Falcons’ Miller Signs $9-Million Deal With Rams : Pro football: Oft-injured quarterback passes physical examination, works out. Everett is expected to be traded soon.
Quarterback Chris Miller, best known for his passing accuracy and a susceptibility to injury, signed a three-year, $9-million contract Monday to play for the Rams, the team he idolized while growing up in Claremont.
“I know I will help the Rams a bunch,” said Miller, who will require one to three months of further rehabilitation on his surgically repaired left knee before being cleared for unlimited work.
“I’ve had some bad luck injury-wise, but my knee feels great. I’ve been running and it’s only March and I have the time to get it stronger.”
The Rams gave Miller a $900,000 signing bonus with yearly salaries of $2.1 million, $2.7 million and $3.3 million. The Rams also maintained a first right of refusal on Miller, who earned $1.85 million with the Atlanta Falcons last year, once his contract expires in 1996.
The Rams, desperate for a starting quarterback after the performances of Jim Everett and T.J. Rubley last season, talked recently about pursuing Green Bay’s Brett Favre or Miami’s Scott Mitchell or trading for Houston’s Warren Moon.
But they went with Miller, a Pro Bowl selection for Atlanta after the 1991 season who has twice undergone reconstructive surgery on his left knee.
Team physicians put Miller through a four-hour examination last week and then told Coach Chuck Knox that Miller’s knee was at no more risk than any other player’s. Miller also worked out for Knox at Rams Park.
“He will definitely be ready for our mini-camp (in May),” Knox said. “He’s almost 100% right now. He’s going to move here right away and we will have him continue his rehab under the direction of our team doctors and our trainers.”
Miller tripped on the Georgia Dome’s artificial turf in the eighth game of the 1992 season--against the Rams--and suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. After undergoing reconstructive knee surgery, he out-dueled Bobby Hebert for the Falcons’ starting job in 1993, but played poorly and was replaced by Hebert in the third game of the season.
Atlanta Coach Jerry Glanville put Miller into the fourth game of the season with the Falcons trailing the Steelers, 45-17, and 13 minutes remaining. On his first play, Miller re-injured his knee.
He has also sat out in the last seven years because of a bruised chest, cracked ribs, sprained ankle, sprained knee and a broken collarbone that required the insertion of a steel plate.
“I never dreamed he would pass our physical examination,” said Joe Vitt, Ram assistant coach. “I wasn’t even considering him as a likely candidate for that reason. But the doctors said he is a month ahead in rehab and we have computer reports tracking his progress.
“You meet him and you have to like the guy.
“This was a great quarterback when he was healthy, and that’s it--that’s the whole thing. If he stays healthy, we’ve got a good one.”
Only Dan Marino, Fran Tarkenton, Joe Namath and Bernie Kosar reached the 10,000-yard passing mark at an earlier age than Miller. In the last three seasons he has thrown 42 touchdown passes with 27 interceptions.
Miller, although effective in the Falcons’ run-and-shoot attack, was also hurt by that offensive philosophy, which allows fewer blockers to protect the quarterback. The Rams should be able to keep him out of harm’s way.
“I haven’t run a play-action pass in four years, which will be a nice change,” Miller said.
“It’s a refreshing start, and I like the idea of having a big horse like (Jerome) Bettis back there.
“I wanted to stay on the West Coast and I wanted to play on grass, and the Rams werer my No. 1 choice.”
The Rams decided weeks ago to trade Everett, who started 87 consecutive games before losing his job, but have been waiting to sign a replacement before doing so. The team has talked to the New Orleans Saints about Everett.
Under the NFL’s new salary cap, Everett’s projected earnings of $2.65 million in 1994 count against the Rams’ cap total and therefore will probably undoubtedly motivate the team to deal trade him quickly. Miller will cost the Rams $2.4 million this season--the $2.1-million base salary and $300,000 of the $900,000 signing bonus, which will be spread prorated over three years.