Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller has been franchised, and that often means a lengthy contract negotiation that keeps the player away from the team until the summer. But one teammate says Miller is already assuring the Broncos he’ll be there when offseason conditioning work starts next week.
Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib told ESPN that Miller told him he will be there on Monday, April 18, when offseason work begins.
“I think that he’s going to be there on the 18th,’' Talib said. “The last time I talked to him, he was going to be on his way to Denver on the 18th with everybody else.’'
Talib hinted that Miller is willing to sign the franchise tag, which gives him a guaranteed salary of $14.129 million this year. He would then have the opportunity to hit free agency next year unless the Broncos franchised him again, which would require a guaranteed salary of $16.955 million. So any way you slice it, Miller is virtually guaranteed of making more than $31 million over the next two years.
“I don’t think Von’s mad about that franchise tag at all,’' Talib said. “He’s confident in himself, that a good deal will happen one way or the other, whether it’s this year or whether it’s next year.’'
The Broncos would love to avoid a long and protracted negotiation that keeps Miller out of training camp. If Talib is right, the Broncos may get their wish of having him back in the fold within the next week.
