This Time, Everett Was Able to Shoot From Hip : Rams: The seriousness of the hip injury the quarterback suffered three weeks ago was never disclosed.

Jim Everett’s career took a New York Giant leap forward Sunday, painful as it was. History takes kindly to quarterbacks who work miracles on bum knees and bad backs, and now Everett can assume a proper place on the trainer’s table.

It turns out the hip pointer Everett suffered three weeks ago against New Orleans was more serious than ever disclosed and, more to the point(er), the Rams didn’t want it known lest the injury be considered an excuse for Everett’s sagging numbers and his team’s skidding fortunes.

“Sure, no question about it,” Coach John Robinson said Monday. “We tend to downplay injuries as much as we can, but I think his throwing motion was affected.”

Naturally, it’s much more manly to mention injuries after wins than losses. Everett admitted Monday that the hip pointer, or deep bruise, may have subconsciously changed his hip rotation and thus, his throwing motion. Now, pass rushers such as Bruce Smith and Richard Dent can changed your hip rotation in a hurry too, but that’s another story.

Everett thinks the injury threw his whole body out of whack. He awoke Sunday morning with a painful and stiff back, probably a result of compensating for his hip, he guesses.

In between series, Everett could be found doing Jane Fonda workout stretches on the sidelines, trying to work out the kinks. It didn’t work.

“At halftime, we had the meeting with him standing up and a guy massaging his back while we’re talking offense,” Robinson said. “But that’s part of what that position is. It isn’t just the stats, it’s finding a way to play when things are crappy.”

Everett had both the statistics and the will, setting a Rams’ record with 18 consecutive completions in the 31-10 win over the Giants. All told, Everett completed 23 of 33 passes for 295 yards and two touchdowns. Touching his toes would have posed more a problem.

Robinson compared Everett’s performance to one being played out in the immediate vicinity Sunday by Giants’ quarterback Phil Simms, who was wearing a brace to protect a bad ankle.

“He’s out there with a metal sleeve on his leg, his team’s going down the tubes and he’s not playing very good,” Robinson said. “But he is something else, I think, that guy Simms. I just love him. I think he’s one of those guys. I think Jim, going through this period, gets more like Simms.”

Slowed by the bad ankle and battered by the Rams’ pass rush, Simms still managed to complete 25 of 38 passes for 237 yards.

“I’d always point to Simms as a guy who keeps coming back,” Robinson said. “A guy like Phil Simms, you’d better kill him, you’d better not just wound him.”

If you don’t think the role of the Rams’ running backs has changed, take a look at Sunday’s numbers. The Rams didn’t have a runner gain more than 45 yards, yet used the skills of four backs Greg Bell, Buford McGee, Robert Delpino and Cleveland Gary--to combine for 138 yards rushing in 38 carries. That used to be a good day for one Ram, Eric Dickerson.

What’s more, the four players also gained 128 receiving yards in 12 receptions.

Variety will apparently be the spice of the Rams’ offense for years to come. The Rams are already packaging their backs, using Delpino an McGee in split fullback sets on some downs.

Gary, the first-round pick from Miami, made his most significant contribution against the Giants, leading Ram runners with 45 yards in eight carries.

And running isn’t even what Gary does best.

“It’s clear to me,” Robinson said, “that Cleveland Gary has to be in the game, because his skills as a receiver are outstanding.”

Delpino, a second-year man and fifth-round pick, is simply the Rams’ most versatile player. Sunday, he gained 34 yards rushing and 70 yards receiving, while continuing to star on special teams.

Delpino played 26 downs of offense and 13 downs on special teams.

The only back missing out on the fun is Gaston Green, who missed Sunday’s game with a rib injury.

Ram Notes

Cornerback LeRoy Irvin (ankle) dressed for Sunday’s game but said he could have played only in case of emergency. . . . He should be ready for next week’s game against Phoenix. . . . With linebackers Larry Kelm and Fred Strickland back in the lineup, the Rams were able to play 16 downs of Eagle defense. “And I thought we played it well,” Coach John Robinson said. “The defense looked more like our defense of last year than anytime this year.” . . . The Rams are carrying only seven defensive backs at the moment, and are hoping to make it work until cornerback Alfred Jackson comes off injured reserve in two weeks. “I don’t know what to do,” Robinson said. “We have some sorting out to do.” . . . Despite the recent slump, Robinson is satisfied how his team has fared against some of the league’s top teams. “We’ve certainly played the best in the league, and most of them even,” he said. “We’ve beaten the two teams (San Francisco and the New York Giants) with the two best records, which is an interesting thing.” . . . Second-year man Mike Piel has done well since becoming the starter at right defensive end two weeks ago. Sunday, he had two sacks. “Piel has established himself as a solid player,” Robinson said. “That’s very pleasing to us.” . . . The six rushing yards allowed by the Rams’ defense Sunday was the second-fewest in team history. The Rams held the Chicago Bears to one yard rushing in a 1952 game. . . . Greg Bell has 26 touchdowns since becoming a Ram in October of 1987.