Von Miller on SB 56 Opening Night: "I Bleed Orange & Blue!"

Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller was part of Monday's Super Bowl 56 Virtual Opening Night as one of several Rams players who met the media to kickoff Super Bowl Week. His new team, the Los Angeles Rams, "host" the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Californa.

There's no question, Miller, who was traded to L.A. in November is excited to be back on the stage where he propelled himself into football immortality, but part of him still wishes it was in Denver. "I'll always have Orange & Blue in my blood," he said. "You know it wasn't me, that wanted to leave, you know I got traded. "If it was up to me, I'd still be in Denver trying to figure it out. That's just how I am, that's just how I'm built. It feels good to for the city to really understand that, this wasn't my choice, I'll always be a Denver Bronco forever, but I'm just here in L.A. working right now."

The Broncos certainly did right by arguably the best Defensive Player in franchise history when they sent him to L.A. who was 6-1 at the time, and in exchange for a 2nd and 3rd round pick, also agreed to pay the majority of Miller's $10 Million salary that was remaining in the final year of his once record setting deal. Nonetheless, the fact that Broncos GM George Paton traded him to a contender isn't lost on the 11-year vet. "He could've sent me anywhere, I'm sure they could've got more from other teams, they sent me to a Super Bowl contender " Miller said. "I wanna tell him thank you, I always felt like it was more than just a football relationship with him(Paton), and you know it definitely shows, the way they treated me. Even on my way out, they was thinking about the situation for me, and I'm thankful to the Denver Broncos, John Elway, George Paton and all of those guys for my time there."

The 32-year-old 8-time Pro Bowler has a very specific comparison for his role on his new team. "I'm the DeMarcus Ware of this team," he said. And admitted that many of the things he's saying to a number of his Rams teammates are the same things that both Ware and Hall of Fame Quarterback Peyton Manning said to Miller and the Broncos in the run up to Super Bowl 50.

Miller's football career will likely end in Canton with an enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His talent may have gotten him there, regardless. But, the Broncos signing of his favorite player, from his favorite childhood team, when Miller was at a crossroads following the 2013 season, was as big a factor in his ascension to the top of the league. He credits Ware for his adjusted trajectory as anyone he's ever been around. In fact, he refers to Ware, who's eligible to be elected to the Hall of Fame this week, as his "idol."

Of course the questions about the similarities 2021 Rams defense and the 2015 Broncos Defense, which celebrated the 6-Year-Anniversary of their Super Bowl 50 win on Monday will continue all week. However, Miller is wise enough to know that unless he and his new teammates hoist the Lombardi Trophy Sunday night, comparing the 2 teams won't really be fair. "We got a great defense here." Miller said. "We got great players; Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey, these guys are gonna be Hall of Famers. I’ve played with Hall of fAmers before, Aqib Talib, DeMarcus Ware, Chris Harris, you know Bradley Roby, he was our nickel, Malik Jackson, Danny Trevathan, that 2015 Defense was crazy. This defense is crazy as well…In 2015 we won it, we won it all, it was one of the most historic defenses ever…it doesn’t get any better than that. We still gotta finish writing the book. We still gotta go out and put our best foot forward. And, you know, handle business for us to really make an argument between the 2021 team and that 2015 team."

Click on the Video Below to Watch Von Miller's Entire SB 56 Media Day/Night Press Conference: