Miller knows thrill of SB victory
Bears tackle won the Big Game with Rams in '00
The only current Bear to have played on a Super Bowl winner, when he was with the St. Louis Rams in 2000, Miller, who is listed at 6-7 and 314, has told his curious teammates they are ''going to the greatest show on Earth.''
''I told all the guys that it's going to be crazy nonstop and not to get caught up in all the hoopla,'' Miller said. ''They have to enjoy it and also they need to get their work done. There are a lot of little things with schedules and media day, but once the whistle blows, it's a normal football game.
''I showed my teammates my ring. They know what's at stake. But after all the talking, when you start cracking heads, it's just a football game. But this is the pinnacle. the game you play for.''
On paper, it appears the Bears could have a field day running the ball against the Colts' 32nd-ranked run defense. But Miller knows better.
''I know that team and have played against them many times,'' he said. ''Early in the season, their defense was trying to do a lot of things and with a lot of tricks. They simplified things and are letting their talent take over.
''Our offensive line is a key because as a football team, you don't want the other team to dictate what you do. At this point, there are no secrets. Our recipe for winning is defense, run the ball and let the special teams create a big play.''
Miller and his teammates on the line have helped running backs Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson's contributions get bigger as the season went on.
''Thomas likes to go out and just do his job,'' Miller said. ''Anytime you see a guy working as hard as he does to develop his talent, you have to respect that. We have a great 1-2 combo. We know what Thomas and Ced expect and we know how our backs run.
''Any lineman would notice when a guy like Thomas comes back from the offseason with arms as big as my legs, He's worked very hard to be successful.''
Miller was a fifth-round draft pick of the Rams out of Baylor in 1996. In 2000, he signed with the Tennessee Titans and was released in 2005.
Since signing with the Bears, Miller has started 34 of 35 games, He sat out Week 9 in 2005 with a jaw injury. And since 1998, the durable Miller has missed two games.
''It's been a remarkable ride this season,'' Miller said. ''Hopefully we can finish it off with a win. Even with all the buzz, it's still football.
''Chicago has been great. The people here love their football and love their Bears. In the locker room after the Saints game, a lot of the guys were hugging and crying. This one, we hope, can give something back to the fans.''
Miller is one of the keys to a veteran, solid and efficient line anchored by All-Pro center Olin Kreutz and includes Ruben Brown, John Tait and Roberto Garza.
''We really are getting better every week. And I think we can play even better than we did against New Orleans.
''This season really hasn't surprised me. from the start, I always thought we had a chance. We built on last year. We learned from how we messed up in the playoffs last year. And we got some young guys that came in here that have made a difference.''