Does the Bills Fan Base Need to Cut Miller Some Slack?

[Rich Stadium Original]

You will get little argument from me that Miller has not nearly shown anywhere near his past productivity, particularly with what the franchise is paying him. But I would argue that there is a lot more that we don't know about his injury/recovery than we do know:

 

a.) What was the severity of the original injury, and what is the usual recover time to full speed from such an injury? (A lot of his game is built on speed and quickness)

b.) How successful was the surgery, and have there been complications in the recovery limiting speed and agility?

c.) What are the doctors and trainers telling him now? How much pain and swelling  is he getting during repeated use?

d.) Are the Bills aware of his limitations, but putting him out on the field in certain situations just to draw extra attention?

 

I would assume he is a professional athlete with a desire to win, and not just taking plays of because he's afraid of getting hurt again.  If his physical condition was as bad as it may appear without hope for improvement, I would have thought the team would have shut him down on IR...We may never have the answers to a lot of these questions until the season is over.

[billsfan89]

Yes, he is only just over a year removed from serious injury and he has looked a little better the past 3 weeks. I don't think he will make much of an impact this season even if the Bills make the playoffs BUT the fact that he was a big part in convincing Floyd to come here on a team-friendly deal alone gives him a pass for this season as without Floyd the Bills defense would have been in more trouble. 

[C.Biscuit97]

No

[mrags]

Yeah. No 

[JJGauna]

Opposing teams are still double teaming him, so he is making an impact regardless of his stats. Hopefully playoff Von comes up when we need him most.

[mjt328]

The Von Miller thing is just ugly from a bunch of different angles.

 

Cap-wise, it makes Brandon Beane look bad for taking a huge financial risk on a player his age.  Maybe that's not fair to our GM.  But a mistake is a mistake, and it will likely cost us a younger and more productive player down the line (such as Leonard Floyd, AJ Epenesa or Greg Rousseau).

 

Coaching-wise, it makes Sean McDermott look bad for continually putting him on the field.  He literally cannot move side to side or turn the corner, and just runs past the Quarterback on every single play.  This is something he MUST be seeing in practice.

 

Despite this, I think fans would have a little more patience and sympathy if it wasn't for the assault charge now hanging over his head.  Many if not most fans would prefer he be cut from the team based on the current evidence.  But the dead-money hit on his contract would be so detrimental to the team, it's something we almost can't even consider.

[Logic]

A player who suffered an injury while having a good season for the Bills, then worked his ass off to come back early on in the following season, only to discover that -- to absolutely no one's surprise -- it's taking him a while to regain form given his age and the injury he suffered...

Should we cut THAT guy some slack?

Yes.

If his lack of success this season was due to lack of effort? If he was loafing it, or milking his injury, or had a bad attitude, or wasn't generally working as hard as he can to make in impact? Then sure, let him have it.

But the way Bills fans rip into this guy as it stands now? WHY?! for what? because he hasn't been effective this year? He's 34 and about a year removed from a torn ACL. What did people really expect?

Sports fans can be cruel and fickle and can have an incredibly short memory. That seems to be the case here.

Now, all of that speaks only to the vitriol aimed at his ON-FIELD performance. If people want to aim some anger and upset his way for the OFF-FIELD stuff? Then sure. Can't fault them one bit.

Edited December 27, 2023 by Logic

[Pasaluki]

10 minutes ago, JJGauna said:

Opposing teams are still double teaming him, 

Is that true? 

 

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

Lol no he's useless 

[NewEra]

They can do whatever they want.  We have some fans that “hate” him, which is hysterical to me.  
 

At the end of the day- it doesn’t matter what fans do.  He just needs to continue working hard with hopes that he can continue to improve. He’s clearly improved since the jax game.   I thought he played his best game of the year vs KC and definitely contributed to the W.

 

most fans are idiots anyway.  

 

 

[hondo in seattle]

I don't have any problem with Miller the Human other than what I know about his altercation with his ex-GF.

 

My problem with Miller the Player is the ROI.  We're paying a lot for very little production.  

 

It's not a matter of slack or no slack.  

[C.Biscuit97]

Just now, Logic said:

A player who suffered an injury while having a good season for the Bills, then worked his ass off to come back early on in the following season, only to discover that -- to absolutely no one's surprise -- it's taking him a while to regain form given his age and the injury he suffered...

Should we cut THAT guy some slack?

Yes.

If his lack of success this season was due to lack of effort? If he was loafing it, or milking his injury, or had a bad attitude, or wasn't generally working as hard as he can to make in impact? Then sure, let him have it.

But the way Bills fans rip into this guy as it stands now? WHY?! for what? because he hasn't been effective this year? He's 34 and about a year removed from a torn ACL. What did people really expect?

Sports fans can be cruel and fickle and can have an incredibly short memory. That seems to be the case here.

His injury sucks but it was already an insanely risky deal. He’s old, his production has been inconsistent, and he has his 3rd domestic violence allegation against him. Oh yeah, he’s making $120 million and is essentially untradable. 
 

when Milano and White come back next year, I’ll cut them a ton of slack. But not Miller. It’s an awful contract and he has made it even worse.

[NewEra]

2 minutes ago, Pasaluki said:

Is that true? 

 

Yup.  It’s true

[C.Biscuit97]

2 minutes ago, Pasaluki said:

Is that true? 

 

Not as much as fans want to think. He rushes like 2 yards up field, gets no where and stops.

[HOUSE]

When he sacks Tom Brady 3 times this Sunday,  you will be surprised...

[Low Positive]

Just now, Bogie_Klinkhammer said:

When he sacks Tom Brady 3 times this Sunday,  you will be surprised...

That would be surprising, indeed. 

[Breakout Squad]

He doesn’t look the same. 

[C.Biscuit97]

1 minute ago, Bogie_Klinkhammer said:

When he sacks Tom Brady 3 times this Sunday,  you will be surprised...

True. I can also see him making a game changing play against Marino in the finale as well!

[NewEra]

1 minute ago, C.Biscuit97 said:

His injury sucks but it was already an insanely risky deal. He’s old, his production has been inconsistent, and he has his 3rd domestic violence allegation against him. Oh yeah, he’s making $120 million and is essentially untradable. 
 

when Milano and White come back next year, I’ll cut them a ton of slack. But not Miller. It’s an awful contract and he has made it even worse.

So you’re holding a grudge against Von Miller because Brandon Beane extended him a ridiculous contract and Von didn’t reject it and ask for less?  Do you think he’s slacking and that’s why he isn’t back to being a dominant player?  

 

Oh yeah, and he’s not going to be making 120M.  
 

You’ll cut Tre slack, why?  He’s been getting 17M a year for the last THREE seasons while contributing next to nothing.  
 

Ftw- I don’t have a problem with any player that signs big money and gets hurt.  It’s not as if they wanted to get hurt.  It’s not as if they aren’t busting their tail every day to get back and play. 
 

I should probably stay away from this thread knowing how stupid some fans are.  

 

[Don Otreply]

Yes, too many members here do not even understand what the recovery time for this type of injury is, yet they bellyache at every opportunity, 

 

GO BILLS!!!