I’ve been meaning to do this for a while now…but let’s talk about #17 of the Chicago Bears, wide receiver Anthony Miller.
Lost in the talk of Khalil Mack being elected the mayor of Sack City, the development of of the Pretty Boy Assassin Mitchell Trubisky and Coach Swaggy Nagy’s genius has been the breakout season of the 5’11 rookie out of Memphis.
It’s not that people haven’t noticed Miller – he’s hard to miss when he’s scoring tuddies and snatching catches out of thin air. It’s just because the Bears have been kicking so much ass this year that’s it hard to keep up with all the dominance the 8-3 squad has had this season.
So here’s an ode to Miller, a guy who is on the fast track to becoming one of the most beloved Bears on this team.
This dude just lives and breathes what it means to play in Chicago. Sure, he’s a Memphis, Tennessee-native and hasn’t even lived in the Windy City for a whole year yet, but he plays with that blue-collar attitude the city loves. He hustles every single play. He plays with a huge chip on his shoulder. And he’s not afraid to tell it like it is. If that doesn’t scream Chicago, I don’t know what does.
While I’ve loved the catches and touchdowns Miller has blessed us with so far, it’s the intensity my fellow 24-year-old brings to the field that I love even more.
The fact that this man CLOWNED Sean McDermott mid-game when he said Miller didn’t have a catch had me rollllllling and showed he doesn’t take shit from anyone, even if it is the other team’s head coach.
Anthony Miller arguing the completion with Sean McDermott 😂pic.twitter.com/Usvc4hvW56
— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) November 4, 2018
Or how about when he got back up after being hit HARDDD by Eric Kendricks during the Vikings game and let Minnesota know he’s ready to eat? The guy is not human and DOES NOT CARE what you think.
The competitive ego that Anthony Miller possesses is legit. Love it. #Bears https://t.co/PONXDeY3kC
— Jason DiRienzo (@allpurposescout) November 19, 2018
Also, he’s pretty damn funny on Twitter – give him a follow @AnthonyMiller_3
About that chip on his shoulder: have you read the Player’s Tribune article he wrote before the NFL Draft? I think it made Ryan Pace want to trade up to the 2nd round even more to make him a Bear. He let the NFL GMs know who he is. He told them why he’s the shit. He told them why he works his ass off. And told them why he will be great. I read it again as I wrote this blog and GOD DAMN it still pumps me up! I mean, how can you not love this confidence?
I’m fine with being doubted. I love it actually.
Miller also points to future NFL Hall of Famer Steve Smith as his inspiration and I’m all here for it. He says he loved how much Smith “attacked the game” and how he always looked different when he played. If our city gets a man who brings it like Smith every single game, then we’re in for some great football for years to come – he’s off to a pretty good start.
He also did a killer celebration (thanks again, NFL) in honor of Smith against the Vikes. There’s nothing Miller can’t do.
Oh, and I haven’t even mentioned Miller’s stat line yet. How does this look so far for his first year? Mind you, he had to miss a game due to injury.
- 5 TDs
- 29 receptions
- 398 yards
- 13.72 average yards-per-catch
The man is on pace for 7 touchdowns, 43 catches and 597 yards by the end of the regular season. I like that. You know what though? I think he’ll shatter those projections. As Miller has already proven to us, he sees a line written in the sand and runs through it like a boss.
All I’m saying is, watch out for Anthony Miller. The man is coming after the league with a vengeance and he has not going to let anyone stand in his way.
Muhsin Muhammad once said that Chicago is a place where “wide receivers go to die.”
Well…with guys like Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel and our guy Anthony Miller leading the charge – it’s becoming a place where wide receivers become legends.
I’ve got my popcorn ready and can’t wait to see Anthony Miller do his thing in this amazing city for years to come.
It’s Miller Time, baby.
Bear Down
-Kurbs
Follow us on Twitter @branded_sports and watch me get hyped over Miller’s next catch against the Giants @ekurbyun
Featured Photo: Steve Mitchell/USA TODAY Sports