Fansided

Von Miller: ‘No chance’ he plays 2016 on franchise tag

By John Buhler

Feb 7, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58) holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50 at Levi
Feb 7, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58) holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50 at Levi /
facebooktwitterreddit

Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller posted on his Instagram account on Thursday, saying there is ‘no chance’ he’ll play on the 2016 franchise tag.

Contract negotiations between Denver Broncos general manager John Elway and star outside linebacker Von Miller are in an increasingly difficult state. While Miller won Super Bowl 50 MVP and remains the best player on the 2016 Broncos roster, he’s threatening to hold out for the entire 2016 NFL season if he doesn’t get a new deal done before the July 15 deadline.

Miller took to Instagram on Thursday and left this message for his fans, “I love my teammates, coaches, and my fans, but there is no chance I play the 2016 season under the franchise tag.”

Miller will have to agree to a new deal by July 15 or he will have to play on the one-year franchise tag with the Broncos, valued over $14 million. Given that Elway is reluctant to overspend on players, and that Miller is in his prime as the best pass rusher in the game, it’s easy to understand why both sides aren’t seeing eye to eye.

Two things have happened in the last week that may have ignited Miller’s increased demands for a deal to get done with Denver: Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Fletcher Cox received the biggest contract to date for a defensive player, and Miller’s Denver teammate linebacker Brandon Marshall just earned a four-year extension with the Broncos.

This offseason, so many of his 2015 Broncos teammates have received big paydays, including Marshall, Brock Osweiler, Malik Jackson, and Danny Trevathan, yet Miller was arguably the most important player on the defending Super Bowl Champions.

Denver may not even qualify for the AFC Playoffs after the mass exodus of so many key contributors. Should Miller hold out and refuse to play on the 2016 franchise tag, the Broncos might have their worst season since 2010, when they ended up with the No. 2 overall pick, which they used to draft Miller out of Texas A&M.

For more NFL news, please check out our NFL category page.

Home/Denver Broncos