As Von Miller was swarmed by reporters — like Philip Rivers being swarmed by, well, Von Miller — the reinstated renegade said Monday that during his six-game suspension, “I don’t think anybody has been a bigger Broncos fan than me.”

Miller doesn’t know the first thing about being a Broncos fan.

Broncos fans have an unwavering dedication to the team, and they pour their hearts into following this team’s journey with a singular goal and desire — for Denver to win the Super Bowl. Miller wants a Super Bowl, sure, but he wanted it on his own, above-the-law terms. He knew that doing stupid stuff could risk the Broncos’ chances at winning the Super Bowl — or, at least, detour the path the team should be on — but he did so anyway.

Von Miller is selfish. Or, at least, was selfish. Now, he has to earn the trust back of his “fellow” fans. How does the linebacker earn back trust? It’s simple — don’t do anything you know could get you suspended, and make up for lost time by playing with a passion for the Broncos matched only by the folks who paid hard-earned money for a No. 58 jersey.

“I’m working hard to gain everybody’s trust back,” Miller said Monday after his six-game suspension ended for violating the league’s drug policy. “I’m working hard to gain everybody’s trust back. I’m just going to continue to take it one day at a time. All I can ask is that everybody judge me on my actions going forward, and I can gain everybody’s trust back that way.”

Some might think — it’s all good, we’re 6-0 anyway. In other words, maybe they’d be more mad at Von if Denver were 3-3. But the record shouldn’t let Von off the hook. How Denver played without Miller is irrelevant to the fact that he made a conscious effort to do something that could get him suspended.

On Monday, I was admittedly taken aback by one thing Miller said — or, actually, didn’t say — at the media gathering.

Asked about how another misstep could lead to a season-long suspension, Miller said: “I can’t sit here and say that this is never going to happen or I’m never going to do this — then I’d be lying. I have to just take it one day at a time and gain everybody’s trust back that way.”

So Miller can’t say for sure he won’t ever make a misstep? I asked him: Shouldn’t you say that you’ll never do drugs again until you retire?

“I’ve definitely made mistakes, but I’m working hard to fix those mistakes now,” he responded. “I can’t (dwell) on the past or anything, but I can sit here and say that I’m working hard to be a better person, be a better football player, be a better teammate.”

Look, I know a firing squad of tough questions can be overwhelming, and it’s difficult to put your thoughts into words on the spot. But I thought at least maybe, upon hearing the question, he’d say something like: “That I can definitely say to everyone right this very moment — I’ll never do the specific things that could get me suspended. Why would I ever risk this again?”

So some Broncos fans probably won’t forget what Miller did, but they’ll definitely forgive him, whether it’s because the team fared fine despite him getting suspended or because, frankly, he’s the best dang defensive player on their favorite team.

While he’s working to gain the trust of Broncos fans, it appears he has gained the trust of the Broncos themselves. Safety Rahim Moore, who knows a little about dealing with Broncos fans and trust, gushed about Miller as a teammate. He was asked to describe Von’s hunger to get back to being Von.

“If you love football, and you’ve been a two-time Pro Bowler superstar, and you miss six games with no pay, how hungry would you be?” Moore said. “Let me put it like this: him missing six games is like him going six days without eating. That’s how hungry he’s going to be.”

Now that sounds like the passion of a Broncos fan — and, hopefully for the fans, the passion of a Broncos linebacker with something to prove.

Benjamin Hochman: bhochman@denverpost.com or twitter.com/hochman