Von Miller admits to cheating in key Super Bowl play

IT WAS the crucial play that sealed the result of the Super Bowl, but there was something very wrong about it.

SANTA CLARA, CA - FEBRUARY 07: Super Bowl MVP Von Miller #58 of the Denver Broncos celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after winning Super Bowl 50 at Levi's Stadium on February 7, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. The Broncos defeated the Panthers 24-10. Patrick Smith/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

IT was the play that clinched the Super Bowl title for the Denver Broncos and summed up Cam Newton’s day.

When linebacker Von Miller sacked the Carolina Panthers quarterback for the second time in the match and stripped the ball, it was party time for the Broncos. It was that play that ensured Miller would finish as the game’s MVP.

Teammate T.J. Ward recovered the loose ball — and therefore possession for the Broncos — and the Panthers’ chances of victory were officially snuffed out.

But there was something not many people noticed about that play. Or perhaps it wasn’t even noticed by anyone at all — least of all the referees. Well, a lot more people will know exactly what happened now after Miller revealed exactly what went on immediately after stripping Newton.

Speaking to Peter King of Monday Morning Quarterback, the 26-year-old admitted to illegally batting the ball towards the Panthers’ end zone with his left hand.

“I was being held for a minute. So I couldn’t get to the ball right away,” Miller said.

“I thought Cam (Newton) 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.”

This was a crucial play.

In effect this was cheating because it’s illegal to hit the ball towards the opposition’s goal line as Miller did. But when it comes to the Super Bowl, you can’t blame someone for trying anything to get even the slightest advantage.

It’s virtually impossible to pick up Miller’s craftiness on a replay, but his sneaky manoeuvre saw his side start with the ball at the four-yard line. C.J. Anderson scored a touchdown moments later, and Denver could start celebrating.

Von Miller is #SuperBowl MVP for a reason. This strip of #MVP Cam Newton was game, set, match #DLineVids #SB50 #NFL pic.twitter.com/Q8JRLO8C5p

— DLineVids (@DLineVids) February 8, 2016

Miller hassled Newton all game, never letting him get close to showing any of the form that made him the league MVP this season. In fact, the Panthers quarterback was most heavily criticised for his reaction to Miller’s crucial strip.

He had a chance to dive on the loose ball too, but at the last second, hopped to his right, allowing Ward to come up with it. He was accused of being “soft” and a “sore loser” in the aftermath of the match.

Earlier, Miller also set up a Malik Jackson touchdown after forcing a fumble.

The Broncos won 24-10.

Originally published as Von Miller admits to cheating in key Super Bowl play