Later tonight, Von Miller plans on “getting to a nice steakhouse for a T-Bone steak.” That, of course, will be after the Denver Broncos rookie linebacker attempts to make a sack lunch out of Oakland Raiders quarterback Jason Campbell on Monday Night Football (10:15 p.m. EST on ESPN).
Tonight marks the start of “Miller Time” in the Mile High City. And as if making your NFL debut on Monday Night Football against a heated division rival isn’t enough to make your head spin, how about playing the game more than 5,000 feet above sea level?
Add the fact that Miller sweats more than the average athlete—as he explained to us while promoting the Gatorade “Beat the Heat” initiative—and it magnifies the importance of proper game day nutrition for the Broncos’ blitzer.
“I especially have to take in a lot of fluids, not just a day before the game, but days before the game, in order to stay hydrated and keep the salts and the sodium in my body,” Miller says. “I drink a couple of Gatorades before I go to sleep at night, because you don’t really sweat that much in your sleep.”
What else is on Miller’s menu? Take a bite out of his game day eating routine:
Breakfast, 10:45 a.m.

• Eggs, bacon, potatoes and assorted fruit

Miller: “Our schedule isn’t as tight in the NFL. I’ll sleep in a little later for [the Monday Night game], wake up around 10 and eat breakfast around 10:45.”
Lunch, 3:30 p.m.

• Salmon, rice, green vegetable, assorted fruit and protein shake

Miller: “Eating three hours before we get ready for the game is more than enough time for me to get the food digested. I’m also drinking Gatorade throughout the day and trying to stay hydrated until the game starts.”
Dinner, Post-Game

• Steak and chicken combo, baked potato

Miller: “I’ll try getting to a nice steakhouse for a T-Bone. I like to get some real tough protein in.”
Photo:  bleacherreport.com