Ron Cook: Steelers’ Miller in a class by himself as blocker, receiver and person

Ben Roethlisberger has a pact with Heath Miller, the man he calls the best teammate of his career.

“I’ll tell you how much he means to me,” Roethlisberger said. “I made him promise that he’ll let me know ahead of time when he’s done. I need a whole year to know it’s his last year. I don’t want him to come to me the last game and say, ‘This is it for me.’ I want to enjoy my last ride with him. I made him promise me.”

And?

“He hasn’t said anything yet,” Roethlisberger said, grinning.

Miller, as understated a Pittsburgh athlete as there has been, confirmed the arrangement. He, too, smiled when he said there has been no announcement to Roethlisberger.

“I just focus on the task at hand,” Miller said. “When the time comes, I’m sure I’ll know.”

There has been no indication that this season Miller’s 11th in the NFL will be his final one. He had eight catches for 84 yards in the opening game at New England. He caught a 2-yard touchdown pass and a 2-point conversion pass Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.

“It’s such a comfort to know that I can miss when I throw it to him and the worst that will happen is an incompletion,” Roethlisberger said. “Heath doesn’t make mistakes. As a quarterback, when you’re back there and things are panicking and you don’t know what’s going to happen, I know my guy is going to be right there and he’s going to make something happen.”

Miller said one thing keeps him going. It is not the camaraderie with the guys, although that is important. It is not the competition, although that motivates all great athletes. It is not the statistics, although Miller’s make him one of the best tight ends in NFL history. It is not the money, although he has made millions.

“Winning is No. 1, by far,” Miller said. “There’s no better feeling.”

Miller has done his part to help the Steelers win two Super Bowls and play in a third. It’s not just his numbers as a receiver; he helps power the running game as a traditional blocking tight end. But the numbers are impressive. With his sixth catch against the Patriots Sept. 10, he moved into second place on the Steelers’ all-time receptions list behind Hines Ward. He ranks third in receiving yards and fourth in touchdown catches.

“No one knew that he moved into second place,” Roethlisberger said. “I knew about it. I said something to him. He said, ‘Shhhh!’ That’s just who he is. That’s unbelievable. He passed Hall of Famers (John Stallworth and Lynn Swann). I told him, ‘Heath, let’s try for No. 1,’ because that means I keep him here for 10 more years. We had a good joke about that.”

Here’s another example of who Miller is:

“We laugh when he drops a pass because he thinks it’s the end of the world,” Roethlisberger said. “I’m talking about just warming up.”

And a third example:

“All receivers say they are open every play,” Roethlisberger said. “Heath never says he’s open. I have to go back and watch film. I’ll be like, ‘Heath, you were open.’ He’ll say, ‘Yeah, but I didn’t want you to think about it.’ That’s why I say he’s the most selfless guy and teammate I’ve ever had. Jerricho (Cotchery) was very similar. I feel so lucky to have him.”

Roethlisberger isn’t the only one to gush about Miller. This was offensive coordinator Todd Haley Thursday: “He just might be the best player I’ve ever coached. Just all around. There have been guys with more talent, but to be with him on a day-to-day basis and see his football intelligence ... “

Haley called Miller “priceless” for Roethlisberger.

“Even in the protection things and the run game. If a call is wrong, he makes it right. Today, he caught something on the script that I had written backwards. Even when he tells you that you made a mistake, it’s as classy as can be. He’s just a great human being.”

Miller would prefer to take a big hit than react to that kind of praise. He squirmed a bit and said, “I think Coach Haley might have been stretching it a little bit.”

Haley didn’t back off.

“Heath is the complete package. He’s everything.”

All parties agree Miller isn’t the same player he was. He hasn’t been the same since his ACL in his right knee was torn in the final game of the 2012 season when he was the Steelers MVP. (“I vote for him every year,” Roethlisberger said.) His work week has changed. He usually takes Wednesday off practice. “Come Sunday,” Miller said, “I always feel good and am ready to go.”

Miller played in all 16 games last season and had his third-best statistical season with 66 catches for 761 yards and three touchdowns.

“I think last year he was as good as he’s been,” Roethlisberger said. “I remember that first year after his knee surgery, everyone was like, ‘He’s done.’ Well, of course, he’s not going to have the same speed he did when he was a young guy. But he’s never going to lose his smarts. He’ll never lose his desire. He’ll never lose his ability and desire to put team and everybody else first. I’m just glad I’ve been able to spend a long time with him.”

Now, Roethlisberger is greedy. Of course, he’s greedy.

“I want to spend a lot more time with him.”

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