Von Miller is not just one of the best outside linebackers, not just one of the best pass rushers, but one of the best players in all of football. He just turned 27 years old, so he's about to enter the prime of his athletic ability, and after five years in the league, he already has 60 sacks, four Pro Bowl appearances (one in every fully healthy season) and two selections as a First-Team All-Pro.
Miller, unsurprisingly, wants a long-term deal that both pays him his open-market worth and gives him the security of knowing he'll get paid for a long time. The Broncos instead have placed the franchise tag on Miller, which guarantees him a high salary but only does so for one season. There's no security beyond the 2016 season.
The two sides have been locked in a stalemate for a few months now, and Miller made the latest move on Thursday, announcing via his Instagram account that there is no chance he will play the 2016 season on the tag.
The full caption reads as follows:
"I love my Teammates, Coaches, and My Fans" but there is "No Chance" I play the 2016 season under the Franchise tag.
Miller and the Broncos have until July 15 to work out a long-term deal. If none is reached, Miller either has to play the 2016 season on the tag or sit out the year (or sit out as many games as he likes until he reaches a one-year agreement that covers the rest of the season).
It should be noted that no healthy franchise tag recipient has sat out games since the 2006 Collective Bargaining Agreement was signed (per our Joel Corry) and that Miller would lose around $840,000 in salary every week of the regular season that he sat out. It should also be noted that anything said publicly about this contract situation by either Miller or the Broncos between now and July 15 is blatantly obvious posturing and likely has no bearing on whether or not a deal will actually be reached.
