While Lamar Miller first got on the practice field Monday (activated off PUP), he had been with the Patriots for a few weeks after signing as a free agent.
Speaking to the media via video conference for the first time Tuesday, the 29-year-old was asked for his first impressions of his new team.
"I'd say the conditioning part," he said. "Since I've been in the league, I've never ran that much. It was just different for me. They make sure you're in top, great shape. That's something I haven't experienced. Coming in here, once they put me through the conditioning stuff, that was something different for me."
Miller, who missed all of 2019 with a torn ACL, said he signed with New England because he wanted to play for a winner.
"I just felt like it was a great organization," he said. "I've been playing them every year since I've been with the other teams I played at. I just know they're a winning organization. Bill O'Brien, he came from the Patriots so the offense was pretty much similar. I just felt like coming in late in training camp would carry over to just coming here. It's a winning organization, so that's why I came here."
Making the Pro Bowl in 2018, Miller has been productive when healthy playing for the Dolphins and Texans. He ran for over 1,000 yards in 2014 and 2016. The running back also has the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, as he's had at least 25 catches in every year since his rookie season, including a career-high 47 in 2015.
Now, he will compete with Sony Michel, Damien Harris, Rex Burkhead, James White, etc. not only for a roster spot, but if he gets that, playing time.
Miller is just taking things one day at a time as this is his first time being back on the field since the injury.
"(My knee) feels good. Everything feels good," he said. "I'm just out there trying to get better every day. Just continuing to get back in the groove, get better as a player to do anything to help my team win."
