It doesn’t seem like Bengals safety George Iloka (the troll that he is) tried to crack Steelers tight end Heath Miller in the head. He did it all the same, though.
Miller demonstrated four things that will resonate with Steelers fans long after he’s gone. Miller made the catch. Miller got up after the hit, handed the ball to the official and didn’t engage in any kind of defiant posturing after it.
Not to suggest letting Iloka know the pass was caught, the play resulted in a first down and he was about to be penalized is all that bad of a thing. It’s just not Heath’s style. And don’t think he won’t seize the opportunity to release a bit of emotion here and there.
Oh, and Iloka was in on coverage again. Oops.
Yes, the Steelers lost this game, and no, these two plays don’t define the entire career of Earl Heath Miller. They do show, even at the end of his career, Miller made plays. Miller showed emotion, and Miller displayed restraint, all when his team needed him to do those things.
He’ll be missed more than people outside Pittsburgh might know.
