Renck: Von Miller, Broncos need solution to game of chicken – The Denver Post
Von Miller disarms company with his sense of humor. During the ulcer-spawning stretch run of the Broncos’ season, Miller stood in the locker room and talked about his plans to raise chickens. He drifted away for a moment, imagining the success. He would use surveillance cameras and air conditioning and play Sade to increase, um, productivity.
Forget a farmer, this Miller is a “Smooth Operator.” Unless it involves contract talks. Right now he is playing a fascinating high-stakes game of chicken.
Miller continues to show his dissatisfaction over the current Broncos offer. He took to Instagram on Thursday to clarify his stance. “I love my Teammates, Coaches, and My Fans” but there is “No Chance” I play the 2016 season under the Franchise tag.”
Miller is emotional. He is understandably disappointed and hurt that the Broncos aren’t offering what he wants. He watched last week as the Broncos agreed to a four-year contract with linebacker Brandon Marshall and continued to work on a long-term contract with receiver Emmanuel Sanders. The latter could happen, even if it means Sanders has to take slightly less than San Diego’s Keenan Allen and Jacksonville’s Allen Hurns because he’s five years older. Sanders brings toughness, energy and productivity. If the Broncos can get him at a tick under $10 million per, make it happen.
With Miller, negotiations are not that easy. He wants to be the league’s highest-paid nonquarterback. His play was a big part in allowing the Broncos to become the first team to win a Super Bowl on defense alone since the 2000 Baltimore Ravens.
Miller covets stability and wants at least $60 million guaranteed upon signing, no matter what happens.
The Broncos have offered $38.5 million guaranteed over the first two seasons. That is an extreme position, just as Miller’s threat to skip the 2016 season is. We have seen the black and white on the spectrum.
It’s time to work toward shades of gray.
How quickly the Broncos can get Miller his money is the central issue, and a road map exists based on the contract Eagles defensive end Fletcher Cox signed last week. Fletcher will get $55.54 million guaranteed in the first nine months after signing the deal in an accelerated payout. That represents a real comparable from a lesser player and indicates where Miller’s guarantee should be.
Because both sides are motivated to get a deal done, hope exists. The Broncos recognize Miller’s talent and his growth off the field. But let’s be honest, the Broncos’ reluctance to cave in and their patience has benefited them greatly in their roster reconstruction. They held firm on wide receiver Demaryius Thomas as a franchise-tag player last summer, seeing his demands to be paid like Calvin Johnson as an outlier. They needed the Cowboys and Dez Bryant to sign a contract. And when they did, they closed the deal with Thomas.
Have the Broncos miscalculated on Von’s deal? That view can be advanced based on what Cox received from Philadelphia. The Broncos hold a realistic chance of repeating as world champions. But they can’t survive a summer of Miller distraction in training camp. His absence would demand a story every day, demand endless reactions from teammates. His absence would create a gaping hole, undermining the team’s greatest strength.
Miller wants to be a Bronco for life. The Broncos want him here. Finding a compromise is a must, because there will be no winners if this game of chicken continues into training camp and the regular season.
