SANTA CLARA, CA – FEBRUARY 07: Von Miller #58 of the Denver Broncos reacts after a play against the Carolina Panthers in the fourth quarter during Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium on February 7, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

There may be some tension brewing for the defending Super Bowl champions Denver Broncos, who will be without their star pass rusher for a while.

It was recently reported by Mike Klis of 9News.com that linebacker Von Miller would miss the start of the team’s offseason program as he continues to participate in NBC’s Dancing With the Stars and because he has not yet signed a contract.

The situation is very similar to last season, when receiver Demaryius Thomas was franchise-tagged but stayed away from team activities because of his commitment to Dancing With the Stars while simultaneously being in the midst of securing a long-term deal. Oftentimes, this leads to frustration on the part of coaches who would really love to have their best players present. For a Broncos defense that lost some key pieces to free agency, Miller’s presence is crucial in an offseason where the Broncos hope to keep their defense rolling from last year if they want to get back to the Super Bowl.

This may appear as if Miller holds all the cards because he is holding out for a longer deal that pays more than what the Broncos are offering, but Miller faces a risk of losing a lot of money if he gets injured and doesn’t join the Broncos’ offseason program. If Miller signs what’s called a “letter of protection” and participates in the Broncos’ offseason program, he will receive the full $14.129 million amount the Broncos are offering, even if he suffers a season-ending injury. But if he were to suffer a season-ending injury while working out on his own, he wouldn’t see any money at all.

The Broncos workouts, which start on April 18, will have to make due without one of their primary pass rushers. Miller may want to have a talk to teammate Aquib Talib, who stated just days prior that Miller told him he would be present at the start of their offseason program. Yet, everyone else seems more aware of Miller’s absence. Seems like a little bit of a breakdown in communication between the two.

[9News/Pro Football Talk]

 

About Colby Lanham

Colby Lanham is a graduate of Clemson University who, in addition to writing for The Comeback, has written for SI's Campus Rush, Bleacher Report, and Clemson Athletics. He is an alumni of the 2015 Sports Journalism Institute, where he also worked as an editorial intern for MLB.com. He has interests in football, basketball, and various forms of pop culture.