Steelers sign Heath Miller to extension
July 29, 2009
The Steelers ended 2008 with lots of players going into the last year of their contract. During the course of the off-season, they have done an excellent job of locking up most of them.
Yesterday, the team signed tight end Heath Miller to a six-year extension. The deal is reported to be worth $35.3 million, including a $12.5 million signing bonus.
This writer has often argued that Miller is one of the best tight ends in the NFL. Because Miller plays in the Steelers’ run-oriented offense, he doesn’t get as many opportunities to catch the ball as some of his counterparts do. But Miller’s hands are as good as any tight end’s in the league. Moreover, Miller may be the best blocking tight end in the NFL.
Despite being an afterthought in the Steelers’ passing game, Miller has always done his job with quiet efficiency. He is a blue collar player who does whatever is asked of him. He never complains or demands more catches. It is this quality that makes him the perfect tight end for the Steelers.
While Miller may not be the most important signing of the Steelers’ off-season, he is the player that I am happiest to see get an extension.
Congratulations, Heath. You deserve it.
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I find this just a little shocking (not in a bad way because he definitely deserves it), but I thought when we drafted Spaeth I thought that he was Millers eventual replacement. Also what are some thoughts on the rest of the players next year that may or may not be resigned. That being Ryan Clark, Casey Hampton, Jeff Reed, Willie Parker, and Brett Kiesel (correct me if I’m forgetting someone). Also does anyone think that he should have been signed before or after the above listed players?
1Benny,
I never saw Spaeth as Miller’s replacement. Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians likes using multiple tight end sets, so having two good ones on the roster makes sense.
I was concerned when the Steelers hadn’t signed Miller going into camp. I thought he should have been one of their highest priorities. I don’t think there are any of the unsigned players that should have been signed before Miller. This may shock some fans, but I think the next highest priority on the list is Jeff Reed. Reed doesn’t get enough credit for how good he is. Sure, he is a bit loco, but that’s just him.
IMO, Brett Keisel has not distinguished himself and is not a particularly high priority. If Rashard Mendenhall has a good year, then Willie Parker becomes less of a priority. I think the Steelers want to see how that battle works out before extending Parker.
Many pople are ready to write off Casey Hampton because of his age and weight. I’m not. I don’t think he will hit the jackpot with the Steelers, but if they can sign him to a reasonable deal, I think they should. His replacement is not on the roster, and NFL caliber nose tackles are VERY hard to find.
2@ admin
I actually do agree with sign Jeff Reed because of his reliability at home. I think we all know very well what happens when you don’t have a key component on the field on special teams(please stay healthy Sepulveda). But like you mentioned he is a little crazy and I’m not sure if he is wearing thin on management (though none of his issues really went national, I no longer live in Pittsburgh and I didn’t hear anything major). But above of Reed I’d really like to see Ryan Clark resigned because for no other reason he knows how to lay down the hammer on recievers.
Also keep up the great work on the site. I’ve been telling all my fellow Steelers fan about your site. Also on side note, this question is for anyone that reads it, isn’t “Steeler” grammatically incorrect?
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