Atlanta on Friday.IN THE PAINTThe Pistons continued to struggle at one of the games simplest sk

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Heath Miller, yet to practice with the Pittsburgh Steelers, took the next step in the rehabilitation process after right knee surgery some eight months ago when he was taken off the physically unable to perform list. The nine-year veteran tight end, who tore three ligaments in his right knee against Cincinnati last December, called the move a step in the right direction. He remains vague about a possible return date: The Steelers open the season hosting Tennessee on Sunday. "My mindsets not going to change," Miller said Monday. "I just want to keep improving each day and keep stacking those good days together. I still want to think short term, so thats day by day, and keep getting better. Thats brought me to this point, and that will take me to a good point soon." He left it up to Steelers coach Mike Tomlin to determine when Miller can put the pads on. The two-time Pro Bowler, however, remains steadfast that he has never looked beyond incremental improvement. "I feel good, and Ive worked hard to get to this point," Miller said. "Hopefully, I can take these last few steps. Fortunately, the timing of the injury was pretty good, because I dont feel like I missed as much as I could have if I would have had to sit and watch through a whole season." Still, Miller anticipates a bit of a learning curve after sitting out training camp and each of Pittsburghs four exhibition games. "I did have to miss the preseason, which is never fun when youre not out there with your team, but I know that Im closer to the end than the beginning," Miller said. "So, thats a good thing. "As Ive said all along, and Im not lying to you guys, Ive just tried to take each day (and) get better, and I knew if I did that it would be a good outcome, whatever that was." Millers even-keel approach and tireless work ethic has rubbed off on his teammates, particularly fellow tight end David Johnson. Johnson missed the 2012 season after right knee surgery and was taken off the PUP list several weeks ago, but spent time working alongside Miller as they moved through the final stages of rehabilitation. "Its getting a whole lot better, and I think its going pretty good," Johnson said. "Im just blessed to be back out here and working. Its been a long road, but its feeling good. And every day its getting a whole lot better, and my running and blocking is getting a whole lot better every day as well." While Johnsons presence gives the Steelers one of the better blocking tight ends in the league, he is an afterthought in the passing game. Not Miller, who led Pittsburgh with 71 receptions and eight touchdowns last year. "The team needs Heath," Johnson said. "I feel like once he gets all the way back hell help the team even more. We ran a little bit together, and hes doing pretty good. So, I think hell be all right. And whatever the team needs me to do until he gets back, Ill be ready for it." Miller could follow the path running back Rashard Mendenhall took last season. Mendenhall missed the opening three games and returned after Pittsburghs bye week. This season, the Steelers play four games before hitting their bye in early October. NOTES: The Steelers signed free agent P Zoltan Mesko on Monday and waived P Drew Butler. Mesko averaged 44.2 yards per punt in three seasons with New England ... The Steelers also claimed CB Antwon Blake off waivers and released CB Isaiah Green ... Fourth-year RB Isaac Redman is the starter for the second straight season. Second-round pick LeVeon Bell (mid-foot sprain) said he is jogging now, but he likely will be deactivated for the opening game. Discount Air Max 1 . -- Once again, Carlos Santana was a huge hit in Kansas City. Cheap Air Max 1 Online . Matt Carkner got back into the Ottawa lineup, and made his presence felt right away by settling his clubs score in a one-sided fight with Rangers forward Brian Boyle. http://www.airmax1wholesale.com/ .Y. - The New York Rangers have reached a one-year contract extension with goalie Cam Talbot, keeping Henrik Lundqvists backup away from unrestricted free agency. Cheap Air Max 1 . Azarenka needed exactly one hour in a 6-1, 6-0 rout of Austrian Yvonne Meusburger to start the night session at Laver Arena. Sharapova had a much easier time earlier in the day with cooler conditions and took full advantage in 6-1, 7-6 (8-6) win over Frenchwoman Alize Cornet, while Radwanska had to rally for a 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. Cheap Air Max 1 China . Bjoerndalen, who had failed to win any major race for two years before Sochi, writes in a Facebook entry that he is "full of energy and inspiration" after winning the 10-kilometre sprint and mixed relay at last months Olympics.AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - The Phoenix Suns arent known for winning games with defence.On Wednesday night, though, they pulled it off.The Suns held Detroit to 37.9-per cent shooting, including just 7 for 25 on 3-pointers, to pick up an 88-86 victory over the Pistons.It was an ugly game, especially in the first half, but well take it, Phoenix coach Jeff Hornacek said. Weve had some games where we thought we could win them at the end, and this time we almost let one get away, but we just want to win games any way we can.Phoenix appeared to have the game locked up when they led 85-77 with 1:52 to play, but Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Brandon Jennings combined to hit three straight 3-pointers to give Detroit the lead with 35 seconds left.We hit some big shots and got some big stops in that stretch, Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said. Then they got an easy one to win it.On the first possession after Caldwell-Pope had put Detroit ahead, Eric Bledsoe sliced through the Pistons defence for an easy basket.That felt good, said Bledsoe, who led Phoenix with 18 points. My coaches and my teammates let me get the ball and make the play. That gives you confidence.Phoenix then knocked away a pass and blocked a shot before Caldwell-Pope missed a desperate 3-pointer on Detroits final possession and Bledsoe hit a free throw with 1.3 seconds left.You are always going to have frustration when you lose, but games like this are even tougher, Greg Monroe said. We just needed one more play, out of all the plays tonight.P.J. Tucker added 16 points for the Suns, who have won four of their last six.Brandon Jennings scored 19 points to lead Detroit, who is already on its third three-game losing streak after just 12 games of the season.The game was played on the 10th anniversary of Pacers-Pistons brawl at the Palace of Auburn Hills that was started when Ron Artest went into the crowd after being hit by a thrown beer. The cllosest thing to a repeat came in the second quarter, when Markieff Morris and Caldwell-Pope exchanged shoves.ddddddddddddPhoenix dictated the tempo in the first half, forcing the Pistons to play outside their comfort zone, but werent able to take advantage. The Suns outshot Detroit in the half, but couldnt keep them off the boards at either end. Detroit used its nine offensive rebounds to trail just 44-43 at the intermission.The Suns frustrated the Pistons in the third quarter — Monroe and Jennings picked up technicals for arguing the same call — and led by as many as nine, but couldnt finish them off. Jennings finished with 13 in the quarter, and the Suns still only led by one heading to the fourth.With Jennings on the bench, Phoenix moved the lead back to seven before he returned to start Detroits late rally.TIP INSSuns: Phoenix struggled to keep post players in the game, as both Miles Plumlee and Alex Len had five fouls in the fourth quarter, while Markieff Morris had four. ... The Suns have won nine of their last 12 against Detroit, and snapped a three-game losing streak at the Palace.Pistons: Tayshaun Prince, now with Memphis, is the only player who played for the Pistons in the brawl game that is still in the league. He was also the only player on either team who didnt leave the bench during the initial confrontation between Artest and the Pistons Ben Wallace.UP NEXTPhoenix: At Philadelphia on Friday.Detroit: At Atlanta on Friday.IN THE PAINTThe Pistons continued to struggle at one of the games simplest skills — scoring in the paint. For the second time this season, Detroit missed 30 inside shots, going 23 for 53 (43 per cent). Phoenix, on the other hand, was able to score easily inside, hitting two-thirds of their shots (21 for 32). Detroit averages 48 per cent inside this season, one of the worst percentages in the league, while their opponents average 54 per cent. Wholesale Hoodies NFL Shirts Outlet Jerseys NFL Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '