A year ago, Josh Allen’s veteran teammate took a substantial pay cut to lower his cap number. This was done because the 36-year-old didn’t want to leave the Buffalo Bills. However, this March, the franchise had no option left rather than release their star player, Von Miller. “Thank you, Von,” they announced on their social media platforms in March, after a lot of buzz. Now he is a free agent. So, as is obvious, fans would be wondering what’s next for the LB?
Von Miller was supposed to be the difference-maker, the veteran spark on defense. But as time passed, his impact faded while his contract just kept weighing them down. The move frees up about $8.4 million in cap space, which helps a lot since they were already pushing the limit heading into the new league year. Still, they’re not totally off the hook. Even with the cut, over $15 million from his deal will hit the books of Josh Allen’s team this season. And for the player? Ex-NFLer has a solution.
During a new episode of Up & Adams Show with Kay Adams, former NFL player Julius Thomas talked about his old pal and predicted Miller’s retirement is near. He said, “For Von [Miller], I think it would be a good close to his chapter, right? I know how much Denver meant to Von. I know how much it hurt when he left Denver. And I mean, we saw the videos. We know what that experience was like for him. So, whatever capacity that could be like, right, like setting the expectations for him, his role, like, you know, leave that to the franchise and the coaches, but man, I know it would mean so much for him to run out of that tunnel.”
How true that is! Just a month ago, the linebacker mentioned, “I bleed Orange and Blue. I’m Broncos Country for life. I’ll end up back in Denver whenever that is, whether that’s two years, three years, or four years. But down the road, for sure I’ll be back in Denver … Denver will be home when it’s all said and done.” We can clearly sense how much Sean Payton’s team means to Miller. That’s the reason why ex-Broncos teammate Thomas believes that wrapping up Miller’s career in Denver would just feel right.
Thomas even mentioned how Josh Allen’s ex-teammate has always wanted to live in Denver after football. That city shaped him, and he gave it everything he had. Bringing him back, letting him reconnect with that community where he became a legend, it just feels like the ending he deserves. All in all, he requested coach Payton to get that two-time Super Bowl champ, who helped the Orange team to clinch a championship in 2016, and then helping the Rams to win in 2022.
Hence, Thomas, who was drafted with Miller in the league and remained with him for 9 years, clearly added, “I know that I’ve even heard different things about how he would love to just live in Denver when his career is over. So ingratiating him back into that community where he was one of the best football players I ever had a chance to see. I think that would be a great storyline.” But the question is: Will the Broncos give Von Miller one chance?
Expectations might clash with reality for Josh Allen’s ex-buddy Von Miller?
Von Miller back in Denver sounds like a dream. However, the truth is there’s just no room. Sean Payton’s team is stacked at the edge. Nik Bonitto’s now an All-Pro, and Jonathon Cooper just dropped his first double-digit sack season. In addition, Jonah Elliss, Que Robinson, and Dondrea Tillman they’re all young, hungry, and proving they belong. Even Baron Browning was let go midseason because this group is that deep.
Yeah, it’s true we all love Von Miller. We remember the Super Bowl runs, the dances, the sacks, but bringing him back in Denver now means pulling snaps from guys who are still learning, still growing. That’s not fair to them and might also be risky for the HC and the team too. We all know that Broncos is building for the future, not reliving the past.
So, for now, it’s safe to say that unless injuries hit, Von Miller doesn’t fit in the team’s roster. As much as it tugs at the heart, the roster says otherwise. With Josh Allen’s Bills, he racked up 33 solo tackles, 8 assists, and 14.0 sacks in three seasons. It remains to be seen if his stats’ chart adds up more numbers or not. Denver, are you listening?
The post Ex-NFLer Predicts Strong Decision For Josh Allen’s Former Teammate and Urges Sean Payton to Sign Super Bowl Champion appeared first on EssentiallySports.
