ENGLEWOOD, Colorado. – With a decision on the future of Von Miller, Denver Broncos general manager George Paton said Thursday that the team wants to return to the 2021 defender, but is waiting to learn more about possible legal issues than Miller may have and did not rule out a discussion about a pay cut for him to return.
“We’re still working on it with Von, his agent, and as for the legal process, we’ll just let the legal process unfold,” Paton said. “But obviously it’s a serious situation, but we want to let it develop before we comment on it.”
Miller, eight times selected for the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl 50 MVP, has an option clause in his contract that if the Broncos would host him he would guarantee $ 7 million from Miller’s $ 17.5 million base salary and would participate in the last year of a six-year period. , A $ 114.5 million deal he signed in 2016.
The Broncos, as well as Miller, are still awaiting a decision from Denver’s eighteenth-district judicial district attorney 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 of what specific charges Miller could face.
Miller did not respond to requests for comment. If charges are filed, Miller could also face the prospect of league discipline.
Asked whether Miller’s return could also depend on a pay cut, Paton said:
“We want to get Von back; we’re still working on it, I don’t want to get into everything, but we want to get him back. Obviously, the legal process, what’s going on, is a serious situation, obviously, and I don’t know all the details, but I respect what “We want Von back.”
Miller missed the entire 2020 season after an ankle injury, just days before the season opener. At the time, coach Vic Fangio said he had hoped Miller would have “a hell of a year.”
Miller’s eight sacks in 2019 were his lowest total since 2013, when he finished with five sacks after serving a six-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy and after suffering a Broken ACL in December of that year.
Miller leads all active players who were on the NFL charts last season with 106 sacks.
Miller is the longest-serving player in the Broncos and was John Elway’s first draft pick as the team’s top football executive. Elway stepped down as general manager earlier this year before Paton was hired in January.
Other issues that Paton and Fangio addressed on Thursday:
“[I] I did a deep dive with Drew … very talented, sometimes inconsistent, he has a lot of work to do, but I’ve talked to Drew … he really wants to be great, “Paton said.” We’re always going to compete in all positions, also as a quarterback, but I like Drew’s track … He has all the traits you look for in a quarterback.
“We’ll be aggressive, we’ll be in every deal, it doesn’t mean we’ll do it, but we’ll analyze everything, whether it’s a quarterback or a defensive linebacker, anything that helps our football team, we’ll chase it.”
Paton also said he would not publicly discuss any quarterback on another team’s roster, such as Deshaun Watson, and that the Broncos would consider using draft No. 9 pick on a quarterback “if he’s the best player on the board, I’ll take him.” .
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When he re-signed security Justin Simmons, who played on the franchise player label last season and is about to be an unrestricted free agent, Paton said: “Justin is one of our basic guys and the “Our goal since I got here was to sign him to a long-term deal. We’ve had good conversations with his agent. I don’t know if we’ll get a deal or not, but that’s our goal. He’s the kind of guy we’d like.” zoom in. “
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The return of right-back Ja’Wuan James, who opted for last season over concerns with COVID-19.
Both Paton and Fangio said they had talked to James and that James had to return to the Denver area in the coming weeks to train.
Paton said the Broncos would bid for three of their most prominent restricted free agents: runner Phillip Lindsay, great receiver Tim Patrick and defender Alexander Johnson.
Paton added that he was already trying to re-sign defensive end Shelby Harris, who will be an unrestricted free agent, and who has spoken with Kareem Jackson security representatives. Jackson has a one-year option in his 2021 contract that the Broncos must decide to play at the start of the new league year.
“We have to work on a few things; we’d like Kareem to come back,” Paton said. “… We’ll see if we can do it.”