Heath Miller represented everything the Steelers think they stand for.
He was a hard-working player who always gave an honest effort and had no interest in glory beyond being part of a winning team. He represented the team well on and off the field.
No doubt the chants of "Heeeath" pleased him, but he never bothered to spend time in front of a mirror to work out a celebratory dance to accompany that soundtrack.
If there really is a "Steeler way," Miller's picture would be on the cover of the handbook.
The Steelers, like all NFL teams, are at the mercy of their players. Sometimes you wind up with a talented but immature quarterback who winds up in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Then you draft players who get pulled over and wind up being suspended for games because there was marijuana in the car.
On a lesser scale, there are the receivers who have to celebrate a six-yard completion by either spinning the ball on the turf or doing an exaggerated version of the referee's first down signal.
None of the above from Miller. He showed up for work, then he went home to his wife and kids. A big night out might have been Dairy Queen.
It was a winning formula, which is why he'll be missed now that he's announced his retirement as quietly as possible.
When Miller was in his prime, you could count on three things: 1. If he got his hands on the ball, he would catch it. 2. He wouldn't fumble. 3. It would take at least two defenders to tackle him.
Those qualities have all diminished in recent years, but that happens after 11 long seasons of high-impact football. Remember, Miller wasn't just a pass-catching tight end. He also served as an adjunct offensive lineman who blocked in some formations.
As he leaves football, you can only hope his fearless style didn't take too big a toll. He received some hellacious hits over those years, and there's heightened awareness now of the long-term danger that can cause.
When he comes back for reunions, you hope the best tight end in franchise history has good memories when he hears the inevitable cheers of "Heeeath."
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--PARTY FIZZLES
The Dapper Dan banquet used to be a huge deal, one of the major stops on the winter circuit.
Its best years were at the Hilton Hotel, where sponsors would buy hospitality suites that made for a boozy buffet that ran all night. There were also reports of very friendly women who set up shop and offered companionship for a fee.
The Dapper Dan became more afterthought than major event for a while, but has rebounded in recent years. There are enough high rollers who will shell out for a night of corny speeches and re-warmed cafeteria food to make it a success.
Last week's edition wasn't much, though. The Sportsman of the Year, Steelers receiver Antonio Brown, didn't attend. Mike Tomlin accepted his award. Maybe winning for a second consecutive year was old hat for Brown, but he apparently had business elsewhere.
The Sportswoman of the Year, soccer star Meghan Klingenberg, was also absent. She was away training for the Olympics.
There were other award winners, notably Dick Groat and Pascal Dupuis, but it doesn't seem like much of a party when the guests of honor aren't there.
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--FASHION STATEMENT
OK, the Pirates are going to flash back to the '70s and sport garish throwback uniforms for Sunday home games. The disco era ensemble will include a gold jersey, black pants and the black cap with horizontal stripes.
If they're going to all that effort to have the players re-create that era, shouldn't they order leisure suits for the announcers?
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