Miller given another starting opportunityJim Miller learned patience long ago. In his first five NFL seasons, he didn’t start a single game, including two years when he didn’t even attempt a pass.

Given his first chance as a starter two years ago by the Chicago Bears, his season was ended a month early when he was suspended for violating the league’s banned substance list after taking an over-the-counter supplement.

Last year he made two starts before tearing his Achilles’ tendon. And then after long hours of rehab, he went to training camp hoping to win the job back, only to injure his hamstring the first week of practice.

Now, Miller has another chance. On Monday he was named the Bears’ starter for their next game Oct. 7 in Atlanta, a reward for leading the team to a 17-10 win against Minnesota after replacing the injured Shane Matthews.

“It’s satisfying. I’ve worked hard and I’ve accomplished one of my individual and personal goals,” the 30-year-old Miller said.

Miller threw a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns Sunday as the Bears reached the end zone for the first time all season and came from behind to beat the Vikings.

The offense always seems to move better when Miller’s running the team, although the circumstances never allowed him to keep the starter’s job in front of Matthews or Cade McNown, who has been traded.

Bledsoe suffering from internal injuries from hit

New England quarterback Drew Bledsoe suffered internal bleeding from a jarring hit in Sunday’s game and is expected to miss “at least a couple of weeks,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Monday.

Bledsoe stayed at Massachusetts General Hospital for observation Sunday night after being knocked out of the game by Mo Lewis’ hit in the fourth quarter of the New York Jets 10-3 win. Bledsoe was given a chest tube to alleviate bleeding in his chest.

“It’s not in his head,” Belichick said, though he also said that his quarterback was “dazed,” “out” and “knocked out.” “It’s some type of internal injury, which isn’t what it appeared to be at the time.”

Bledsoe was expected to remain in the hospital Monday night but he was not expected to need surgery. Belichick said he didn’t know how many games the quarterback would miss.

Tom Brady, who completed one pass all last season but leapfrogged Damon Huard in training camp to be the backup quarterback, will start Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts.

“I’ve always told myself to be ready for the opportunity, because you never know how many you’re going to get,” Brady said.