Von Miller has high hopes for the new season.
The Denver Broncos linebacker, currently working his way back from surgery to repair a torn ACL, has vowed to return to the field as a better version of the player who tormented opposing offenses in his first two seasons.
"I'm feeling good. I had a schedule that's all I can ask for," Miller told ESPN's Keyshawn Johnson (via Jeff Legwold). "I'm not going to rush it. I've got good training guys with the Broncos, they're going to have me back in time ready to go.
"With today's medicine and what's going on now like ACL, it's really not as serious as it used to be," Miller added. "I'm 100 percent positive I'll be able to come back not only be the same Von, (but) I got to be better. You come back and be the same guy; it's like you go, 'It's the same Von again,' and I got to be better."
Speaking at the NFL Scouting Combine, Broncos executive vice president John Elway said Miller had "grown up a lot" following a year that started with a suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy and ended with reconstructive knee surgery. Asked if his reputation needed to be repaired, Miller echoed Elway's thoughts.
"I'm going to go out there and play my game," Miller said. " ... When I get back to full speed, I'm going to be ready to go. When you're coming off an ACL it helps you re-evaluate what really matters to you, and what really matters to me is playing football and be able to get back to that."
When Miller is on, he's right there with J.J. Watt in any discussion on the best defensive player in the league. If Miller actually comes back better than ever, watch out.
Adrian Peterson taught us this type of talk isn't necessarily a pipe dream.
In the latest edition of the "Around The League Podcast", the guys discuss "Draft Day," then break down who got better (and who got worse) in the AFC East.
