Denver Broncos beat Miami Dolphins to CJ Anderson deal

CJ Anderson will remain with the Denver Broncos after they exercised their option to match the Miami Dolphins' offer for him.

The Super Bowl-winning running back was a restricted free agent and the Dolphins had seemingly won the race for his signature after agreeing a four-year, $18m deal.

But the Broncos matched that bid at the 11th hour to keep Anderson, preventing another major player following Peyton Manning, Brock Osweiler and Malik Jackson out the exit door.

It wasn't about the money. If it was about the money I would have chosen Chicago, because they offered more.

"Just got off the phone with CJ and let him know we're excited to match the offer sheet," Broncos general manager John Elway wrote on Twitter. "We have high expectations for CJ and are glad he's back!"

Anderson rushed for 720 yards last season and scored five touchdowns. He had already rejected a lucrative chance to head to the Chicago Bears before agreeing a deal-in-principle with Miami, where he would have linked up with ex-coach Adam Gase.

"It wasn't about the money," Anderson said in a press conference. "If it was about the money I would have chosen Chicago, because they offered more."