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Steelers’ Scotty Miller the rare receiver to work with both Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers | TribLIVE.com
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Steelers’ Scotty Miller the rare receiver to work with both Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers

Chris Adamski
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Chaz Palla | TribLive
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Scotty Miller runs down the sideline after a catch during Saturday’s training-camp practice at Saint Vincent College.

There isn’t much precedent throughout NFL history for a team starting a quarterback age 41 or older. Only a handful of passers have achieved the feat.

Scotty Miller is on track to get the opportunity to say he has caught passes from two of them.

Miller, who turned 28 last week, is fighting to make the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 53-man roster for a second consecutive season. If he does, 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers will be his quarterback.

Between 2020 and 2022, Miller caught 70 passes (including playoffs) from Tom Brady. At the time, Brady was between 43-45 years old.

Miller offers a unique perspective in that he can evaluate similarities between Rodgers and Brady, who between them combined for seven of the NFL’s 14 MVP awards from 2007-20. Miller said each succeeded by excelling at the small things.

“They’re similar in that way,” Miller said from Saint Vincent over the weekend. “You don’t get to where they are without being extremely detail-oriented.”

Miller had what he called “one of the biggest plays of my career” with Brady, and at Rodgers’ expense, during January 2021 in the NFC championship game — a 39-yard touchdown catch in the final seconds of the first half for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against Rodgers’ Green Bay Packers.

“The first time I met (Rodgers) at the (Steelers) facility at minicamp,” Miller said, “he was like, ‘I’m still mad at you for that play,’ because we knocked him out right before heading to the Super Bowl. So it’s been fun kind of seeing his perspective on that game, on that play, and just kind of going back and forth with him.”

It’s been more fun for Miller catching passes from Rodgers — and the Steelers’ other three quarterbacks — during training camp. On a team looking for depth at wide receiver, a case could be made that outside of star DK Metcalf, Miller has been the Steelers’ best WR in camp. At least, arguably the one with the most catches in team drills.

The 5-foot-9, 174-pound Miller brings to the position room six seasons, 87 games (including playoffs), 99 receptions, 1,280 yards, seven touchdowns and one Super Bowl ring of experience.

“I pride myself on, for one, just being able to do what I (am asked) to do,” Miller said. “Just the receiver position, just being able to play all the different spots, being able to play the slot, being able to go outside and beat bigger corners one on one, and then just being able to help on special teams as well. So I try to just be versatile and try to help the team any way I can.”

Miller is in the mix for one of five (at most, six) active-roster spots at wide receiver. Metcalf and Calvin Austin III are guaranteed to be part of that group, and it would be shocking if Roman Wilson or Ben Skowronek aren’t, too. Wilson was a third-round pick just last year, and Skowronek excels on special teams and signed a two-year deal in March.

That leaves Miller battling with 13-year veteran Robert Woods, three-year veteran Brandon Johnson and a host of younger players for the remaining wide receiver roster spot(s).

Miller brings with him a connection to offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who was the head coach and play-caller for the Atlanta Falcons when Miller played there in 2023. Miller also was trusted enough by Steelers coach Mike Tomlin to play in 13 games last season. The Steelers in March signed Miller to a one-year deal for the second consecutive season.

Tomlin likes the versatility Miller provides.

“He knows all the spots,” Tomlin said. “He’s highly conditioned. He’s very competitive. He’s a been-there, done-that guy, and so there’s a lot of value in his presence.”

Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.

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Categories: Sports | Steelers/NFL
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