Less than 24 hours after video surfaced of Von Miller telling Chelsea Handler he couldn’t see himself sitting out, Von Miller has changed his tune.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BGuKlc7m0DP/

The message:

“I love my Teammates, Coaches, and My Fans” but there is “No Chance” I play the 2016 season under the Franchise tag.”

NFL players have very little leverage in contract negotiations, and the best card they can play is the one Von is playing right here. It was only a matter of time before he played it.

As for the timing of the post, right after he told Handler the opposite, read into that however you please. The important part is that these negotiations have become a bit of a chess match now.

First, the Broncos (presumably) leaked that Von had turned down their offer, then Von Miller took to Instagram the first time, cropping Elway out of a White House picture, now Miller makes a much clearer statement. A statement ESPN’s Jeff Legwold said Miller’s PR firm emailed him to make sure he saw.

The two sides still have a month to come to an agreement but, as reported here last week, frustration has been building in Miller’s camp. We’ll see who moves the next pawn.