The expectation is that the Broncos are going to use the franchise tag on Super Bowl MVP Von Miller, partly because they can’t let him reach the open market and partly because that’s how they’ve always done things around there.
But Miller said regardless the tag, he expects to eventually end up with a long-term deal with the Broncos, because of his relationship with executive vice president John Elway.
“I put in all the work I can possibly do,’' Miller said, via Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com. “If I was with any other organization, if I was with any other team, maybe I’d be worried about everything, but I’ve got John Elway. He’s played, he’s had experience with this whole process. I feel comfortable. Me and John’s relationship is great: He was there when I was going through stuff and he never wavered. I feel like we won’t waver now either.
“It will be a great experience, and it will be peaceful — there’s no reason for it not to be.’'
Well, there are millions of reasons it could be, but the Broncos have a pattern of tagging their own guys and extending them before the season starts, so it’s reasonable to expect the same thing will happen with their star pass-rusher.
And Miller also believes that once he’s back, he’s going to be playing with DeMarcus Ware again. The 32-year-old Ware has a year left on his contract.
“Most definitely, I definitely think he’s going to be back,’' Miller said. “We need him back. You saw the job he did, not only with me, but with everybody in the locker room. That alone is worth every penny, then when you add in his pass rush, all the skill he still has, of course I would like to keep DeMarcus and think he will be back.’'
Ware has been important to Miller at several levels, shepherding him through a torn ACL and a substance abuse policy suspension. That, as much as the pass-rush presence he adds on the other side of the line, makes Miller hopeful they can all stay together.