Peyton calls Von Miller the 'best athlete' he played with
Peyton Manning was never known for his athleticism, but the former quarterback knows a thing or two about elite athletes after playing alongside some of the NFL's most physically dominant players during his 18-year career.
From Dwight Freeney and Marvin Harrison to DeMarcus Ware and Demaryius Thomas, Manning got a close-up look at every kind of top athlete that football has to offer. But according to Manning, Denver Broncos pass-rusher Von Miller is in a class of his own.
"We come to all the Broncos games, so I enjoy some of the guys that I've played with, like Von Miller," Manning told Ben Swanson of the Broncos' official website. "I still enjoy watching him compete. " Maybe this tells you how special he is that I'm maybe not looking at quarterbacks now. I'm watching outside linebackers and pass-rushers. People ask me a lot of times, 'Who's the best athlete you've ever played with?' And I say, 'Von Miller.'
"Just some of the things he can do physically is special. So when you come to a Broncos game and they're on defense, you find yourself kind of locked in, seeing this might be the game-changing sack-fumble play, or interception - some kind of game-changing play he can make. I like the way he handles his business and like the way he competes out there."
Miller's freakish athleticism was obvious before he was taken second overall in the 2011 draft. At the combine, the linebacker ranked in the 91st percentile or better in the 20-yard shuttle, three-cone drill, board jump, and 40-yard dash, according to mockdraftable.com.
The 30-year-old's rare explosion and speed have been a nightmare for opposing offensive tackles ever since he entered the NFL, and he's yet to show any signs of slowing down. Miller's 98 sacks are the most in the league since 2011, and only J.J. Watt has more tackles for loss. Last season, Miller posted the second-best sack total of his career with 14.5 (he had 18.5 in 2012).
In the 2015 campaign, Miller was pivotal in helping Manning get his second Lombardi Trophy - recording five combined sacks in the AFC Championship Game and Super Bowl - so it's no surprise that the five-time MVP holds him in such high regard.
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