Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller defended his protest during the national anthem, stating that it was a direct response to President Donald Trump's controversial remarks about NFL players Friday.
Trump asked NFL owners to fire players who protested during the national anthem. The president received national backlash and several teams made a concerted effort to make a stronger protest, with a few teams refusing to take part in the national anthem.
Miller responded following Sunday's 26-16 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
"We felt like President Trump’s speech was an assault on our most cherished right—freedom of speech," Miller said.
"I felt like it was an assault on the players. This was the time to do something."
Von Miller said Trump's comments were an attack on the NFL and "an assault on our most cherished right, freedom of speech." pic.twitter.com/RVtAuo5h7s
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) September 24, 2017
The Broncos' linebacker also took responsibility for a key fourth-quarter unsportsmanlike penalty.
Miller delivered a huge hit on Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor, pretended to help him up, then pulled away his hand at the last possible second, drawing a 15-yard penalty. Although Miller and Taylor both laughed about the incident, the Broncos' superstar was contrite after the game.
"I can't put my team in situations like that. I brought us home 50 million times. I've closed games 50 million times. I got to be smarter than that. I'm always on the rookie and all the young guys about being smart and doing this and doing that, and I go out there and do something like that, in a crucial situation in a game. I just got to be better than that," Miller said via Nicki Jhabvala of The Denver Post.
"One thing about it, I'm always able to bounce back. I always learn from my mistakes. I just can't kill us. I killed the game today."
Miller was otherwise dominant, recording six tackles, a sack and two quarterback hits.
