05/30 — Justin Miller was in a playful mood — he rarely isn't — after Thursday's OTA practice, when he was surrounded by more reporters than since his Game 2 injury last September.

I asked him if one play he was in on that day, the end zone pass from Chad Pennington that Laveranues Coles couldn't hold, was kind of a significant play, indicative of his first reps with the Jets in a long time.

"Every play's significant," he said with a smile. "I could name a couple of other plays."

Did you get a piece of the ball?

"What do you think? If you say I did, then I guess I did."

From where I stood on the Jets' upper grass field, on the other sideline from the play and partially screened, I thought Miller might have tipped the ball. Later, others who had a better view from that sideline said Miller didn't get a piece of it but probably got his hands in Coles' field of vision.

Regardless, it was good to see Miller out on the field again. In fact, he was working at both sessions open to the media this week, Wednesday and Thursday, after head coach Eric Mangini seemed to indicate that JM would continue in his slow rehab mode toward 100 percent participation in training camp two months away.

"I just go out there day to day. I'm just an employee. Whatever job they ask me to do," Miller said about whether he was surprised to get the green light to not only begin limited practice again but even to get some reps with the first defense.

But he couldn't deny a certain feeling.

"It always feels good to play football," he said. "If you’ve been in this game as long as any of us have, you’ll understand it’s always good to rep a play and play with a bunch of guys that you love to get around. It’s very exciting.

Miller said he had no concerns about his speed, one of the key traits that enabled him to earn a Pro Bowl trip as the AFC's kick returner two seasons ago and to make progress toward a starting corner job last fall before he got hurt.

"I’m positive about everything. I’m very optimistic," he said. "I worked hard. I think the doctors worked hard. We all worked together. All we want to do is just get out here and be the best in full gear and put ourselves in the best position possible."

Just because Justin was improving and drawing the attention of the coaching staff last summer before he ran into physical issues, there are no guarantees that he'll be able to close in on that elusive starting job. Setting his dynamic 2006 kickoff returns aside, he's started only 12 games in his three Jets seasons, only four under Mangini, and has yet to make a pro interception.

But Miller talked a lot like Bryan Thomas did at the same time that day about the mass of talent and experience at CB — Darrelle Revis, of course, plus Hank Poteat, David Barrett, Drew Coleman, fourth-round pick Dwight Lowery, two-year CFL man Étienne Boulay, one-time first-round pick Andre Woolfolk, and undrafted FAs Jonathan Zenon and Kenny Patton. Phew!

"You're on the field, you play," he said. "You don't think about who's out there or what's going on. You want to rise to that to compete and make your team better. And in addition to that, you want to win, and I think that's the main goal for all of us."

Miller's Lucky Number

We reported in March that Justin Miller had downshifted his uniform number from 22 to 21. Miller told us this week why.

"I grew up a big Deion fan," Miller said. (Need we mention the last name? OK. Sanders.) "In high school and college I wore No. 9. Once I got here, cornerbacks have to wear double digits. And 21 was always taken until this year."

True enough, when Miller arrived as a second-round pick in 2005, Derrick Strait had already staked out 21 the previous year. And when Strait left after '05, Andre Dyson arrived and the more senior unrestricted free agent preferred it.

I haven't checked with Dyson, but perhaps he was a Deion aficionado as well? When he was drafted by the Titans in 2001, he wore 22 while CB Samari Rolle, who had been with Tennessee for three seasons, wore 21.

In one other item from the numerology department, just-signed RB Musa Smith is wearing 40. TE Joe Kowalewski wore the number last season and the past two camps. Before that, you have to go back to James Hasty's last season of '94 to find a 40 on the regular-season roster. The last Green & White RB to wear 40? Hank Borklund from 1972-74.