Von Miller acknowledges illegally batting ball in Super Bowl

Broncos linebacker Von Miller acknowledged to Sports Illustrated’s Peter King on Friday that he may have illegally batted a fourth-quarter fumble from Cam Newton that helped earn Denver a victory in Super Bowl 50.

Broncos linebacker Von Miller acknowledged to Sports Illustrated’s Peter King on Friday that he may have illegally batted a fourth-quarter fumble from Cam Newton that helped earn Denver a victory in Super Bowl 50.

It is illegal for a defensive player to bat the football toward the opposing goal line, and if Miller were caught, he would have been flagged.

“I was being held for a minute,” Miller told King over the phone. “So I couldn’t get to the ball right away. I thought Cam was going to jump on it, but I guess, I mean, he didn’t want to dive down there on it. I couldn’t fall on it, so I was just trying to, I don’t know, get it to one of our guys.”

• KING: The Von Miller Experience

Miller was not flagged, perhaps because the bat was subtle and other players blocked him from view, and Denver won 24–10. Miller was named Super Bowl MVP after recording six total tackles and 2.5 sacks with two forced fumbles.

– Kenny Ducey