Von Miller clarifies his post-game comments, doubles down and sprinkles in a little hope

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — On Sunday, minutes after the Broncos were officially eliminated from the playoffs and cemented a losing record for a third-straight season, Von Miller painted a very dark picture about the state of the Denver Broncos organization.

“It’s tough being where we’re at,” Miller said, dejected. “It’s tough being 30 years old and going out there with whatever issues I’m dealing with and coming up so short… It’s tough dealing with these last couple of ones, especially with the type of standard that we have whenever we came into the league. We went into the playoffs five years straight. I know I’m getting ahead of myself and I’m talking about more than just the game, but it’s just tough. I’m really lost for words.”

On Thursday, nothing had changed in Von’s mind.

Despite his head coach and general manager writing off Miller’s comments as “frustration” after a tough loss, Von Miller doubled down on his strong words four days later.

“It’s how I was feeling after the game. Everything that I said, that’s how I was feeling,” Miller said, not walking his comments back. “A couple things that I had on my chest and you mix that in with a tough loss to the Chiefs and it’s just a tough day.”

Unlike the message coming from Vic Fangio and John Elway, this wasn’t Von just getting caught up in emotion after a bad day on the field, either.

“I’m always thinking about my message and how it comes across to the fans,” Miller said, admitting he’s calculated when he speaks in front of the media. “Everything I said, I meant it.”

But there was one issue Von had about his comments on Sunday. And it had nothing to do what he said.

“I think the way it was portrayed after that was different. I didn’t want to send a message about me not being here and me not wanting to be apart of the solution or anything like that,” Miller said, making it clear this wasn’t his way of asking out of Denver. “I didn’t want it to come across as me not wanting to be here or me not wanting to be apart of the solution.”

Denver’s only Pro Bowl player doesn’t want to leave. He’s not forcing his way out. He’s not asking for a trade.

“I’m tied to the Denver Broncos,” Miller stated. “It’s pro sports and we all know that things can change here and there. But for me and my mindset, it’s a marriage that I’m not looking forward to divorcing anytime soon.”

On Sunday, the energetic outside linebacker was emotionless. The blank expression plastered on his face said just as much about how lost he was as his words. Thursday, at least during his session with the media, that energy and passion hadn’t come back to Von’s voice or demeanor, despite not wanting to force a divorce with the only professional team he’s ever known.

But a completely different Von Miller shouldn’t have been expected from Sunday to Thursday because his comments after the game weren’t based on pure, unchained emotion. Instead, it’s been building up for quite some time.

“It’s just been all season. Not only this season, but all season and the season before that,” Von said of his feelings about where the organization stands. “It’s a gift and a curse to have so much success [early] and experience a Super Bowl and all types of players and all types of games and to be where we at now. I was born in that age, so that’s what I know.”

Von was welcomed into the league by the glorious and exciting Tim Tebow playoff run. That was followed up by four years of Peyton Manning—which was accompanied by DeMarcus Ware, Aqib Talib and Co.

Since No. 18 hung ‘em up after Miller’s Super Bowl 50 MVP campaign, the Broncos haven’t made the playoffs and have suffered back-to-back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since 1970-72.

“I don’t want to make it seem like I’m not part of the solution because I definitely want to be apart of the solution to get us back to the golden days,” Miller said, doubling down on his message to be apart of Denver’s turnaround.

Von’s typically the ball of energy and the beacon of eternal hope inside the walls of the UCHealth Training Center. That’s no different now, even as he’s lost, searching for answers.

“We’re definitely trending forward. I guess in other years it was just me being optimistic and hoping,” Von said, attempting to make his message more believable. “But the reality is we do have a good team. Rally around Drew Lock and Courtland Sutton and who knows what type of moves we’ll make in the offseason. We’re just one to two players away. One to two plays. One to two games away from where we need to be.”

“We’re not too far off from where we need to be,” Miller continued, buying his own positivity. “I know after the game on Sunday I made it seem like we were just so far. In all reality, we’re not too far away from where we need to be back in playoff contention.”

There’s hope. There’s hope for the Broncos’ future. There’s hope the next golden days for the Broncos are soon.

But Von Miller stands by what the cold, hard reality is of the Denver Broncos.