Von Miller is truly a man of the people.

Some folks in NFL circles are not so sure that’s a good thing.

The Broncos’ outside linebacker held his third-annual Pass Rush Summit last weekend at the UNLV football campus in Las Vegas where many of the league’s top defenders — such as Miller, Aaron Donald, Calais Campbell, Melvin Ingram and others — gathered to share knowledge on the practice field and in the film room.

Miller handpicked the NFL players in attendance and a large number of college pass rushers joined after Miller posted information about the event on social media. In total, the summit drew 40 participants and Miller described the rise in turnout as “crazy.” Although some sports media pundits might use the same word to describe logic behind the camp.

Mike Florio and Chris Simms of NBC Sports recently debated the merits of Miller’s Pass Rush Summit and their comments were hardly flattering.

Florio: “(It) has to be awkward when he goes back to Denver and his offense is like, ‘Von, we play some of those guys. What are you doing trying to make these guys into better pass rushers?’ It’s amazing to me because it defies the whole concept of team.”

Simms: “I would never take part in this, Mike, I’ll say that. If I were an elite pass rusher, there’s no way I’m going anywhere and sharing some of my tricks … or some of the things I do special with everybody else.”

Miller responded to that criticism directly Tuesday.

“It’s not like a secret move I have in my bag that I’m holding from everybody else,” Miller said. “You can see everything I’ve got on film. That’s just a place where we can all compare what we’re doing.”

Friendship among foes is hardly new among professional athletes in the modern age, especially with free agency, as witnessed when opposing players often swap jersey’s following games. Miller’s push to share knowledge among his “competitors” one weekend each summer is fueled by a desire to raise the pass-rushing bar across the league and give back to the game.

“We’re all effective (as pass rushers) at what we do, but it’s just different,” Miller said. “To really go out there and get the knowledge of the ways other guys rush is incredible. … It’s just a better way to do my job. I feel like once you get stuck in your game, it’s over.”

Plus, it’s a growing league concept. NFL offensive line guru Duke Manyweather founded the first “OL Masterminds Summit” last summer where more than 26 pro players — including Broncos offensive linemen Ron Leary and Menelik Watson — convened in Dallas for a similar event to share technique among peers. Don’t expect Miller to change his views on such gatherings. He said: “There should be more.”

The lessons are invaluable.

“You get guys like Aaron Donald really going over 30 of his plays,” Miller continued. “Guys who are just in college and young guys in the league, they can see that and it’s really the only place they can be around a guy like that other than the Pro Bowl. And everybody doesn’t make it to the Pro Bowl.”

Public service award. Miller was named the recipient of a national honor Tuesday celebrating his dedication to serving Denver’s community.

The Broncos linebacker will take home the 2019 Jefferson Award for Outstanding Public Service in Sports, an annual distinction in its 47th year given to a professional sports figure as chosen by the national nonprofit Multiplying Good. Miller will accept the honor during a ceremony on June 18 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., where former Broncos edge rusher DeMarcus Ware will introduce Miller.

“We’ve got a huge platform and you’ve got to be able to use that platform for the better,” Miller said. “It’s incredible that I have a team around me that really helps me put my vision out there to help the community.”

Miller, the Broncos’ all-time sacks leader, founded Von’s Vision in 2012, which provides low-income children with vision care and eye exams. His personal charity has since raised more than $4.5 million. Miller also led an effort last season to raise $200,000 from the team to provide local police with training and equipment for responding to active shooters through Shield 616.

Previous winners of the Jefferson Award for Outstanding Public Service in Sports include Chris Long (2018), Shaquille O’Neal (2018), Joe Torre (2017), Mariano Rivera (2014), Troy Vincent (2012) and Peyton Manning (2006).