PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NFL : Hugh Millen: $3 Million, 2 Years

New England’s Hugh Millen, a journeyman fighting for a job a year ago, has reaped the benefits that come to an NFL quarterback who has a decent season.

Millen, a former Ram who started 13 games for the Patriots last season, signed a new contract, reportedly worth $3 million over two years.

“I know that’s what is expected of me,” Millen said. “I have to continue to take it to another level every year.”

The contract would make Millen one of the 20 top-paid quarterbacks in the NFL.

“This merely signifies that you are beginning to play at a level you need to,” said Millen, who made $575,000 last season. “My goal indirectly should be to double this salary. That would be a product of playing and producing at another level.”

Millen, 28, joined the Patriots last year as a free agent from Atlanta after being cut and re-signed several times by both the Falcons and the Rams. He completed 246 of 409 passes for 3,073 yards and nine touchdowns with 18 interceptions last season as the Patriots went from 1-16 to 6-10.

In his first four NFL seasons, Millen threw a combined 145 passes. He was a third-round draft pick of the Rams in 1986.

Joe Montana limited his work to only 40 passes as he eased his way into a comeback at the start of the San Francisco 49ers’ training camp.

“It was hard to say I looked forward to coming, but I did,” said Montana, 36, who missed all of last season because of a torn right elbow tendon.

“It’s been a while since I’ve had an opportunity to play,” he said. “I’m getting close to the end so you cherish every minute of it. You just hope that things go well and hope you can play again.”

Montana described the limited regimen as a precaution.

“I probably could play right now . . . if I had to,” he said.

Montana said he still feels some tightness in his elbow but that it is nothing serious.

“You know, they took the tendon and tied it back down so it’s going to feel a little tighter,” Montana said.