The good news for Broncos linebacker Von Miller is that he wasn’t fined this week. The bad news is that the NFL has fined him so many times already in his two-year career that he could be close to getting suspended if he picks up any more roughing the passer penalties.
But Miller says that it doesn’t matter if the NFL wants him to change his ways. He plans to keep going after quarterbacks the way he always has.
“I don’t think I’ll change anything,” Miller told the Denver Post. “When you’re playing fast, stuff like that happens. None of my (fined) hits were intentional. You try to go out there and play with a fanatical effort and a relentless pursuit to the ball, sometimes things just happen.”
Regarding his $25,000 fine for a low hit on Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman two weeks ago, Miller said he was blocked into Freeman.
“I was thrown into the quarterback, it wasn’t me actually aiming in those areas. I was actually thrown by offensive linemen down toward the quarterback’s leg area,” Miller said.
Miller’s fine demonstrates that the NFL didn’t accept that explanation. And his refusal to change his ways even after repeated fines will likely not be warmly received in the league office.