Miller agrees to six-year, $161m contract

DENVER Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller is now the NFL’s highest paid defensive player, thanks to a six-year, US$114.5 million NZ$161.2 million) contract that includes nearly US$70m in guarantees the Super Bowl MVP signed yesterday, shortly before the deadline for long-term deals for franchisetagged players.

A person familiar with the contract, speaking on condition of anonymity because terms of the deal had not been announced, told USA TODAY Sports of the financial details.

The Super Bowl 50 MVP and the Broncos had been engaged in often-contentious contract negotiations for several months, ever since the team placed the franchise tag – which came with a oneyear salary of US$14.129m – on Miller in March. That salary was well below market value for a player of Miller’s calibre, after he racked up 60 sacks in his first five seasons. His value sky-rocketed after a stellar 2015 post-season in which he recorded five sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception during Denver’s Super Bowl run.

The negotiations turned nasty in June after news of the Broncos’ overall offer of six years and US$114m, but with less than US$40m in guarantees, leaked to the media.

Plenty of players in the past have threatened to sit out, but Miller was in a rare position to actually use that tactic as true bargaining leverage. Because the Broncos used the exclusive franchise tag on Miller, if he chose not to play in 2016 the team could not use the exclusive tag again next year, which would allow other teams to offer Miller a free agent contract next spring and only have to give up a first and thirdround pick if the Broncos failed to match.

Recent massive free agent deals to players like defensive end Olivier Vernon (with an average salary of US$17m from the New York Giants) or defensive tackle Fletcher Cox (US$17.1m per year from the Philadelphia Eagles, with more than US$63m in guarantees) only drove up Miller’s price tag.