It doesn't look like Von Miller is going to have to sit out the 2016 season.
The Broncos linebacker had threatened to sit out the year if he was forced to play the season under the franchise tag, but that's not likely to happen now, thanks to the record-breaking contract offer the Broncos gave Miller on Thursday.
CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora confirms multiple reports that the Broncos are offering Miller $70 million in guaranteed money, which is a huge jump from the $39.8 million that the team was offering Miller as recently as June 7.
The amount of guaranteed money in Miller's deal has been the biggest obstacle in getting a deal done. Back in June, the Broncos offered a six-year, $114.5 million deal that would've made him the highest paid defensive player in the NFL based on average annual salary, with Miller pulling in roughly $19.083 million per year.
The problem for Miller is that the deal was guaranteeing him less than $40 million, which seemed like a slap in the face, considering that the Eagles had given Fletcher Cox a $63.299 million guarantee in June.
The Broncos upped their offer last week, and then upped it once again on Thursday. If Miller signs a new six-year, $114.5 million offer that includes $70 million in guaranteed money, it would make him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history.
The two sides have until 4 p.m. on Friday to officially reach a deal. If you're still sweating about the deal, Broncos fans -- well, we can't blame you. After all, Denver was the team that lost Elvis Dumervil after a fax machine flub in 2013.
Anyway, if Miller's deal somehow fell apart, the linebacker would have two options: He could sit out the season or play the year under the one-year, $14.26 million deal that he's entitled to under the franchise tag.
Option 2 doesn't really seem like an option though, because Miller has been adamant that he wouldn't play under the tag.
"I'm not gonna play on the franchise tag. It just doesn't make sense in any way," Miller said this week.
The Broncos linebacker also called the tag a "league-wide" problem.
"I've never really played for money. It's bigger than that for me," Miller said. "It's a league-wide problem that I feel like I'm in a situation to help out with."
At this point, the threat doesn't seem like an issue because all signs are pointing to a deal getting done before Friday's deadline.
