Countdown to Kickoff: Profile on Denver Broncos No. 58 OLB Von Miller
By Jeremy Klump
The NFL Spin Zone ‘Countdown to Kickoff’ series continues with 58 days until kickoff, profiling Denver Broncos Outside Linebacker, No. 58 Von Miller.
Today is July 12th, 2016, which means there are exactly 58 days until the NFL season kicks off.
The first game that will get the 2016 NFL season going is the rematch of Super Bowl 50 between the defending champion Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers.
In Super Bowl 50, the Broncos and their elite defense went to work to shut down 2015 NFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year Cam Newton. Newton dominated all season, but the Broncos used their pass rush, which was the best in the NFL last season, to get to him.
It will be exciting to see which team comes out victorious in their rematch, but we will need to wait 58 days.
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As we wait for the two teams to kickoff the NFL season, the team at NFL Spin Zone has decided to profile a player whose number is associated with the amount of days until that first kickoff.
With that in mind, there are 58 days until football, so I will profile Denver Broncos outside linebacker, No. 58 Von Miller.
Miller played a key roll for the Broncos Super Bowl success. He dominated the game, sacking Newton two and a half times and turning one of those sacks into a defensive touchdown when he stripped Newton and the Broncos recovered the fumble in the end zone.
Von Miller strip sacks Cam Newton.
— NFL (@NFL) February 8, 2016
Cam fumbles.
Broncos recover in the end zone! #Touchdown!!#SB50 https://t.co/V6rHEfcTYu
That play set the tone in the Super Bowl and the Broncos never looked back. Miller also received the Super Bowl MVP for his dominant play, highlighting the greatness he brings to the field.
In five NFL seasons, the 2011 Defensive Rookie of the Year, four-time Pro Bowler and two-time First-Team All-Pro has complied 60 sacks. His season-high came in 2012 when he had 18.5 sacks.
Since entering the league, Miller has been in the top 10 in sacks every season. He is someone that needs to be game-planned for. Sticking on the theme of 58, it took No. 58 only 58 games to compile 50 career sacks, which was the third-fastest in NFL history. The only two players who did it faster were Pro Football Hall of Famers Derrick Thomas (54) and Reggie White (40).
Along with putting up incredible numbers, Miller may be about to become the highest paid defensive player in NFL history. He was given the exclusive franchise tag in March but the parties are still hoping to work out a long-term deal before Friday, July 15.
Things have gotten a bit ugly at times during this offseason, with Miller even going as far as cropping general manager John Elway out of an Instagram picture. There’s been movement by both parties recently and a conclusion to this saga may finally be coming to an end.
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He has been saying that he wont play under the franchise tag and he even took to Instagram again, but the Broncos and Miller have 58 days to get this thing figured out to make sure No. 58 is playing in Denver for 2016.
Once they get it figured out, expect Miller to get back to doing what he does best and the Broncos defense to be one of the best in the NFL once again as they try to repeat as Super Bowl champions.