Green not looking to replace Miller with Steelers
Ladarius Green, who signed a four-year deal with Pittsburgh Thursday, had 37 receptions for 429 yards and four touchdowns with San Diego last season.
A Pittsburgh Steelers helmut sits on the turf before an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
PITTSBURGH – New Steelers tight end Ladarius Green might have been signed as a replacement for retired Heath Miller, but Green knows it will be difficult to replace Miller in the hearts of fans.
Green, signed to a four-year, $20-million contract in free agency by the Steelers, got a first-hand look at how beloved Miller was last season when Pittsburgh traveled to San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium.
Steelers fans took over the stadium that day in San Diego in Pittsburgh’s 24-20 victory, and every time Miller, the team’s all-time leading receiver among tight ends, caught a pass, there was a familiar refrain.
“When they came and played us, all you would ‘Heath’ in the background every time he would catch a pass,” said Green, who spent four seasons with the Chargers, to Steelers.com.
Green (6-6, 250) doesn’t expect to hear the stadium erupt in calls of “Ladarius.” In fact, he prefers to be known by his nickname, PeeWee, one he has had since childhood.
It might not have the same ring as “Heath,” but, as Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said a couple of weeks ago, life without Miller will certainly be different for the Steelers.
“You don’t replace a Heath Miller,” said Tomlin. “You simply do the best you can to move on and understand the attributes of those that follow are theirs and you don’t try to look for them to be something they are not.”
Green won’t try to do that.
“Everybody knows Heath was a great guy, a great player,” Green said. “If you went in there thinking about trying to replace him, that would be a tough job to do. He is so great. I can only hope to do half of what he has done for this organization in my game and help this team any way I can.”
Miller retired last month with 592 career receptions for 6,569 yards and 45 touchdowns, all records for a Pittsburgh tight end.
But Green is accustomed to replacing star tight ends. He was the backup to Antonio Gates in San Diego the past four seasons. The Chargers chose to re-sign the 35-year-old Gates earlier this week, allowing Green to test the free agent market.
The Steelers made him a priority signing.
“I am real excited. Everyone seems excited, I am excited,” said Green, who had 37 catches for 429 yards and four touchdowns last season. “Everybody knows the history of the Pittsburgh Steelers. It’s a historic team. The offense is explosive. They have a great quarterback, great receivers and running backs, and a great offensive line. It’s a great team.”