Rams Expected to Sign Everett to Multiyear Deal

The Rams have called a news conference Monday to announce the signing of quarterback Jim Everett to a multiyear contract.

The contract is expected to extend at least five years through 1994 at about $2 million per season. Everett, who led the 1989 Rams to the NFC championship game, will become the highest-paid Ram ever, and his salary will rank with those of the NFL’s top quarterbacks.

Quarterback Randall Cunningham’s deal with the Philadelphia Eagles has been reported to be worth $19.55 million over eight years, an average of $2.44 million, and the San Francisco 49ers’ Joe Montana is believed to be the best-paid quarterback at about $2.6 million per season.

Everett, who turned 27 on Jan. 3, became the first Ram quarterback to pass for more than 4,000 yards in a season, throwing for 4,310 yards in 1989. He broke the franchise record of 3,964 yards he had set in 1988. Everett led the NFL in touchdown passes for the second consecutive season, throwing 29 in 1989.

Had he not signed before Feb. 1, Everett would have become a restricted free agent, meaning he could have accepted an offer sheet from another team and left the Rams for the compensation price of two first-round draft choices. The Rams could have kept Everett only by matching the offer sheet.

But leaving the Rams was never an option, Everett said. He has told reporters all season that his contract would be worked out well before the Feb. 1 dead- line.

The negotiations started in August, when Everett’s agent, Marvin Demoff, accompanied the team on its week-long trip to Tokyo for an exhibition game against the 49ers.

Neither Everett nor Demoff returned phone calls Friday, and Ram Vice President John Shaw had no comment.