Let’s put the 12-second Von Miller press conference in perspective
Sep 26, 2019, 5:40 PM | Updated: 7:39 pm
When Denver Broncos quarterback Joe Flacco talked about a “sense of urgency” with the club this week, I don’t think he was meaning this.
On Thursday, Broncos pass rusher Von Miller took questions … actually, he didn’t take any questions. Miller spoke at the media for an unofficial 12.667 seconds.
While usually a media-friendly type, Miller’s succinct presser left much to be desired.
But hey, at least it was 12.667 seconds longer than he’s owned a sack in 2019.
In order to give Miller’s brief briefing the proper perspective, here are some sporting-related comparisons:
Let’s start off with the Broncos.
“The Drive”
In the 1986 AFC Championship game, John Elway quarterbacked the Broncos to a game-winning, 98-yard drive in five minutes and two seconds.
(Verdict: Longer than Miller’s press conference)
Flacco to Jones
In just the span of 10.48 seconds (unofficial), then-Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco connected with wide receiver Jacoby Jones for a game-tying score. Denver would eventually lose in double overtime to the eventual Super Bowl champions — in Peyton Manning’s first year with the Broncos no less.
(Verdict: Shorter than Miller’s press conference)
DT’s walk-off
It took just 11 seconds for the NFL’s new overtime rules — wherein only a touchdown on the first drive would end the game — to come into effect. Tim Tebow connected with Demaryius Thomas for an 80-yard game-winner over the Pittsburgh Steelers to cap off the magical Tebow era. They’d get smothered by the New England Patriots the following week.
(Verdict: Shorter than Miller’s press conference)
Denver’s first four Super Bowls
Through its first four trips to the big game, Denver led in the second half only once, for four minutes and 52 seconds against the New York Giants in super Bowl XII.
(Verdict: Longer than Miller’s press conference)
How about some other Denver-area pro sports?
Rockies
The infamous “did he or did he not touch home plate” play ended a wild play-in game between the San Diego Padres and Colorado Rockies in 2007, sending the latter to the postseason during a remarkable 21-of-22-game win streak to the World Series.
Matt Holliday, the runner in question, took an unofficial 3.69 seconds to touch home plate (which he absolutely did).
(Verdict: Shorter than Miller’s press conference)
Nuggets
The four-overtime playoff marathon the Denver Nuggets played against the Portland Trail Blazers in May lasted a whopping three hours and 25 minutes.
(Verdict: Much, much longer than Miller’s press conference)
Avalanche
When the Colorado Avalanche secured its second Stanley Cup victory over the New Jersey Devils in 2001, it did so with the intention of getting Boston Bruins legend Ray Bourque his first championship.
And when Joe Sakic, the captain of the Avs, received the Stanley Cup trophy from commissioner Gary Bettman, per tradition, it took Super Joe only eight seconds to hand it off to Bourque.
(Verdict: Shorter than Miller’s press conference)
From elsewhere in the world of sports:
» Track: Usain Bolt’s world-record 100-meter dash took just 9.58 seconds. (Shorter)
» Track: Florence Griffith-Joyner ran the 200-meter dash in 21.34 seconds in 1988 Summer Olympics — a world record that stands today. (Longer, but not by much)
» MMA: Ryohei Masuda’s knockout of Takahiro Kuroishi in July 2008 took just two seconds. (Shorter)
» Tennis: John Isner and Nicolas Mahut had a Wimbledon match go on for 11 hours and five minutes. (Much, much, much, longer)
» Hockey: In 1952, Chicago Black Hawks winger Bill Mosienko recorded the fastest hat trick in NHL history at 21 seconds. (Longer, but not by much)
