Broncos place exclusive franchise tag on Miller

That figure is problematic, given the Broncos applied the exclusive franchise tag to linebacker Von Miller Tuesday, a designation that could cost as much as $16.9 million for one season. As a result, no other team can attempt to sign Miller away from Denver and should the two sides fail to come to terms on a long-term contract ahead of the July 15 deadline, Miller will account for a massive chunk of the Broncos salary cap space in 2016.

The anchor of Denver’s dominating defense, Miller recorded 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles as the Broncos beat the Panthers to win the team’s third Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Miller’s agent, Joby Branion, has to be thinking the same thing as indicated by the fact that he may with the Broncos and Elway at the NFL Scouting Combine and no deal appears to be in sight.

There are beginning to be a lot of rumblings from around the league that Peyton Manning wants to give it another go next season.

“I’m sure we’ll end up talking”, the inside linebacker said of Fox and his free agency. Much respect to Peyton for what he has done in his career with the Colts and Broncos, but where is there a place for a quarterback who can’t play better than the quarterbacks who played for teams like the Browns, Rams, Cowboys(backups), and 49ers. “I think DeMarcus Ware has had a tremendous effect on him, too. He’s been a big brother for him and Von has responded. It was a matter of him channeling all of his talents in the right way and I think you saw him do that this year.

The Broncos still don’t know if Peyton Manning will be on the roster next season as he mulls retirement, but if they don’t they’ll likely have a similar quarterback lining up under center in Brock Osweiler, according to Von Miller.

That led NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to say: “What an extraordinary player. “He played his lights out and led his team to … one of the best defensive performances in the history of the game”.

Denver has been trying to figure out a way to bring defensive lineman Malik Jackson back in free agency. $19 million can go a long way and it could also help if Ryan Clady and Demarcus Ware restructure their deals.

“Designating Von as our franchise player gives us the time to continue working toward a long-term agreement”, Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager John Elway said.