The Steelers have signed two veterans, safety Troy Polamalu and tight end Heath Miller, to new three-year contracts that will keep them with the team through the 2016 season. Financial terms of the deals were not released.
Polamalu (5-10, 207) was originally drafted by the Steelers in the first round (16th overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft. For his career, he has started 130 regular-season games and 14 postseason contests. Polamalu’s 32 career interceptions are tied for the seventh-most in team history, and his five career defensive touchdowns are tied for the second-most in franchise history.
He has earned numerous NFL honors throughout his career, including being named AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2010 and to the 2000’s NFL All-Decade Team. Polamalu was also named first-team AP All-Pro four times (2005, 2008, 2010-11), second-team AP All-Pro twice (2004, 2007), earned eight Pro Bowl selections and earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors seven times.
He was also selected to the Steelers’ 75th Anniversary Team in 2007, named Steelers’ MVP and Steelers’ Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2010, and won the Joe Greene Great Performance Award, given annually to the Steelers top rookie in 2003.
Miller (6-5, 256) was originally drafted by the Steelers in the first round (30th overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft. He has started 136 career regular-season contests and 12 postseason games, and has established himself as one of the top tight ends in franchise history.
Entering the 2014 season, Miller ranks in the Top 10 in franchise history in receptions (third, 466), receiving yards (fifth, 5,273) and receiving touchdowns (fifth, 40). His receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns are also the most by a tight end in team history.
Miller currently has a personal-best streak of 81 regular-season games in which he has played in with at least one reception. His team-best streak began during the 2008 season and is the second-longest streak in team history (Hines Ward, 186).
A two-time Super Bowl Champion (XL and XLIII), Miller became the first tight end in team history to be named Steelers’ MVP when he took home such honors for his 2012 campaign. He also won the Joe Greene Great Performance Award, given annually to the team’s top rookie in 2005.
Article courtesy of the Pittsburgh Steelers.