A DeSoto native and Texas A&M linebacker is the only rookie plaintiff of the players who filed an antitrust lawsuit Friday against the NFL.
Von Miller joined nine players, including Drew Brees, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, in filing the suit in federal court as labor talks were breaking down.
"It's all in God's hands," Miller said. "It just somehow found its way to me, and I'm a team guy, and I was happy to pick up the challenge."
In his first interview since the lawsuit was filed, Miller said the decision to join the suit was not easy.
"I thought about it for a really long time," he said. "I contemplated it numerous days and talked about it with my agents and my father, and I just had to make another decision. I've been making tough decisions all my life."
As a junior, Miller led the nation in sacks and was considered a first-round talent. But he chose to return for a senior season to captain his team, earning All-American honors and winning the Collegiate Butkus Award, which honors the nation's top linebacker.
Miller, who is now considered a top five NFL Draft prospect, decided to become a plaintiff in the class-action lawsuit against the NFL. He said he was approached about suing about a month ago.
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His decision to join the suit comes with a risk of sliding down in the draft, but Miller said it is a risk worth taking. He said it is important to him to understand the business side of the NFL.
"I think it's really important, mainly because it's a business. And the way that the NFL is going these days, it's going to become more and more business-like. And if you don't know that side of football, you can be in trouble in the long run. I want to know every aspect, everything that's involved in this business," said Miller.
The antitrust lawsuit attacks the league's policies on the draft, salary cap and free-agent restrictions such as franchise-player tags. It also asks for an injunction to block the NFL owners' lockout.
A preliminary injunction hearing is set for April 6.
