ENGLEWOOD, Colo. With a decision on the future of Von Miller, Denver Broncos general manager George Paton said Thursday that the team wants the lineback for 2021, but is waiting to hear more about possible legal issues Miller may have and did not rule out. not. a discussion about a salary cut for him to return.
“We’re still working on it with Von, his agent, and as far as the legal process is concerned, we’re just going to let the legal process play out,” Paton said. “But it’s obviously a serious situation, but we want it to play out before we comment on it.”
Miller, an eight-time Pro Bowl pick and Super Bowl 50 MVP, has an option clause in his contract that if the Broncos picks it up, will guarantee $ 7 million of Miller’s base salary of $ 17.5 million and the last year of six years will enter. , A $ 114.5 million deal he signed in 2016.
The Broncos, as well as Miller, are still awaiting a decision from the District Attorney in the 18th Judicial District in suburban Denver to determine whether Miller will be charged following an investigation by the Parker, Colorado, police department. Neither the police nor the district attorney’s office have released details on the specific charges Miller faces.
Miller did not respond to requests for comment. If complaints are lodged, Miller could also experience the prospect of league discipline.
Asked if Miller’s earnings could also depend on a pay cut, Paton said:
“We want to bring Von back; we’re still working on it, I do not want to go into everything, but we want to bring him back. It’s clear that the legal process he’s going through is obviously a serious situation, and I do not know the details, but we respect what’s going on. We want Von back. ‘
Miller missed the entire 2020 season after an ankle injury a few days before the start of the season. At the time, coach Vic Fangio said he expected Miller to have a hell of a year.
Miller’s eight bags in 2019 were his lowest total since 2013, when he finished with five bags after serving a six-match suspension for violating drug abuse policies and then having a torn ACL in December of that year.
Miller leads all active players who were in the NFL rankings last season, with 106 pockets.
Miller is the longest-serving Broncos player and was John Elway’s first draft pick as the team’s best football manager. Elway resigned from the role of general manager earlier this year before Paton was appointed in January.
Other topics that Paton and Fangio addressed on Thursday:
“[I] took a deep dive with Drew … very talented, was sometimes contradictory, had a lot to work on, but I talked to Drew … he really wants to be great, “Paton said. We’re always going to bring in competition at every position, including quarterbacks, but I like the track Drew is on … He does have all the qualities you need in a quarterback. ‘
“We’re going to be aggressive, we’re going to be in every deal, that does not mean we’re going to make that deal, but we’re going to investigate everything, whether it’s a quarterback or a defensive lineman, anything to beat our football team help, we’re going to pursue it. ‘
Paton also said he would not publicly discuss any quarterback in the team of another team, such as Deshaun Watson, and that the Broncos would consider using the number 9 in the draft on a quarterback “as it’s the best player on the board, we’re going to take him. ‘
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On the re-signing of safety, Justin Simmons, who played on the franchise player last season and intends to be an unlimited free agent, Paton said: ‘Justin is one of our core men, and our goal since I was here was, was to sign him. for a long-term agreement. We had good conversations with his agent. I do not know if we will get a deal or not, but that is our goal. He’s the type of man we want to expand. “
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The return of right-hander Ja’Wuan James, who has been selected this past season over concerns over COVID-19.
Both Paton and Fangio said they had spoken to James and that James would return to the Denver area in the coming weeks to practice.
Paton said the Broncos will offer three of their most prominent free agents – Phillip Lindsay, wide receiver Tim Patrick and linebacker Alexander Johnson.
Paton added that he was already trying to re-sign defensive end Shelby Harris, who would be an unrestricted free agent, and that he had spoken to security representatives Kareem Jackson. Jackson has an option year in his contract for 2021 that the Broncos must decide to exercise by the start of the new league year.
‘We have to work through some things; we want Kareem to come back, ‘Paton said. “… We’ll see if we can do it.”