Broncos LB Von Miller points finger at self for ‘crucial’ penalty

When Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller pulled the old “to slow” gag on Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor, it was all in jest.

Both the pass rusher and pass thrower can be seen laughing after what could have been a light-hearted moment in an otherwise frustrating game for the Broncos.

“I know Tyrod. He was talking, smiling. I don’t even talk to quarterbacks. I don’t even do anything with quarterbacks,” Miller said after the game. “But I know Tyrod, we were kind of laughing and joking through the whole game.”

However, to the referees officiating on Sunday in Buffalo, the move was no joking matter.

Miller earned an unsportsmanlike conduct foul for the gesture, do to its taunting-like nature, which kept the Bills drive alive just past the halfway point of the fourth quarter.

“I didn’t see it, but how he explained it to me, I guess Von gave him a hand to help the guy up, he pulled the hand away,” head coach Vance Joseph said after the game. “He called it, so that’s what he thought it was. It’s pro football. He called it.”

Cornerback Aqib Talib was already heading toward the sidelines when the penalty was issued.

“I didn’t even see it. I was halfway off the field. Next thing I know I heard the crowd start cheering, so I have no idea what happened,” Talib said after the game.

It would end up being a pivotal point in the waning minutes of the game, as Buffalo would take an additional 4:20 off the clock and, with a field goal, make it a two-score game late.

“On that play, I just made a very, very crucial mistake at a vital point in the game,” said Miller, who further admonished himself by saying he needed to “be a better sportsman.”

It was a twist ending to what would otherwise had been a strong day for Miller, who had a sack, two tackles for loss, and two quarterback hits.

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.