After Brock Osweiler headed for Houston, Denver Broncos executive vice president and general manager John Elway made it clear that he only want players, “who want to be Denver Broncos” but that doesn’t seem to be the case when it comes to Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller.
With the July 15 deadline looming, Miller and the Broncos still haven’t been able to agree on a deal. After Miller turned down an offer worth $114.5 million over six years that would’ve made him the highest paid non-quarterback in the Nation Football League, one former Bronco offered his thoughts on the matter.
Mark Schlereth was a member of the Broncos offensive line during their back-to-back championship seasons, so Schlereth is very familiar with Elway and the Broncos organization as a whole.
On Saturday, Schlereth joined Sports Stampede with Michael Klahr on Mile High Sports Radio 1340 AM | 104.7 FM to share his thoughts on the news regarding the negotiations.
“If John Elway the player in his prime got offered that contract by John Elway the general manager,” Mark Schlereth said. “John Elway the player would try to whip his ass. They would try get in a fight.”
Elway and Schlereth were very close during their playing days, but “Stink” didn’t pull any punches when sharing his feelings on the matter.
“When you think about what the market rate is and what they offered him,” Schlereth said. “It’s a really insulting contract.”
In July 2015, both Justin Houston of the Kansas City Chiefs and Olivier Vernon of the New York Giants signed deals that guarantee them $52.5 million. Miller has made it clear that he’s is looking for close to $60 million guaranteed in the first three seasons of his new deal.
“Now you’re telling me that Von Miller is worth $39.5 million compared to those guys?” Schlereth said. “I’m saying that you’re crazy. You’re crazy to think that.”
Despite Schlereth’s tough words for Elway, he knows knows first hand how tough of a task it is to keep the roster together following a championship season.
“He’s in a situation where, ‘I wanna keep this defense together and I can’t afford to pay quarteback money to a linebacker,'” Schlereth said. “I get the thinking behind it.”
Unfortunately for the Broncos, that’s the price you pay when you win a Super Bowl.
To hear the rest of the conversation and to hear Schlereth’s thought on the offensive line and who he believes will be the dark horse in camp, listen to the podcast below…
https://soundcloud.com/milehighsports/6-11-16-mark-schlereth-joins-ss-and-believs-the-broncos-contract-offer-to-von-miiller-was-insulting
Catch Sports Stampede with Michael Klahr every Saturday from 8-10p on Mile High Sports AM 1340 | FM 104.7 or stream live any time for the best coverage of Colorado sports from Denver’s biggest sports talk lineup.
