Chris Miller might a real catch for the Los Angeles Rams if his left knee is sound.

That is, of course, a very large "if."The Rams seemed convinced enough that Miller is sound, signing the quarterback to a three-year, $9 million deal on Monday.

Miller, 28, had his last two seasons at Atlanta cut short by knee injuries that required major surgery. He is expected to start for the Rams, who benched longtime starter Jim Everett last season and have put him on the trading block.

Many teams chose not to go after Miller, who has thrown for 14,066 yards, because of concerns that he could be damaged goods.

"The only way to answer questions about Chris' knee is to defer to our medical staff. They gave him a detailed physical exam and they pronounced him fit and ready to go," Rams coach Chuck Knox said.

"We believe his knees are strong. His chances of being injured in those areas are no greater than someone who hasn't been injured previously."

That's what Miller, who spent his previous seven NFL seasons with the Falcons, believes as well. He blames his first injury on Atlanta's artificial turf and last year's knee injury as a complication from the first surgery not being done properly.

"After the second surgery I went to one of the best surgeons in the world, Dr. Richard Stedman in Colorado, and he did a great job," Miller said Monday in a conference call. "I've gone through his rehab and I feel great.

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"The knee is stronger, right now in March, than it was last July when I started training camp. I'm confident in it and ready to go."

Knox said: "Chris Miller's our man because we felt he's proven what he can do at this level. He's won a lot of big games, he's been to the Pro Bowl and we felt that he was the best man available."

Miller, born in nearby Pomona and a star for the University of Oregon, said he was excited about joining the Rams.

"There were a lot of reasons why I wanted to come here," he said.

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