is flat out not good enough, and that’s the disappointment I have.”

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.