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Steelers’ Miller still performing

4 min read
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PITTSBURGH – Heeeath.

That’s the collective chant that Steelers fans have perfected every time tight end Heath Miller catches a pass. You can often hear it even when the Steelers are on the road.

Steelers fans have had the opportunity to yell Miller’s name – actually his middle name since his first name is Earl – 540 times over his 11 years in the NFL.

While fans are quick to celebrate when Miller catches a pass – sometimes mistakenly so when it’s another tight end – it’s the opposite for the soft-spoken Steelers tight end. He quietly goes about his business.

That’s why he hasn’t made a big deal about what he accomplished last week at New England, when he caught eight passes in the Steelers’ 28-21 loss.

Those eight catches moved him past Hall of Fame receiver John Stallworth (537) and into second place on the Steelers’ all-time receptions list behind leader Hines Ward, who had 1,000 in his career.

Making a big deal out of that isn’t Miller’s way. And more important, he would have preferred if he had caught no passes and the Steelers (0-1) had won the game.

He will get a chance to add to his total Sunday, when the Steelers host San Francisco (1-0) in their home opener.

“I’m sure it will be special at some point,” Miller said. “This is a storied franchise. I don’t know if I’ll be able to play enough years to catch Hines, though. Another decade.”

“I don’t think Hines is nervous at all,” he added with a chuckle.

Miller is seeing the next great pass catcher for the Steelers, Antonio Brown, pile up receptions at a prolific rate. Coming off a season in which he had 129 receptions, Brown now has 399 in his first six seasons.

“Probably next year. He might pass me this year,” Miller said with a laugh.

With the approach the 32-year-old Miller takes, perhaps he could play another decade.

His teammates wouldn’t bet against it.

“He’s aging well,” said quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Miller’s longtime roommate at training camp and on the road when they were younger. “He’s a guy that works and takes great pride in his craft. He makes sure he’s in great shape and ready to go.”

Miller certainly was ready to go against the Patriots.

With the Steelers playing without a pair of suspended stars in running back Le’Veon Bell and receiver Martavis Bryant, they turned to Miller as their No. 2 option behind Brown.

As has been the case throughout his career, he responded, consistently hurting the Patriots in the middle of the field and providing strong blocking to help running back DeAngelo Williams rush for 127 yards.

Miller looked a lot like the player the Steelers selected in the first round of the draft in 2005. Maybe he doesn’t have the speed he once did – age and a 2012 knee injury have slowed him – but his knowledge and approach to the game are unquestioned.

“I don’t think it’s the young Heath, not quite as dynamic, but man, what a football player,” said Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley. “What a guy to have on your team. Maybe he is the best football player I’ve been around, just all-around what he brings to you, in such a quiet and unassuming way. But he commands such leadership. He’s just a great football player, and he’s great to have around. The injury, obviously, slowed him. But I think he is back to where he was.”

The Steelers will take that each week.

Miller knows he’s closer to the end of his career and would like to add another Super Bowl ring to the two he’s already won with the team.

He knows the window remains open as long as Roethlisberger, with whom he has played all 11 seasons, remains the Steelers’ quarterback.

“I don’t take for granted that I’ve had the same quarterback for my whole career. I’m sure not a lot of other guys can say that across the league,” Miller said. “Obviously, if he’s been the starter here for 11 years, that speaks to the caliber of quarterback he is. I don’t take that for granted. I realize how fortunate that I am.”

Odds and end zones

Linebacker Ryan Shazier (knee) and cornerback Cortez Allen (knee) returned to practice Thursday on a limited basis for the Steelers. … Cornerback Brandon Boykin (groin) missed practice for the second consecutive day. … For San Francisco, only running back Reggie Bush (calf) has missed practice this week.

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