Denver Broncos edge Von Miller has “adopted” Malik Reed as one of his “kids” in the team’s outside linebackers room.
Miller has been mentoring Reed on and off the field, and their off-field activities often have nothing to do with football. Regardless of the activity, though, Miller is always competitive, including on fishing trips.
“Let me tell you — Von cheats,” Reed said on June 3. “In fishing, he cheats. It’s like a competition. Every time we go out there, we see who can catch the most fish. I’ll be in one spot and start catching fish and he starts coming into my area and starts casting his rod into my space.
“I’m like, ‘What are you doing? You’re not going to go a little bit downstream?’ You’re going to come right next to me and start fishing?’ It’s funny and fun. It’s always a fun trip to go out there and be able to spend time and see how Von is off the field.”
Miller seems to be a serious fisherman. He has caught at least two sharks over the last few years, and he beat Eric Fisher in an outdoor challenge (that included fly fishing) in 2019.
Despite his “cheating” antics, Miller has formed a great friendship with Reed.
“We know what he can do on the field as been seen for years and years,” Reed said. “The type of person he is off the field is somebody I have grown very fond of. I’m grateful to have the type of relationship that I have with him since I’ve been here.
“He’s been a guy that’s always been welcoming to me and always been there to answer any questions that I have. If he sees anything that I can work on or get better at, he’s been right there to tell me about things that I can improve on with little tweaks in my game that I can get better at.”
That kind of mentorship — both on and off the field — should help Miller and Reed form great chemistry in Denver’s defense this fall.
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