NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport delivered some good news to Broncos fans, saying the tension between Von Miller and John Elway is ‘thawing’…
The Super Bowl ring ceremony wasn’t just a time to celebrate — it was a time for John Elway and Von Miller to mend fences.
After Elway’s initial offer to Von Miller was apparently leaked, Miller publicly expressed his displeasure by posting a photo on Instagram where he purposely cropped out Elway.
I know he did it on purpose, because I tried to repost the image myself.
Seriously.
Anyway, the Broncos and Miller didn’t appear to be on the best of terms, but according to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, the tension between the two that was created by an insulting $40 million (in guarantees) offer has apparently thawed.
“Things have started to thaw a little bit over the past several days. I’m told Elway pulled Von Miller aside during the ceremony. They talked for a couple minutes, starting to build back that relationship that will be incredibly helpful come July 15, the deadline to strike a deal.”
We don’t have a clue what Miller and Elway talked about in their little aside at the ring ceremony. We can guess that Elway perhaps apologized that things went public, and Miller was upset by that.
But who’s to say that Miller’s camp didn’t go public with the offer? Obviously, Miller wants the most guaranteed money possible. If the Broncos came at him with $40 million in guarantees, I wouldn’t be upset if it became public knowledge so that everyone knew how stiffed I was getting.
That’s if it were me.
Miller deserves nothing less than the highest guarantee of any defensive player in the NFL. Elway’s little game of chicken with the chicken expert himself didn’t work out really well, as the guaranteed money paid to Fletcher Cox of the Eagles this week (reportedly $63 million) will now have to be surpassed.
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Miller knows he’s going to get his money, and the best shot of getting it is this offseason with the Broncos. Playing this game of holding out and sitting out games — forfeiting checks larger than $800K — won’t end well, unless someone can enlighten me on a situation where a player held out into the season on a franchise tag contract, then made a ton of money on the open market the following year.
Miller has his shot this offseason, and the Broncos tried to give him just two years of guarantees rather than three.
It’s a negotiating tactic, and it’s ugly when it becomes public, but it’s a situation that Elway hasn’t flinched at in the past, and I doubt he will this time around either.