Von Miller admits to illegally batting ball during 4th-quarter sack of Cam Newton
Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller submitted one of the best individual performances in Super Bowl history, but got away with an infraction during one of the game's crucial plays.
During his pivotal fourth-quarter strip-sack of Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, Miller illegally batted the ball forward, and Broncos safety T.J. Ward promptly recovered. The Broncos would go on to seal a 24-10 victory.
Miller confessed to his transgression in an interview with The MMQB's Peter King.
"I was being held for a minute. So I couldn't get to the ball right away," Miller said. "I thought Cam was going to jump on it, but I guess, I mean, he didn't want to dive down there on it. I couldn't fall on it, so I was just trying to, I don't know, get it to one of our guys.”
Miller has rightfully become the man of the hour in the week since being named Super Bowl MVP. He's appeared at Kanye West's Yeezy Season 3 release, tormented Newton on Saturday Night Live, and showed up at the NBA All-Star Game.
"I really haven't had time to sit back and think about what's happened to my life,” Miller said. "So it really hasn't sunk in. But I do reflect on one thing my mom said to me. You know, moms of NFL players, they all have their favorite NFL players. And so she told me, 'I gave birth to my favorite NFL player.' And that is what has meant the most to me all week. When your mother says something like that, at least for me, it starts to tell me what's happened."
It's shaping up to be a lovely summer for Miller, who's in line to receive a massive contract extension from the Broncos.