Rich Tandler's Real Redskins

Von Miller a plaintiff in NFLPA lawsuit

Quarterbacks Drew Brees, Tom Brady, and Peyton Manning are the best-known names among the eight current NFL players named as plaintiffs on the NFLPA's antitrust lawsuit against the National Football League. Other players, including Vincent Jackson and Logan Mankins, are well known by most fans of the game. Some, such as Ben Leber, aren't even household names in their own households. There is a ninth plaintiff, a "prospective professional football player" according to the filing. That player is known to most fans who keep up on the top players available in the upcoming NFL draft. That prospective professional football player is Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller. Miller is expected to be picked very early in the draft, probably in the top 10 selections. He is an athletic linebacker who can bring a lot of heat on the opposing quarterbacks. In what has become a passing league, such players are highly valued. Miller is included in the lawsuit to challenge the validity of the 2011 NFL draft as well as any rookie salary cap that the league may try to impose on the players drafted absent a collective bargaining agreement. While it may be courageous of Miller to join in the legal action, one has to wonder if it is the smartest career move for him. Joining a class action suit against your future employer before you are even hired has to be considered a risky move. If even one team decides not to select Miller because they don't want to try to draft and negotiate with a plaintiff or aren't particularly interested in hiring a rookie who may well be distracted by by legal proceedings he will lose millions of dollars. A slide further back could cost him tens of millions. No question that Miller will earn the gratitude of his future teammates and respect from the players around the league. But you can't spend gratitude and respect. Miller has chosen to risk a lot for what may be very little gain. Of course, that has been the theme of the whole CBA negotiation to date. Both sides in the dispute are taking high risks with the possibility of seeing very little in the way of a reward. The difference is that the owners and players like Brady and Manning already have cashed in. Miller has yet to make a dime from the NFL. Is Miller being courageous or foolhardy? Time will tell.

What teams might also be after Von Miller?

Among the players who caught the eye of just about everyone at the Senior Bowl was Texas A&M outside linebacker Von Miller. With the Redskins in need of a bookend backer to take some attention away from Brian Orakpo, Miller could be the perfect pick for the Redskins with their first-round selection, number in overall. But it seems likely that other teams will have their eyes on Miller, too, including some of the nine teams drafting ahead of the Redskins. One thing that the Redskins have going in their favor is that Miller is considered to be an ideal linebacker for a 3-4 defensive scheme. It’s not that a 4-3 team wouldn’t consider him but such a team likely would not rate him as highly as would a 3-4 team. In other words, he might not be a top-10 talent for 4-3 teams. Working on that assumption, let’s take a look at the defensive schemes run by the nine teams drafting in front of the Redskins: 1. Carolina (2-14) 4-3 2. Denver (4-12) 3-4 3. Buffalo (4-12) 3-4 4. Cincinnati (4-12) 4-3 5. Arizona (5-11) 3-4 6. Cleveland (5-11) 4-3 7. San Francisco (6-10) 3-4 8. Tennessee (6-10) 4-3 9. Dallas (6-10) 3-4 So let’s eliminate the 4-3 teams based on the assumptions made above. That leaves the following teams: 2. Denver (4-12) 3-4 3. Buffalo (4-12) 3-4 5. Arizona (5-11) 3-4 7. San Francisco (6-10) 3-4 9. Dallas (6-10) 3-4 Although there still is a long way to go in the draft process and a lot could change, it doesn’t appear right now that Miller is among the very top players, the elites who will go in the top four picks. That takes Denver and Buffalo out of the picture. 5. Arizona (5-11) 3-4 7. San Francisco (6-10) 3-4 9. Dallas (6-10) 3-4 The Cowboys seem to be pretty well set at outside linebacker with DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer and with needs along the offensive line and at defensive back Miller would be too much of a luxury pick for the top 10. 5. Arizona (5-11) 3-4 7. San Francisco (6-10) 3-4 The Cardinals certainly could use an infusion of youth at outside linebacker. Both of their starters, Clark Haggans and Joey Porter, will be 34 by the time the season starts and they combined for 10 sacks last year. It is possible that if Miller works his way into consideration for the number five pick the Cardinals could give him a good, hard look. The 49ers Manny Lawson is going to be a free agent this offseason so whether or not San Francisco will be in the market may depend on whether or not Lawson is back or if the CBA negotiations permit a free agency period prior to the draft. In any case, new coach Jim Harbaugh may want to look to upgrade from Lawson, who has been a first-round (22^nd overall in 2006) disappointment with 14.5 sacks in five seasons.