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Broncos Must Hold the Line

Jun 16, 2016, 3:01 PM | Updated: Jul 27, 2016, 3:04 pm

Let me get this out, up front. I’m all for players getting paid. I long ago stopped being bothered by what athletes make. It’s all funny money made by guys who

live in a fantasy world that I can’t even comprehend, so what’s the point in getting upset? 
I want Von Miller to get paid. I just don’t want him to get paid what he wants. I urge John Elway to deal a hard, but fair, bargain.

It comes down to this: I don’t believe you can remain a consistent playoff contender if you’re allowing your players to set new standards when it comes to getting paid. Over the last few weeks I’ve heard the group of names that Von should be included in when it comes to getting paid. Suh, Watt, McCoy, Dareus, Houston- and now Fletcher Cox. What do all of those high priced defensive players have in common? They all play for teams who missed the playoffs, or, who were part of playoff also rans.

Lets take another common denominator. The four teams that handed out the most guaranteed money in contracts this offseason were the Eagles, Redskins, Giants and Ravens. The total? A combined $650,280,196.00. Wow. Of those four teams, three of course are in the NFC East (so much for the most overrated division in football) and between them three playoff DNQ’s and one, the Redskins, that went a whopping 9-7 to win the most overrated division in football.

Take a look every year before free agency begins. Look at the teams with the most money to spend. Again, mostly NFL doormats. They quickly spend that money on the shiniest free agent toys out there, their fans get excited, and usually those players fail to make the promised impact and those teams go back to being NFL doormats.

The teams that win consistently- for years- are teams that draft well, sign value free agents and avoid handing out industry defining contracts. If you lavish standard setting contracts on players, no matter how deserving, eventually you will hamstring your roster. It is better to trust your ability to continue to draft well, to fill in with smart free agents.

Now, I can already here the argument. What about quarterbacks and the money they make? Broncos have drafted Paxton Lynch as their QB of the future and you won’t have to pay him big money for five years. So why not give Von that “QB money?”

Because QB’s are more predictable. Forecasting four to five years or more of continued good health and excellent performance is easier to do than with a non-QB. Especially one who is built on exceptional athleticism that can fade quickly as well as injury potential that’s already been seen with Von having suffered a season ending torn ACL.

The Broncos are in a position here to make a franchise altering statement. We will pay you well. We will give you a chance to continue to play for a Super Bowl contending team. We will build a team where guys will be paid well AND be given a chance to win, but you will have to be willing to take a little less. If you are looking to nab a contract that will allow you to point and yell “SCOREBOARD” than this isn’t the place for you. 

The Broncos have the leverage here. Von will play this year under the franchise tag. There is no way he forfeits 14 million dollars because of ego. He will play, and he will play well because he has no choice if he wants to eventually get paid. The Broncos can place the tag on him again next year if he refuses to play ball with the Broncos contractually speaking. I’m sure the other players in that room won’t be happy, but all it takes is five minutes in the NFL and you quickly realize this is a business. And if you as a player don’t like the franchise tag, then stop agreeing to it in every collective bargaining agreement with the owners.

As for backlash from the fans, that would ease after time. Broncos already have a ton of goodwill that only increased after winning a Super Bowl. Now is the perfect time to make this kind of policy decision. Plus, the majority of fans are pre-disposed to taking the side of the organization against the perceived “greedy” player who is more interested in chasing the biggest buck instead of doing what it takes to stay part of a winning situation.

Finally, there is this reality. The day may come when the Broncos have to trade Von. It wouldn’t be the end of the world. Nothing would keep the Broncos from getting an impressive haul in return that they can use on younger, cheaper players that will allow them to continue what every Bronco fan hopes is a decade run of excellence. The Broncos and John Elway seem to be pretty good at the whole team building thing. Nothing would keep them from continuing to do that-unless  spending huge sums of money that potentially restrict you from doing the things you do so well- building a Super Bowl TEAM.

– Mike Evans

**Top Photo Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

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