ATLANTA -- Having long ago replaced the petulance of his early seasons with a pragmatism nurtured through years of experiences both good and bad, Chris Chandler has learned to roll with the punches and make the best of every situation now.

So as he prepared Friday to join his seventh different franchise in 15 seasons, Chandler seemed more intent on winning a championship than another a starting job, a disparate departure from the attitude with which he entered the league in 1988.

"Things happen," said Chandler, 36, who on Friday agreed to a three-year contract to serve as the principle backup to Chicago Bears starter Jim Miller. "There are some things that aren't always in your control, and there's nothing you can do about that. But the things you can control, and this was one of them, you want to make sure about. And I'm sure this is a good situation."

Chandler will sign a contract worth $4.5 million and it includes a $1.25 million signing bonus. There are escalator clauses that, based on playing time and performances, could catapult the value of the contract to $7.8 million. Chandler was to have earned a base salary of $5.8 million for 2002 but that was before the Atlanta Falcons, intent on elevating 2001 first-rounder Michael Vick to the starting job, released him earlier this spring for cap reasons.

The Falcons did not afford Chandler the option of restructuring his contract and remaining as a backup to Vick, the first player selected overall in the '01 draft, and the veteran quarterback said he can understand the rationale of not having him look over the youngster's shoulder.

In Chicago, he will join a team that was 13-3 last season. He knows Miller from the half-season the Bears starter spent as the Falcons' third-string quarterback in 1997. Obviously, their roles will be reversed. Chandler was the starter for Atlanta in '97 and Miller, suffering through a nomadic stretch, didn't appear in a single game.

At this point in a career that has been far better than his critics will admit, however, Chandler is ready to help Miller be even better than he has been in the past. And to perhaps push him at least a bit for playing time.

"My role is pretty clear but I'm never going to lose my competitiveness," said Chandler. "I will always love playing the game. But my priorities, at this stage, aren't the same as they were when I came into the league."

Chandler and agent Frank Bauer had several inquires since the quarterback was released and, even earlier this week, the Buffalo Bills remained interested in him. The negotiations with the Bears started last month and Chicago general manager Jerry Angelo has been in close contact with Bauer ever since. The deal turned in Chicago's favor when the Bears agreed to include the escalator clauses in the contract.

Chandler was the third-round choice of the Indianapolis Colts in the 1988 draft, the team's first selection that year. He played two seasons for Indianapolis, then went to Tampa Bay (1990-91), Arizona (1991-1993), the Los Angeles Rams (1994), Houston (1995-96) and then Atlanta (1997-2001). He has played in two Pro Bowl games and led the surprising Falcons to a berth in Super Bowl XXXIII in 1998.

For his career, Chandler has started in 137 of his 158 appearances. He has completed 2,082 of 3,590 passes for 25,948 yards, with 161 touchdowns and 127 interceptions.

The acquisition of Chandler likely means the Bears will now deal backup quarterback Shane Matthews to the Washington Redskins.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.