Mile High Monday: Von Miller looks ready for a monster season in 2020
Jul 20, 2020, 6:27 AM
I am back from my near three-week vacation! I’d like to say I traveled the world and saw a bunch of sights, but the truth is I was mostly at home in beautiful Roxborough, Colo., enjoying my backyard view of the mountains. With in-person pitch meetings shut down in Hollywood, I’m preparing video pitch meetings for the independent properties I have written screenplays/treatments for. This was able to keep me busy as I waited to get back to writing and training camps in the NFL to open.
I like the calm before the storm. Rookies report this week around the NFL meaning we will be getting activity out at UC Health Training Center. Due to COVID-19, covering training camp will be much different this year, but I will be wherever I’m allowed to be and be as close to the Denver Broncos as I possibly can be.
I also like contemplating life and sports when driving around with the top down on my old Jeep TJ! The following is a result of those trips during the week.
Buckle up, let’s take a ride through my thoughts.
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Another Mistake?
For the first time under general manager John Elway, the Broncos did not sign their franchise-tagged player to a new long-term deal before the July 15 deadline. Broncos safety Justin Simmons was not able to work out a new contract with the team and will play the 2020 season under the one-year franchise tag.
Simmons has done everything the correct way. He’s improved every year on the field and has become a leader in the locker room. Simmons is incredibly bright, hard-working and puts a ton of time into his craft. Off the field, Simmons is a shining light in the community. He’s great with fans and one of the most kind and humble players I’ve ever covered. So, why weren’t the Broncos able to get something done?
Justin Simmons has signed his franchise tender for the 2020 season.
📰 » https://t.co/c0enryoI77 pic.twitter.com/sn6EbEIeiY
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) July 15, 2020
With so much uncertainty facing the sports world, I think Simmons made a mistake by not getting a deal done with the Broncos. The Broncos did offer him a deal and the buzz is that contract would’ve made Simmons a top-five paid player at his position. That number wasn’t good enough, so Simmons declined the offer.
Simmons decided to gamble on himself, a move that doesn’t always work out in favor of the player. With the salary cap likely to go down next year due to loss revenue from the pandemic, Simmons may not get the large contract he wanted – even if he plays even better in year two of the Vic Fangio defense.
Now, add in the fact the Broncos have several big-name players who are coming up for a new contract in the near future (Courtland Sutton, Bradley Chubb, etc.) and you can see how money may be too tight to keep Simmons in Denver. If he moves on in the future, I will be disappointed because I believe there was an opportunity to get something done this offseason and neither side was willing to budge enough to get it done.
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Madden Ratings, Schmadden Ratings
It’s a slow time of year in the NFL, and each year there is a spike in league news when the Madden ratings are released. Players are super excited when they get to see what they rate on the Madden video game and it has led to plenty of reaction videos, blogs, etc.
This year especially, the Madden ratings seem to be wildly off for many players out there. Broncos rookie wide receiver Jerry Jeudy was so dismayed at his rating that he walked off camera for a moment. His 75-overall rating is just laughable and really nonsensical when you consider the amazing natural talent he has on the football field.
Chad Johnson LOST IT after Jerry Jeudy reacted to his Madden rating 🤣 @ochocinco @jerryjeudy @Broncos
(via @EAMaddenNFL) pic.twitter.com/ihy1vMePiG
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) July 12, 2020
I’m not one to conjure up a bunch of energy to fight against these bad ratings. There are plenty of Broncos fans who get upset if their favorite players don’t have a higher rating – in Madden or on any list – and to me that’s just folly.
At the end of the day, the Madden rating does not matter – at all. Just get it done on the field and hopefully the people in charge of rating players on a once proud and now tired video game franchise will notice.
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Bounce Back or Better Than Ever?
There is no doubt that Broncos pass-rusher and future Hall of Fame linebacker Von Miller is ready for the 2020 season. Some out there say that he had a “down” season in 2019 because he only had 8.0 sacks. Those people now say that Miller is ready for a bounce-back year in 2020.
Miller posted a picture on social networking last week that shows off the work he’s done to physically be the best he can be in 2020. I’ve been around Miller since he came into the league in 2011 (even before then as I watched him at the Senior Bowl that January), and I’ve never seen him look as rocked up as he does right now.
I’m coming… 😈 pic.twitter.com/OmDI9FMjGW
— Von Miller (@VonMiller) July 17, 2020
While some say he had a “down” season in 2019, I see things a little differently with Miller. While his sacks weren’t near the expected number (10-plus), Miller did lead the league in interceptions and incompletions caused by his pressure last season. It’s an advanced stat that I brought up to him in a press conference last year. Those stats and my fumbling question essentially confounded Miller in a clip that went viral as he basically rolled his eyes at me, but I was trying to support him against those who make less-informed claims about his 2019 performance.
I have high expectations for Miller, and he could be better than ever this season. I’d like to see the Fangio defense use him the right way and keep him fresh to almost exclusively send him after the passer. I don’t need to see Miller in coverage and on the field for 99 percent of the defensive snaps.
Miller and the Broncos defense doesn’t get as much hype as the offense is getting this offseason. There are a ton of questions on the Broncos defense, but Miller is not one of them. If he plays better than ever, the Broncos defense could help lead the way as the team makes what many hope is a playoff run after the 2020 regular season.
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Bad A** Bronco
I am a Ford guy – always have been, always will be. Currently, I personally own five Ford vehicles. I have a 1967 Ford Galaxie 500 XL, a 1976 Ford F-100 stepside truck, a 2007 Shelby Mustang, a 2015 Ford Focus and a 2018 Ford Explorer. I’ve always loved the blue oval and have defended their products when playfully debating with other “car guys” – usually those guys who like bow ties (Chevy owners).
One car not from the Ford family I own is my 1999 Jeep Wrangler TJ Sahara. That was the first new car I bought back in the day and I just love taking it off the highway to explore the mountains of Colorado. That was the last of the great Jeeps and the engine is the old 4.0 liter inline six cylinder that is essentially bulletproof (I have a neighbor with a Jeep that has 300,000 miles on his engine!).
My Jeep can go anywhere, and it will run forever – plus, I can pop the hood and change most anything under there. Simply put, I love my Jeep. However, the Ford Bronco is going to be reintroduced next year and it looks fantastic!
I’ve spent the last week or so just contemplating whether I should trade in my Jeep TJ for a new Bronco. I love the look, and I’m sure the capability is going to be outstanding, but I also know it’s better to wait a year or so with a new model vehicle just so the bugs can get worked out. That wasn’t the case with my 2010 Taurus SHO (that was the year they reintroduced both the Taurus and the Super High Output model), but this is a vehicle that I would beat up on the off-road trails like I do my Jeep right now.
Beating up a 20-year old Jeep is one thing and beating a brand-new vehicle I would spend $30k on (at least) is something entirely different. The new Bronco isn’t out until next year, so I have some time to make decision, but that temptation is going to be even greater when I can see one in the showroom.
So, what do you think of the new Bronco? Hit me up on social media and let me know!
