The Denver Broncos have sweetened the deal for Super Bowl MVP Von Miller, with multiple reports and Denver-7 sports sources saying the Broncos have upped the guaranteed money.
In the latest long-term contract proposal, the Broncos offered to pay out $57.5 million over the first nine months of the deal by moving up the guarantee up for the third year salary at $19 million. The Broncos previous offer only guaranteed about $39.8 million.
The new $57.5 million figure is more than the $55.5 million guarantee the Eagles recently gave Fletcher Cox over the first 9 months of his contract, which has become a new measuring stick.
But Cox got a total of $63 million guaranteed from Philadelphia, and that figure is what Miller and his agent Joby Branion are looking for. The total deal the Broncos are offering is 6-years $114.5 million.
John Elway and Von Miller spoke by phone over the weekend. "Wanted to take the business side of it, don't talk numbers -- wanted to talk to him man-to-man, tell him how I was feeling," Miller told ESPN. "Some of the tactics to use and negotiate. Some of that stuff didn't have to be done, knowing the type of teammate that I am -- knock this stuff out quickly, but they have championship tactics. It works . A way for me to tell them exactly how I felt. Took my agent out of it. Some think the agent has a different message than the player. Wanted to tell him my side. We made progress on that side, getting stuff off my chest, talk to him."
The deadline to sign Miller to a long-term contract is Friday July 15th.
"I think it will happen because me and Elway went down to the wire last year," said receiver Demaryius Thomas, who signed a $70 million deadline deal in 2015.
"Mr. Elway will get it done," safety T.J. Ward predicted on "NFL Total Access" this week. "I know Von is eager to get back with us. We miss him, he misses us. It is time to get going. But, I'm pretty sure it will get done."
Peyton Manning also said last week he believes the deal will get worked out, telling TMZ, "I know both sides want to work out. He wants to be in Denver, Denver wants him, so I think it will work out."
