<p>ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos have exercised star linebacker Von Miller’s 2021 option.</p>
<p>The move engages the final season of the six-year, $114.5 million contract Miller signed in 2016 in the aftermath of his Super Bowl 50 MVP performance.</p>
<p>It also guarantees him $7 million of his $17.5 million base salary.</p>
<p>Tuesday was the deadline to exercise his option or Miller, who turns 32 this month, would have become an unrestricted free agent. The Broncos tweeted without comment an <a href="https://twitter.com/Broncos/status/1371814631476367367?s=20"> image of Miller </a> celebrating the team’s Super Bowl triumph five years ago.</p>
<p>Miller has recovered from a freak ankle injury that sidelined him all of last season, and he recently was cleared of off-the-field concerns when the local district attorney’s office declined to bring charges against him following an unspecified investigation by the Parker, Colorado, police department.</p>
<p>Before that, new general manager George Paton said he wanted Miller to remain in Denver but was monitoring his legal situation before committing to his return.</p>
<p>Miller was John Elway’s first draft pick back in 2011, when he was the No. 2 overall pick behind Cam Newton, whom he dominated in Super Bowl 50 to help Denver beat Carolina 24-10 in Peyton Manning’s farewell game.</p>
<p>Miller is the Broncos’ all-time leader with 106 regular-season sacks and 25 forced fumbles. He is an eight-time Pro Bowler.</p>
<p>Last year he became the first NFL player and first superstar athlete to announce he’d contracted COVID-19. After recovering, he embarked on a strenuous strength and conditioning program and appeared primed for a big season before suffering an ankle tendon injury six days before the opener.</p>
<p>The move to keep Miller came a day after the Broncos agreed to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-denver-broncos-bryce-callahan-football-coronavirus-pandemic-8cb391932fa33f942d048526f7c1dae0">three-year deals</a> with Broncos veteran defensive end Shelby Harris and cornerback Ronald Darby, who spent last season in Washington.</p>
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