NFL news: Around the league in 32 plays

It’s Friday, Addicts, and that means it’s time for another weekly roundup of all the NFL news and rumors from around the league.  It was quite the week as moves were made, injuries happened, and drama unfolded in the public eye.

More from Kansas City Chiefs News

• Former Chiefs cornerback in legal trouble in Las Vegas
• Chiefs news: Travis Kelce wants to host fan ‘chug-off’ in Germany
• KC Chiefs send Dave Merritt to NFL coaching accelerator
• Creed Humphrey lands on PFF’s Top 25 Under 25 list
• Tyreek Hill, Davante Adams prove themselves away from star quarterbacks

With minicamps wrapping up, we’re about to hit the “down time” of the NFL offseason when little of anything happens.  However, we do have a few interesting contract situations yet to player out.

One of those belongs to Kansas City with Eric Berry, though at this point that situation does appear to be the most mild.  It certainly hasn’t gotten the recent attention that Kawann Short, Kirk Cousins, and Muhammad Wilkerson have…and those ones fall well short of the reality tv show that is the Von Miller contract talks.

Lead Story: Von Miller And The Broncos Digging In

Let me start by saying that I really don’t believe there is any way the Broncos don’t sign Miller to a new contract.  As much pressure as they are going to be putting on their defense to perform this year, they cannot afford to not have Miller on the field.  But here’s the problem…Von Miller knows that.  And Von Miller is going to make them pay top dollar for that.

This story started out kind of optimistic with a contract offer being made public.  Usually, that’s a sign that the sides are talking and are probably getting a good deal closer to a deal.  It’s been no secret that Miller expects to be the highest paid defensive player in the NFL.  It’s also no secret that the Broncos feel they shouldn’t be punished for the idiotic contracts the Dolphins gave Suh and the Bills gave Vernon.  Unfortunately, the Eagles punched a nice big hole in that when they signed Fletcher Cox to a blockbuster deal.

Some pundits argue that the Cox deal doesn’t matter because the Broncos weren’t using the other two contracts as negotiating points.  That’s incorrect.  Why?  Because Von Miller wants to be the highest paid defensive player in the NFL, and he doesn’t care what team is paying what price for what position.  He wants top dollar, top guaranteed dollar, top signing bonus dollar, the whole thing.

Now Miller did go on Chelsea Handler’s talk show and make it clear that he doesn’t see himself sitting out this season or leaving the Broncos organization.  Then he promptly turned around and made that same point very unclear with this tweet…

Yikes.  It’s tough to look at that tweet in a positive light (though many in Denver are trying to).  And regardless of anything positive that anyone took from his interview with Chelsea Handler, this clearly does not match the same tone.

I still think the Broncos get this deal done, but it’s going to cost them an awful lot, and will definitely put a strain on their ability to make other contracts happen.  He’s already got his Super Bowl ring with the team…so there’s no reason to accept a cent less than what he’s after.

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