BRONCOS

‘Nothing but mad love’: Why players embrace Von Miller

Nov 9, 2023, 11:54 PM | Updated: 11:56 pm

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Two teams removed from his salad days in Denver, Von Miller still refers to the Broncos as “we.”

“That makes sense,” inside linebacker Josey Jewell said Thursday. “I mean, he was here for a long time. So, I’m sure anybody would say it in that case. Everybody loves him here, so that’s good.”

Indeed, just because Miller doesn’t have a locker-room nameplate doesn’t mean he’s not still around. No. 58 has remained unissued by the team’s equipment staff.

The spirt of Miller remains strong, even as he practices his craft in Buffalo, where he will face the Broncos for the first time on Monday Night Football.

“I love him. I truly do,” left tackle Garett Bolles said. “I miss him. We text very now and then. But I think that friendship that me and him are going to have is for a long time. It’s never going to go away.”

“Von’s just a genuine dude,” added Jerry Jeudy. If you just be ardomound him, [there is] just a lot o great energy being around him. I can’t really say nothing else. He’s just a great dude, for real.”

And Centura Health Training Center hasn’t been quite the same without him.

“It’s been tough,” Bolles said. “… His presence is still here. We feel it. You have Baron (Browning) that has learned a lot from him, and (Nik) Bonitto and those guys.”

VON MILLER, LOCKER-ROOM WELCOMING-COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON

Something was lost when the Broncos traded miller to the Los Angeles Rams eight games into the 2021 season. And it wasn’t just the pass-rush production, which the team has only been able to replicate in fits and starts.

No, it was his presence beyond the field, specifically in using his prominence within the team to make newcomers welcome.

Whether you credit it to Yeats or The Simpsons, there is the notion that a stranger is just a friend you haven’t met. Miller lived that maxim every year when a new class of rookies walked into the locker room.

“Von’s a cool dude. That’s one of the guys who, when I first came in, he showed me a lot of love, showed me the ropes around here,” wide receiver Jerry Jeudy.

Ask a former Broncos draft pick of the last few years and you’ll get a similar response. Miller made many a nervous young Bronco feel like a part of the team. And to earn Miller’s respect was to earn a distinction that mattered.

YOU CAN’T EXPECT TO REPLACE HIM

Over two years have passed, and the Broncos are still searching for moon with the presence of Von Miller. That’s not to say that they can’t eventually find a similar blend of personality, prominence, on-field success and social warmth.

But Miller was as special off the field as he was on it.

“Oh, yeah. Replacing Von, that’s somebody big, somebody different,” Jeudy said.

Part of the equation for Miller was his willingness to help offensive linemen — including Garett Bolles. Bolles said he called Miller “Big Brother,” while Miller called him “Little Brother.”

“I love Von, man. I have mad respect for him,” Miller said. “He’s probably one of my greatest mentors when it comes to learning the left-tackle position. Just so many memories and so many hours of just talking with him.”

Miller freely shared pointers with Bolles, some of which were gleaned from their one-on-one work together in pass-rush drills.

“Just helping me understand the game of football when it comes to what a D-end looks at, keeping my shoulders square, using my hands and moving my feet,” Bolles said.

“I have nothing but mad love for him.”

So does the entire Broncos team that remains from his last season in orange and blue.

Broncos

Broncos playoff loss...

Will Petersen

Despite crushing loss, the Broncos are still a playoff team right now

Luckily, the AFC had a bad week pretty much across the board, keeping the Broncos at the No. 7 seed in the playoff picture despite their loss

55 minutes ago

Broncos loss Garett Bolles...

Will Petersen

The Broncos can’t let an utterly devastating loss derail their season

Everyone has a right to feel disgusted or angry because of what happened in the loss, but Broncos players must move on faster than the fans

9 hours ago

Broncos Nik Bonitto sacks Patrick Mahomes...

Andrew Mason

The Broncos pass rush is operating at maximum efficiency

Nik Bonitto and the Broncos defense shook off its worst performance of the season and showed where it stands against almost anyone.

12 hours ago

Sean Payton...

Andrew Mason

Sean Payton: Blocked field goal wasn’t just on players

Broncos coach Sean Payton removed the burden of Sunday’s blocked field goal from the shoulders of Alex Forsyth.

21 hours ago

Nik Bonitto...

Cecil Lammey

Nix answered, Mims gets new role and the Denver defense held tough

Even in defeat, the Broncos discovered some things in Kansas City, as their QB played well, a wideout found a role and the D was good

1 day ago

Bo Nix and Patrick Mahomes...

Cecil Lammey

Mahomes won round one, but Nix looks ready for more battles

While the Broncos may have lost a heartbreaker against the Chiefs, their rookie quarterback looked more than ready for the big stage

1 day ago

‘Nothing but mad love’: Why players embrace Von Miller