Heath Miller named Steelers’ MVP
By Matt Shetler
The 2012 season was a disappointing one for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but not individually for tight end Heath Miller.
Miller capped off a career season catching the football by being voted the Steelers’ Most Valuable Player, the first tight end honored with the award since the team starting giving it in 1969.
Dec 23, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Heath Miller (83) drops a pass in front of Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Ray Maualuga (58) during the second half of the game at Heinz Field. The Bengals won the game, 13-10. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
Miller has a team-high 71 catches for 816 yards and eight touchdowns, also career-high numbers in yards and touchdowns.
“It‘s an honor and humbling, but the overriding factor is the disappointment of the season and not doing what we set out to do, “Miller told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Alan Robinson before having surgery.
As good as Miller is catching the football, what separates him from pretty much every tight end in the NFL is his ability to also be a dominant blocker.
Miller was voted to his second Pro Bowl on Wednesday even though he can’t compete, but his teammates, especially quarterback Ben Roethlisberger are glad he is finally getting the recognition he deserves.
“It’s great to see him get the recognition,” Roethlisberger told 93.7 The Fan. “The teams in the AFC North know how good he is and it’s nice to see the rest of the league take notice. He is one of the hardest workers in the locker room and it’s great that he is finally getting recognized for it.”
Other Steelers players who were honored with season-ending awards included Mike Adams (Rookie of the Year) and Casey Hampton (The Chief Award).
The Steelers were 4-2 in games started by Adams and had their three best games on the ground, including a pair of 100-yard performances from Jonathan Dwyer and one from Isaac Redman.
Hampton was honored by the Pittsburgh chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America for media cooperation.