By DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
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Last season Miller made the Pro Bowl for the fourth time in his career, in addition to winning the Super Bowl MVP Award. The Broncos unsuccessfully tried to secure a deal in February, leading to the franchise tag. Those totals pushed Miller past the guaranteed money Fletcher Cox received in his contract with the Philadelphia Eagles in recent weeks.
Rather than making $14.129 million as Denver’s franchised player, Miller is now the highest-paid defensive player in the league after inking a six-year, $114.5 million deal.
The deal makes the 27-year-old Miller the highest-paid defensive player by average at $19.083 million per year.
But the Broncos sweetened their offer late last week by dramatically increasing the guaranteed money available to Miller in the first three years of the deal, though it took some haggling over language and structure on Friday afternoon before the deal was signed.
“I’m super happy and excited to be back with my teammates for the next six years”.
And with it all said and done, here’s what Elway, Miller and head coach Gary Kubiak had to say about the historic deal.
“I’m also thankful for the way my teammates and our fans have supported me”, Miller said in a statement. “I’m excited for the future and ready to get back to work” (see full story).
However Miller stated, repeatedly, that he would sooner sit out the season than play under the franchise tag.
Miller’s agent, Joby Branion, and the Broncos agreed to the parameters of a six-year, $114.5 million deal last month but Miller’s camp held out for more guaranteed money. After the second year he will get $61 million guaranteed and he will get $70 million guaranteed after the third year.
“I give my all every Sunday on the field and play with so much love and passion for the game”, Wilkerson wrote on Twitter. “I’ve known him since he was a kid in college”.
NEW YORK – The New York Jets have signed Muhammad Wilkerson to a five-year contract extension, beating Friday’s deadline after which the Pro Bowl defensive end would have had to play this season under the franchise tag amount of $15.7 million.
However, this is not the first time the Broncos waited until the franchise tag deadline to lock up one of their players.
He’ll be the first quarterback to play a season on the tag since San Diego’s Drew Brees in 2005.
Miller had 35 tackles and 11 sacks in 16 games last season.
In just nine games last season, he caught 54 passes for 807 yards and four touchdowns.
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His $70 million in guaranteed salary is among the highest in National Football League history. “We look forward to resuming our discussions on a long-term agreement when the negotiating window reopens after the season”.
