The Denver Broncos and Von Miller ended an ugly back-and-forth over the team’s use of the franchise tag on their pass rusher by coming to terms on a new contract hours before the July 15 deadline.
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Miller’s agent, Joby Branion, and the Broncos agreed to the overall parameters of the deal last month but an agreement on Miller’s guaranteed money has now been reached. Unfortunately for the Broncos, Miller didn’t accept the tag and threatened to sit out the entire upcoming season.
Miller’s guaranteed money is eclipsed only by that of Indianapolis quarterback Andrew Luck, who will receive $75 million in guarantees in his $140 million contract extension.
“I’m happy. I’m in the best shape of my life, and I know if it doesn’t happen this year, it’s probably something I have to deal with”. Another $19 million (2018 salary) will be transferred from injury guarantee to full guarantee in March 2017. And truth be told, had the Broncos not locked Miller up, it would have hurt them during future contract negotiations with their own free agents, and decreased the likelihood of them attracting big name players on the open market.
“Going forward, we expect great things from Von not only on the field but with the responsibility he has as a leader on the team”, Elway said in the team’s official press release announcing Friday’s deal. Vernon signed a five-year, $85 million deal with $52.5 million guaranteed.
Miller made the trip to the White House with his Super Bowl 50 teammates and attended the ring ceremony at which the players received their Super Bowl jewelry.
WASHINGTON – Kirk Cousins will play next season on the franchise tag after the quarterback and Washington Redskins were unable to agree on a long-term contract. Now Elway is counting on Miller not just to be the team’s best player, but to become the face of the franchise following the retirement of quarterback Peyton Manning.
Miller, the Broncos’ first-round pick in 2011, has 60 sacks in five seasons and played a key role on last season’s league-leading defense.
Having Miller happy and back under contract is huge for a Denver team that won the Super Bowl a year ago on the back of the league’s best defense – and will likely need a similar defensive effort to win again in 2016 as the team faces uncertainty at quarterback.
He recorded two-and-a-half sacks at Levi’s Stadium as the Broncos won their third Super Bowl in franchise history.
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In four National Football League seasons, Johnson has 15 interceptions, including seven previous year in a breakout season for the Rams after being a third-round draft pick out of Montana in 2012. Last season he had 35 tackles, 11 sacks and forced four fumbles, before adding another 11 tackles, 5 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles in the playoffs.
