All Zach Miller knows is he’s not setting any limits on his recovery – and his doctors aren’t either.
Whether the Chicago Bears‘ tight end can play again after a gruesome injury last season nearly cost him his left leg still is to be determined.
”There has not been a definitive `You can never do this again
Authentic Adrian Gonzalez Jersey ,”’ Miller said.
”That hasn’t been talked about. It’s approach this as you are planning to get back to where I can be myself and play football, and then when that time comes
some of that is out of my hands. So, I’m just going to do as much as I can to
get to that point and see what happens.”
The Bears placed Miller on the physically unable to perform list on Tuesday, one day after he signed a one-year contract. The deal was at least a goodwill
gesture for a popular player who dislocated his knee trying to make a touchdown
catch during the Week 8 game at New Orleans. He has undergone nine surgeries
since then, but was walking on his own by late December.
Miller has been spending several hours a day at the team’s facility in rehab and meetings. Though he is not yet allowed to run, he can at least play with his
children.
He’s also wearing a brace on his leg to hold up a dropped foot that was brought on by nerve damage. The nerve started functioning again in the past
month, and Miller ”wanted to have a party” that day.
”I don’t think I’ve ever been mentally defeated – ever,” he said. ”I feel good. I’m happy with where I’m at and with my recovery. I’m happy with the steps
that we’ve made. Positivity has been one of my qualities that’s helped get me
through all this stuff. I’m in a good place right now.”
He said being around the team, having ”that brotherhood” and people who ”check in on me” helps.
Miller also praised chairman George McCaskey and an organization that has ”taken care of me since Day 1.”
”It’s tough for me to put it into words what it means to me, but very thankful and just grateful to be a part of this family,” he added.
Defensive end Akiem Hicks was glad to see the organization taking care of his teammate.
”That’s what it said to me, that they’re willing to make sure that we’re all right and give us the opportunity to get better and just loyalty
Cheap Joseph Noteboom Jersey ,” he said.
Coach Matt Nagy called it ”without a doubt” the ”right thing to do.”
”I was happy for him,” Nagy said. ”We talked along with (general manager Ryan Pace) and it’s a good story and it needed to be done.”
Miller signed a futures contract with the Bears at the end of the 2013 season. After spending 2014 on injured reserve, he started 28 of 33 games while
making 101 receptions for 1,161 yards and 11 touchdowns the past three years. He
also spent three seasons with Jacksonville.
A healthy Miller probably would have a big role on a team that invested heavily on the offense in the offseason in order to get the most out of
quarterback Mitchell Trubisky.
The Bears hired an offensive-minded coach in Nagy to replace the fired John Fox and overhauled their receiving group, most notably signing Allen
Robinson.
They believe bigger things are in store after four straight last-place finishes in the NFC North. And Miller would love to play in Nagy’s offense.
”That’s the bittersweet part of it, seeing first of all how awesome Coach Nagy is, not only as a guy but his football knowledge is unbelievable,” Miller
said.
”Very cool, very collected, has a little bit of swagger to him, which is just fun to be around. Then you go to the football field and you look at the scheme
that we have. It would be a lot of fun to be a part of. It’s not in the cards
quite yet for me to take part in that.
”But as I sit and I watch and I see the weapons that we have and what we’ve added, the dynamic ability that we have as a collective group
Patriots Troy Niklas Jersey , positive future here and I’m excited to be a part of it.”
—
Coming off a troubling season, New York Giants cornerback Eli Apple seemingly has grown up.
A bad attitude led to a suspension for the final game of the 2017 season and a couple of benchings earlier in the campaign has been replaced by a
business-like approach.
That's rapid progression for a soon-to-be 23-year-old who appeared to have worn out his welcome two years after the Giants drafted him with the 10th pick
overall.
The change didn't just come. It's been coming since Pat Shurmur was named coach and Dave Gettleman took as general manager. They met with Apple after a
3-13 season and told him he would be starting with a clean slate.
"It is definitely important for me, first impressions," Apple said. "I just wanted to show that I was a hard worker and just continue to show that even now
as we continue to go on with these practices, staying on top of that and trying
to get better every day."
Apple is going to be a key piece for the Giants in James Bettcher's 3-4 system. He has the talent to be a lock-down cornerback, which would give the
Giants two. Janoris Jenkins is on the other side of the field.
"They have a lot of confidence in me," Apple said of the coaching staff. "They told me that they feel I am a really good player and as long as I listen
to them, I can get better and become a Pro Bowl player. I see that as well. With
my athleticism, I see myself, especially in this defense, I see myself as
excelling in it and I am looking forward to the season.is"
Apple started 11 of 14 games as a rookie and finished with two interceptions, 49 tackles
http://www.ravensauthorizedshops.com/authentic-hayden-hurst-jersey , and a fumble recovery, playing on a team that went 11-5 and earned a playoff
berth. Last year was a horror. He started seven of 11 games, didn't have an
interception, and was suspended for the final game of the season for getting
into an argument with coaches about playing on a scout team. The Giants called
it conduct detrimental to the team.
Safety Landon Collins didn't hesitate to say last season that Apple needed to grow up.
Apple won't say what caused the turnaround, but it's obvious something has changed.
On the field now, Apple is all smiles and ready to work. The former Ohio State product frequently goes over to Jenkins and picks his brain.
"Like when I see Jackrabbit make a play on the other side, I think to myself, 'OK, it's time for me to make a play if the quarterback comes my way,'" Apple
said of Jenkins. "But it's always fitting that I'm trying to pick his brain
because he was All-Pro, Pro Bowl corner, so he's definitely one of the best in
the game. So
Giants Cheap Jerseys , if I can learn as much as I can from him, that'll make me a better player."
Apple also is taking no downs off. Early in Saturday's workout, he hounded first-year receiver Amba Etta-Tawo on a pass over the middle. Later on the
Giants' first day in pads, he gave second-overall draft pick Saquon Barkley a
good bump on a running back.
Shurmur certainly has been impressed by the new version of Apple.
"With my eyes, just a few months into this, I'm seeing a guy that's all about his business," Shurmur said. "He is very business-like and he is covering really
well, which is a good attribute for a corner. I like the way he is working. He's
out there challenging but he is also being smart. Based on what I have seen,
there are very few mistakes that he is making when we move the coverage around
and I like the way he is functioning in the building."
.
