Denver Broncos Rookie Linebacker Von Miller Named AP Defensive Rookie of the Year

by Sayre Bedinger on Feb 4, 2012 4:41 PM MST in Denver Broncos in the News

According to team spokesman Patrick Smyth (@psmyth12 on Twitter) rookie linebacker Von Miller has been named the AP defensive rookie of the year. Miller is the first Bronco named defensive rookie of the year since linebacker Mike Croel in 1991.

For the second straight year, the first two players selected in the draft have been named AP offensive and defensive rookies of the year (Sam Bradford, Ndamukong Suh, Cam Newton, Miller).

Miller had an excellent start to his NFL career with 64 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, and three forced fumbles. Miller was a force all year long and one of the best players in the entire NFL regardless of rookie or veteran status, and he earned a trip to the 2012 Pro Bowl where he sacked Cam Newton twice.

He is primed to be a superstar in this league. He is as complete a player as I've seen and the scary thing is, he basically did what he did this season purely because of talent with virtually no offseason training with the team that drafted him.

He finished behind only DeMarcus Ware and Jason Pierre-Paul in tackles for loss this season, and according to Pro Football Focus, he didn't miss a single tackle.

Wrap your mind around that.

Despite finishing the season with an injured thumb, Von was able to make an impact on the Broncos' defense that helped them win six straight games. Congratulations to him on a fantastic season on and off the field, Miller is a true class act who will be an impact defender for years to come.

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CONRATULATIONS VON!

You had a sick year! I can’t even imagine what your numbers would have been like for a full healthy season! Guess we’ll see next year.

by MILEHIGHMILLER on Feb 4, 2012 4:46 PM MST reply actions

Awesome! He's going to be the next LT.

by tiderfootball09 on Feb 4, 2012 4:46 PM MST reply actions

He's going to be the next VON MILLER!!!

-Champ Bailey's calendar goes straight from March 31st to April 2nd; no one fools Champ Bailey-
-The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese -

by Automatik41 on Feb 4, 2012 4:49 PM MST up reply actions

So LT was the last Von Miller?

by intramural sport bench coach on Feb 4, 2012 4:53 PM MST up reply actions

except I don't think Von needs cocaine

Brad James

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With Coach Zorro on our side, we will slice opponents to ribbons. Tim Tebow gives me hope and I already have faith and charity in my heart! I see a propitious future rife with Lombardis for our Broncos!

by the new Bradfather on Feb 4, 2012 4:54 PM MST up reply actions

lmao

Playoffs!?!? Playoffs!?!? Don't talk about Playoffs!! Playoffs?!?!

by Mike Agnew on Feb 5, 2012 12:21 PM MST via mobile up reply actions

I really wish he didn't have that cast though.

Just think how good of a year he could have finished with.

You could tell he severely struggled in comparison when he got that cast, as most any LB would.

by intramural sport bench coach on Feb 4, 2012 4:49 PM MST reply actions

Yeah man, Congrats Von.

And the no missed tackle stat is nuts, all with a cast on his right hand for 1/4 of the year.

-Champ Bailey's calendar goes straight from March 31st to April 2nd; no one fools Champ Bailey-
-The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese -

by Automatik41 on Feb 4, 2012 4:51 PM MST reply actions

Nice, he deserves it!

Brad James

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by the new Bradfather on Feb 4, 2012 4:53 PM MST reply actions

OUSTSTANDING Von! OUSTANDING PICK by EFX.

However, comparisons to L.T. should be tempered. Von needs to get bigger/stronger/meaner. Von’s a speed guy like Derrick Thomas. I’d like to see Von around 250-260lbs,then he’d be a menace to the gridiron…..and he will be!

"we don't plan to fail, we fail to plan"
" character is who you are, reputation is what they say about you"
"always have character, don't be one"

by Hogblog on Feb 4, 2012 4:56 PM MST reply actions

Meant OUTSTANDING Von!

"we don't plan to fail, we fail to plan"
" character is who you are, reputation is what they say about you"
"always have character, don't be one"

by Hogblog on Feb 4, 2012 4:57 PM MST up reply actions

I hope he lasts longer than Croel.

Believe you can and you're halfway there.
Theodore Roosevelt

by Digger24 on Feb 4, 2012 4:58 PM MST reply actions

there is no comparison between the

two other than having great sack years as a rookie. Von is a much better football player than Croel ever was.

