The deadline for NFL teams to sign players who have been given the franchise tag to long-term extensions is Friday at 4 p.m. EST, and Von Miller and the Denver Broncos do not appear close to a deal. Unless there is a significant change over the next 24 hours, it sounds like it will remain that way.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk is reporting that the Broncos are hopeful they can reach an agreement with Miller, but the latest talk has been that Denver is not offering enough guaranteed money to satisfy the reigning Super Bowl MVP. Florio notes that the two sides have been so quiet it appears they are not “truly negotiating.”
Here’s one thing that’s apparently not happening. The two sides still aren’t truly negotiating. Instead, the Broncos will make an offer and Miller’s camp will respond and that back and forth will continue without meaningful engagement aimed at resolving any lingering differences.
Miller’s camp has interpreted that as an effort by the organization to impose its will on the player. It may have worked for other players, but it hasn’t worked for Miller. Unless the team’s will at some point matches what Miller wants, it may never work.
It’s hard to tell if silence is a positive or a negative in this situation, but we’ll find out soon enough. The one thing we do know is Miller despises the idea of the franchise tag, and he made his stance clear again with these comments earlier this week.
Miller has threatened to sit out the 2016 season before he plays under the franchise tag. That still seems unlikely. It will be interesting to see if the Broncos call his bluff.
