Defense is what won the Denver Broncos their third Lombardi trophy in 2015, but now they risk letting it all unravel with the Von Miller situation.
The superstar linebacker and reigning Super Bowl MVP has made it clear from the outset that he is not going to budge on his contract situation no matter how much outside pressure tries to convince him otherwise of what he believes he’s worth. In other words he wants to be the highest paid defender in the NFL and thus far the Broncos have not met the price he’s happy with. Talks have since cooled after coming close to a deal and the frustrated Miller reaffirmed on Instagram his intention to hold out if one were not agreed upon.
There is no question that losing Miller would be the final nail in the coffin of the Broncos’ hopes for a repeat in 2016. They’ve already lost both Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler, leaving their quarterback situation in a thick fog with few definitive answer. Key defensive contributors Danny Trevathan and Malik Jackson left in free agency as well. This roster can survive only so many key losses before a “contender” becomes a “check mark” on the schedule.
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One does not simply replace the production that a Von Miller brings. The Broncos and their fans are delusional if they think John Elway, smart as he is, has a Plan B for one of the three best pass rushers in football not being on the field for that defense. Demarcus Ware isn’t getting any younger and Shane Ray hasn’t shown he can play at that same level.
Much as it may pain them, Denver doesn’t have a ton of leverage outside of the franchise tag that keeps him in place for the year. Fletcher Cox just got a massive new $103 million deal. There is no debate that Miller is a better player, or at least more proven at this point than Cox. Thus business logic would say he’s worth more money. Guaranteed money being the buzz phrase of course, and that is where things remain deadlocked.
Will Von Miller actually sit out? Based on history, the odds are against it. Even so, the Broncos are playing a dangerous game of chicken. They better hope he blinks first.