But some of the darkest doubts were ones he faced alone this year, the ones athletes face internally after a major injury places their careers and futures in doubt. That injury hit Miller Nov. 12 in Buffalo when he tore his left Achilles' tendon while straining for a first down against the Bills. Two days later he underwent surgery for an injury about which he had heard the worst. But knowing what I know now, that it'll actually heal stronger, I have no doubts that I'll be back. You always want to come back better and stronger than you were, and that's what I'm trying to do.
Fear is a great motivator.
It's part of what's motivating me to come back. I just want to be better than I was. Yeah, there are times you doubt it. Within a short time after the surgery, Miller was clomping his way into team and position meetings, effort that was not lost on teammates. The Achilles' feels good now, but the scar tissue and blood residue stiffened the joint.