Denver Broncos Ink Von Miller To $70 Million Guaranteed Contract

With the NFL’s long-term contract deadline looming at 4 p.m. Friday, the Denver Broncos refused to wait until the eleventh hour to sign star linebacker Von Miller.

The Broncos and the Super Bowl 50 MVP agreed to a six-year, $114.5 million mega-deal, according to Vanguard Sports, the agency that represents Miller.

Now the most explosive linebacker in the NFL is also the richest, after inking the deal that includes $70 million in guaranteed money, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in league history.

Denver Broncos Ink Von Miller To $70 Million Guaranteed Contract

The framework for the contract was cemented by both sides in June, according to reports, but there has been buzzing out of Miller’s camp this week suggesting he was only interested in Andrew Luck money.

Luck signed for, an NFL record, $87 million in guarantees June 29.

Front office sources from two other NFL franchises have told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Miller “would have to take,” the deal Denver had put on the table.

VON MILLER’S SUPER BOWL 50 HIGHLIGHTS

Miller had been designated the Broncos franchise player back in February, setting him up for a one-year, $14.1 million contract. The 27-year-old has been adamant that he will not play this season under the franchise tag, signaling a possible holdout as training camp begins in just a few weeks.

“No, I am not going to play under the franchise tag,” Miller told ESPN Monday. “It just doesn’t make sense in any way.”

That point is now moot, as Miller Tweeted a two-word celebration on his Twitter account Friday: “For Life.”

The negotiations between the two sides had been contentious at times, with the biggest fracture resulting from Miller cropping Team President John Elway out of a photo in an Instagram post.

THE CROP HEARD ‘ROUND THE WORLD

One of those forever memories …

A photo posted by Demarcus Ware (@demarcusware) on Jun 10, 2016 at 5:41am PDT

#Repost @demarcusware ・・・ One of those forever memories …

A photo posted by Von Miller (@vonmiller) on Jun 10, 2016 at 6:03am PDT

“You know what, that’s too bad,” Elway said of the IG post when TMZ cameras caught up with him in Los Angeles last month.

But it appears Elway has found his way back into the picture after contacting Miller, directly, on 4th of July weekend.

As the clock ticked down, Broncos fans nervously awaited the official announcement of an agreement, while Denver’s front office was holding its collective breath.

Miller had not appeared at any offseason training, voluntary or mandatory, and had maintained his refusal to play under the $14.1 million tag his team slapped on him.

For one teammate, a prognostication came to fruition.

Cornerback Chris Harris was optimistic that Miller and Denver can both get what they want: the Super Bowl MVP suited up for the defensing Super Bowl Champs on opening day.

“I think everybody in the Broncos organization knows how crucial he is to our defense, and the type of player he is,” Harris said on the set of NFL Total Access Tuesday, adding he thought a deal would be reached by Friday morning “at the latest.”

News broke of the brokered agreement Friday afternoon.

Article by Kevin Xavier