"I'm very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany."

by rubincarterrocks on Feb 4, 2012 5:02 PM MST up reply actions

off topic

but the Patriots RELEASE Tiquan Underwood, literally less than 24 hours before the Super Bowl, if that’s the Patriot Way, you can shove it up your rear end for all I care, cheating and screwing, that’s what Belichick’s legacy is

Brad James

Follow me on Twitter

by the new Bradfather on Feb 4, 2012 4:58 PM MST reply actions 1 recs

Wow is all I have to say.

-Champ Bailey's calendar goes straight from March 31st to April 2nd; no one fools Champ Bailey-
-The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese -

by Automatik41 on Feb 4, 2012 5:06 PM MST up reply actions

You said it Brad

Better to be quiet and thought of as ignorant than to open your mouth and remove all doubt

by broncofaninIL on Feb 4, 2012 5:23 PM MST up reply actions

Only a Sith deals in absolutes

Destroy the Sith we must!

"You’re only great if you win something. I mean, Alexander wasn’t Alexander the Mediocre or Alexander the Average. He was Alexander the Great, and there’s a reason for it."-Shannon Sharpe

by CH74 on Feb 4, 2012 5:42 PM MST up reply actions

Wow, that is seriously messed up.

Floyd Little: HOF Class of 2010.

2009-10 back-to-back NBA Champions L.A Lakers
2009-10 NBA Finals MVP Kobe Bryant

by weazel on Feb 4, 2012 9:10 PM MST up reply actions

He wears 58 well

Elway saw D. Thomas nightmares in Von. He was right. This kid is special. Quality person, freakish talent, and only going to get better. He’s going to keep a lot of O-Line coaches awake at night trying to figure out how to stop him. Looking forward to that.

by shasta77 on Feb 4, 2012 5:00 PM MST reply actions

Congratulations Von!!!

What a GREAT start for the new regime!!!!

Better to be quiet and thought of as ignorant than to open your mouth and remove all doubt

by broncofaninIL on Feb 4, 2012 5:22 PM MST reply actions

Great job Von..

"You hate to think you have to censor your language to meet other people's lack of understanding" -Julian Bond
Follow @bfree2bronc

by bfree2bronc on Feb 4, 2012 5:33 PM MST reply actions

Marcel who?

EFX got that one right. Now, go get us a pocket smashing DT and Jack Del Rio will get our D in the top 10!

"You’re only great if you win something. I mean, Alexander wasn’t Alexander the Mediocre or Alexander the Average. He was Alexander the Great, and there’s a reason for it."-Shannon Sharpe

by CH74 on Feb 4, 2012 5:44 PM MST reply actions

I think a lot of us questioned the pick at first.

But it was beyond a doubt a great decision.

2011 was just the tip
They say the cool is all over me..

by Teboner on Feb 4, 2012 5:54 PM MST up reply actions

Good job Von you make us proud to be fans!

Tired of that bend but don’t break mentality. Nice to see us getting back to smash mouth, in your face, going to break you off a little something defense again!

by OrangeRhino on Feb 4, 2012 6:35 PM MST via mobile reply actions

Great job Von!

Great to see his impact recognized, and I hope everyone realizes that it is primarily an impact on a franchise. He could have gotten hurt in training camp and called a bust right out of the gate, but for once it seems like a #1 pick might shake out with some starpower.

Stay healthy, Von!

Perseverance, secret of all triumph.

by Jeremy Bolander on Feb 4, 2012 7:19 PM MST reply actions

Good young man

Great a start to something good. He will only improve as long as he isn’t a Cushing. I believe he has more integrity than that. A healthy Warren and a few good aquisitions will put us on the path to success.

by MajorG on Feb 4, 2012 8:28 PM MST via Android app reply actions

Congrats Miller!!!

He busted his tail and earned every bit of this…..well deserved. Awesome draft pick and so glad he is in orange and blue.

Floyd Little: HOF Class of 2010.

2009-10 back-to-back NBA Champions L.A Lakers
2009-10 NBA Finals MVP Kobe Bryant

by weazel on Feb 4, 2012 9:11 PM MST reply actions

No missed tackles.....freaking unbelievable!

Grats VON! I’m really glad that sacks didn’t rule the day for the DROY….although Aldon Smith is sorely missed by my TIGERS!

I am not a number....I am a free man! (Iron Maiden)

by Broncotodd on Feb 4, 2012 9:42 PM MST reply actions

Awesome.

There was more than one instance where Von came through with a big play to keep the team in the game. Big time players make big plays when it’s crunch time. And a rookie? Great pick by EFX.

by Oregon Crush on Feb 4, 2012 10:39 PM MST reply actions