NFL Notes: Von Miller signs 6-year, $114.5 million contract with Broncos

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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Super Bowl MVP Von Miller practiced both pirouettes and patience this offseason.

While his dance moves didn't earn him the title on "Dancing With The Stars," Miller's stare-down in contract negotiations paid off Friday when he signed a six-year, $114.5 million deadline deal with the Denver Broncos that includes $70 million guaranteed.

That's almost double the guaranteed money the Broncos were offering him in June.

Miller received $23 million at signing and will earn $61 million over the first eight months of the blockbuster deal that makes him the highest-paid player outside of quarterbacks in NFL history.

Miller thanked team owner Pat Bowlen, president and CEO Joe Ellis, general manager John Elway and coach Gary Kubiak "for making this possible."

"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).

Redskins: Cousins to play under franchise tag
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.

The team confirmed it did not reach a deal with Cousins before Friday's 4 p.m. ET deadline for franchise players to sign new contracts.

Cousins will earn $19.95 million in 2016. He'll be the first quarterback to play a season on the franchise tag since Drew Brees with the San Diego Chargers in 2005.

The 27-year-old Cousins started all 16 regular-season games for the Redskins last season, throwing for 4,166 yards and 29 touchdowns with 11 interceptions last season. In 30 career NFL games, the 2012 fourth-round pick has thrown 47 touchdowns and 30 interceptions.

Cousins and the Redskins not agreeing long term was not surprising given that he has only been an NFL starter for one full season after usurping Robert Griffin III. Griffin was released this offseason and signed by the Cleveland Browns.

Jets: Wilkerson agrees to 5-year deal
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.

Wilkerson had a career-high 12 sacks last season and was selected for his first Pro Bowl, but was unable to play after breaking his right leg in the season finale at Buffalo. The 2011 first-round draft pick had said this offseason he was frustrated at not receiving a new deal from the Jets, but rather had the franchise tag applied to him.

It appeared the sides would not be able to reach an agreement before the deadline Friday afternoon, when franchised players had to sign new contracts or be forced to wait to renegotiate until next offseason (see full story).

Patriots: Brady to drop appeal, serve 'Deflategate' ban
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Tom Brady said Friday he will not ask the U.S. Supreme Court to block his four-game "Deflategate" suspension, ending his fight in a scandal that tested the power of the NFL commissioner and tarnished the reputation of one of the sport's greatest players.

"It has been a challenging 18 months and I have made the difficult decision to no longer proceed with the legal process," the New England Patriots quarterback said in a Facebook post . "I'm going to work hard to be the best player I can be for the New England Patriots and I look forward to having the opportunity to return to the field this fall."

The decision by the four-time Super Bowl champion comes two days after his case was turned aside by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Brady's only remaining hope to take the field when the Patriots open the season against Arizona on Sept. 11 had been a stay from the nation's highest court, which accepts about 1 percent of the appeals submitted.

More worrisome for Brady and the Patriots, though, was the chance that he would receive a stay -- which would require only the blessing of a single Supreme Court justice, in this case Ruth Bader Ginsburg -- only to have the whole court later refuse to hear the case. That could allow the suspension to fall at a more inconvenient time in the season, perhaps including the playoffs (see full story).

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