ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- A day after being eliminated from "Dancing With the Stars," Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller took to Instagram Tuesday afternoon to rave about the experience.
Miller said he "Made lifelong friendships!!," adding that he was "blessed" to have appeared on the show and he thanked his dance partner, Witney Carson.
Miller was voted off Monday night after performing as Elvis for the show’s "Icons Night." Miller and Carson scored 24 out of 30 for the performance.
Miller is not expected to attend the Broncos’ offseason workouts, which began April 18. Phase 2 started Monday, which allows on-field work with coaches.
The Broncos designated Miller as a franchise player, which includes a guaranteed, one-year tender for just over $14 million for the upcoming season. He has not signed the tender, in hopes that a long-term deal can be worked out.
In the weeks leading up to the draft the Broncos had made one formal contract proposal, after multiple discussions, to Miller’s representatives, and Miller’s agent, Joby Wright, had made a formal counter-proposal.
Broncos executive vice president of football operations/general manager John Elway said Saturday night "I hope so," when asked if a deal would get done before the July 15 deadline. The last two position players to have had the franchise player tag for the Broncos -- Ryan Clady and Demaryius Thomas -- skipped the team’s offseason program and signed long-term deals before training camp.
After July 15, the Broncos would have to wait until the end of the 2016 season to negotiate a long-term deal and Miller would have to play under the guidelines of the one-year tender.
At an event for his foundation last week -- Miller’s foundation provides eye exams and eyeglasses for Denver-area children in need -- Miller continued to express optimism for a new deal.
"I'm expecting (a deal) any day. That's just the type of mindset I've got. I'm optimistic about it," Miller said. " … I'm training, grinding, staying in shape, and whenever the time comes I'll be ready to go … It's still all positive. It hasn't really been, there's really not anything negative about any of this stuff. Of course I want to be there with my guys, but I feel like me and my teammates, we've put ourselves in great situations for this offseason."
Asked if he would play the 2016 season under the one-year tender if no long-term deal could be reached, Miller said: "I don't know, I really haven't put too much thought into that. If I could go in there and do agent stuff and represent myself, if I could, I would do that. But that's just not my field. My field is getting after the quarterback, keeping my locker room together."