NFL Rumors: Von Miller requested trade before record-breaking deal

It was a long process, but Denver Broncos linebacker and Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller is a rich man. His record-breaking deal almost didn’t happen in Denver.

$70 million. That’s how much guaranteed money Von Miller was given in his new six-year, $114.5 million deal to stay with the Denver Broncos.

That money almost wasn’t given to him by the Broncos.

According to Mike Klis of 9NEWS in Denver, sources told him that Miller’s agent Joby Branion notified Broncos general manager John Elway that if he wasn’t open to his counter options for Miller’s deal, then Elway should consider trading Miller.

The initial numbers of Miller’s guaranteed money in his deal were $39.8 million through two years to $61 million over three years and then to the record-breaking (for a non-quarterback) $70 million over four years.

The two sides talked for three straight days from July 7-9, according to Klis. Branion continued to push Elway and tried to get Miller more guaranteed dollars in a proposal with multiple options. Elway wouldn’t budge, but the two sides eventually got the deal done.

The final six-year, $114.5 million deal was structured for Miller over four years for $78.5 million, or $19.625 million a year. That’s a lot of cash.

Miller’s contract situation was highly talked about, and with this latest news, the doubts of Miller re-signing with the Broncos after the Super Bowl were as real as can be.

It didn’t happen and the deal got done, but that would’ve been some more chaos if the Broncos did look to trade Miller.

But, Elway is one of the best general managers in the NFL and recognized that Miller is one of the most gifted athletes in the league. His Super Bowl 50 performances shows that. The doubts were real and there was real tension, but Miller will remain a force on the league’s best defense for many more years to come.

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