Two days away from the Broncos convening for their initial voluntary workouts of the offseason, Von Miller called Gary Kubiak to inform him he won’t be in attendance for the summer program, Mike Klis of 9News reports.

Slapped with the exclusive franchise tag worth $14.129MM, Miller expressed regret to the second-year head coach during the conversation due to the fact he doesn’t have a long-term contract with the Broncos yet, sources told Klis.

But the sixth-year linebacker’s absence isn’t surprising. He has not signed his tenure and is pursuing a landmark contract for a defensive player. We heard last week the Broncos’ best offer so far to Miller was more than $17MM per year. Denver hasn’t moved far off that number, with its latest proposal hovering around $18MM AAV, Klis reports. The Broncos have been resonant in wanting to keep his price tag below Ndamukong Suh‘s $19.06MM-per-season accord, per Klis.

The Broncos and Miller’s agent, Joby Branion, have continued negotiations this week, Klis writes.

Miller finds himself in the on the same terrain as Muhammad Wilkerson. Both pass-rushing dynamos have observed many of their fellow 2011 draft picks — from Cam Newton, to J.J. Watt, to Marcell Dareus, to A.J. Green — receive lucrative extensions, while both the Jets’ and Broncos’ stars from that class played their 2015 seasons on the team-friendly fifth-year options and are currently among the franchise-tagged contingent.

Although, Miller hasn’t been connected with any trade rumors like Wilkerson. The Broncos have signed each of their three prior tagged performers under sixth-year GM John Elway.

Miller’s stance remains that he’s worth far more than what the Giants paid for Olivier Vernon, whose $17MM-per-year deal is structured so the former Dolphins standout receives $29MM in Year 1. New York could afford to structure Vernon’s deal this way due to a cap situation far friendlier than what Denver was working with going into the offseason.

The Broncos currently possess $8.2MM, according to OverTheCap, but that is with Miller on their books for $14.129MM. A long-term deal would bring this 2016 figure down, and Denver could afford to pay out more of Miller’s presumptive contract down the road. The team’s $80MM+ in space available in 2017, as of now, represents the most in the league.

None of the Broncos’ three previous franchise-tagged players under Elway’s regime — Matt Prater, Ryan Clady and Demaryius Thomas — participated in offseason workouts, so despite his expectation that Miller would be back in Denver on Monday for the start of the 2016 program, it’s hardly shocking that the Dancing with the Stars participant won’t be.

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It appears Von Miller‘s Dancing with the Stars run will likely keep him from beginning offseason workouts with the Broncos. Well, that and the fact the star pass-rusher hasn’t signed his franchise tag yet. Unless the 27-year-old Miller is eliminated from the competition Monday night, he will remain in Los Angeles for the duration of his stint on the show, Mike Klis of 9News reports.

But the bigger takeaway from Klis’ report is the Broncos have offered Miller a deal that would pay him between $17-$18MM per year.

That total would place the Super Bowl MVP second among all defensive players, behind only Ndamukong Suh‘s $19.06MM, in terms of average annual value.

Despite Miller’s demand of a $22MM-AAV deal in line with elite quarterbacks, the Broncos do not want to exceed Suh’s annual salary, Klis writes. Without Peyton Manning‘s $15MM+ cap number on their books as it was from 2012-15, Miller would become the highest-paid Bronco on a per-year basis — since the full parameters of Denver’s offer to Miller is not yet known — if he opted to accept this deal. Klis reports Miller is not expected to sign his franchise tender anytime soon.

Denver’s No. 2 pick in 2011, Miller believes he’s worth far more than the $17MM-AAV deal Olivier Vernon signed with the Giants based on the edge-rushers’ disparate sack numbers. The Broncos have eclipsed Vernon’s per-year mark but not nearly to Miller’s liking. A 2012 second-rounder, Vernon has 29.0 career sacks and one season with more than 10. Miller, a two-time first-team All-Pro, has 60.0 and four 10-sack+ seasons.

Vernon, however, was able to push his price this high because he was a free agent, whereas Miller will have a difficult time moving the Broncos to beyond $20MM per year due to the fact they’re negotiating with the franchise tag in play. Miller could play this year on the tag and be re-tagged next year — like the Seahawks did with Walter Jones — and still fall well short of Suh’s $19MM+ salary since his exclusive franchise tag is worth $14.129MM.

So, this standoff will likely continue well into the summer. If the sides don’t reach an extension agreement by July 15, Miller will play the 2016 season for $14.129MM.

Had Miller not been involved in this television competition, the fact that he hasn’t signed his tender would keep him out of Denver. Demaryius Thomas bypassed Broncos workouts until being signed to a five-year extension last July. Gary Kubiak told media, including Klis, he expected every player on the roster to attend these workouts, including Miller.

Klis doubts Miller will be eliminated from a contest that has actually induced Miller to take up residence in L.A. to practice at least four times per week. Dancing with the Stars arranges housing for its contestants.

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The Broncos and Von Miller haven’t begun substantive talks on a long-term extension, but when the sides do resume discussions, the outside linebacker’s asking price will be in line with what elite quarterbacks earn annually.

Miller will ask for close to $22MM per year, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). As of now, the only players who earn that per year are Joe Flacco and Aaron Rodgers.

The outside linebacker’s reported price stems from what he could earn on the open market, especially considering Olivier Vernon‘s $17MM-AAV deal with the Giants. Miller’s camp views Vernon as a far inferior talent, Cole said. Multiple GMs told Cole that Miller’s demand isn’t unrealistic, with the star pass-rusher potentially being able to command $24-$25MM per year as a free agent.

Miller, who turns 27 on Saturday, posted 25 sacks the past two regular seasons compared to Vernon’s 14 and has four double-figure sack slates on his resume compared to Vernon’s one. So, his side will probably point out the chasm between these performers’ production.

John Elway has signed the three players he authorized a franchise tag for with the Broncos, giving long-term deals to Matt Prater, Ryan Clady and Demaryius Thomas in July of 2012, 2013 and 2015, respectively. But with Miller — the first player since Drew Brees in 2012 to receive the exclusive franchise tag — aiming to establish a new realm of defenders’ contracts, these negotiations figure to be more complex.

Justin Houston established the benchmark for outside rushers last season by signing for $16.8MM per year. Ndamukong Suh makes $19.1MM on average. Despite his two first-team All-Pro honors and his five-sack postseason, Miller will probably have trouble securing over $3MM more than Suh earns annually due to his franchise tag.

Miller’s tag will pay him just more than $14MM, and should he opt to play on that this season, the Broncos could apply the tag again in 2017 on a 20% raise ($16.95MM). With that figure coming in well shy of what Miller’s seeking, the Broncos aren’t necessarily inclined to measure what Miller could earn on an open market like the Giants were with a UFA like Vernon.

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