This Price Is Right on the Target for Rams : Pro football: Everett’s roommate makes it clear with a pair of touchdown receptions that he’s ready to help out at tight end.

You can imagine the notes on Jim Everett’s refrigerator:

--Yo Jim, we’re a little low on milk, we’re out of chips and . . . throw me the ball!

--Hey roomie, went out to the movies, be back around 11 and . . . throw me the ball!

--Dear Mr. Quarterback, you haven’t thrown a touchdown pass in five games, so ... throw me the ball!

Everett finally got the message, and that’s why there are two game balls on the mantel in Everett’s Orange home today instead of one.

Coach John Robinson gave a game ball to Everett for his part in the Rams’ 30-24 victory over the San Diego Chargers Sunday in Anaheim Stadium. Everett completed 19 of 25 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns.

Robinson also awarded a game ball to Everett’s roommate, previously under-used tight end Jim Price, who caught more passes Sunday (six) than he had in five previous games (five).

Price, a first-year player from Stanford, had 82 yards in receptions and caught both touchdown passes--an 18-yarder in the second quarter and a 12-yarder in the fourth.

“I’ve been leaving little notes on the refrigerator for Jim to throw the ball to me and they’re starting to pay off,” Price said. “This is the first game where I felt I contributed offensively.”

Price, a 6-foot-4, 247-pound tight end who spent last season on the Rams’ practice squad, had a feeling he would emerge as an offensive weapon Sunday. The Rams have been practicing more plays out of double tight-end formations the past two weeks, and coaches felt the Chargers were vulnerable to particular patterns involving the tight end.

Patterns like the one that culminated in Price’s first touchdown catch. From the San Diego 18-yard line, Price ran a simple corner pattern, angling from the middle of the field to the left corner of the end zone, and was wide open when he caught Everett’s pass, which tied the game, 7-7.

“(Offensive coordinator) Ernie Zampese saw that inside the 20-yard line, they did a poor job of covering the tight ends on corner patterns,” Price said. “That was a great job of play-calling, seeing what their weakness was and taking advantage of it.”

Price ran the same pattern for his second touchdown, which gave the Rams a 30-21 lead with 11 minutes 27 seconds remaining in the game. Price had Charger safety Stanley Richard badly beaten on the play, but give Everett an assist.

“Jim looked the safety off to the right and I broke to the left,” Price said. “That created a big pocket.”

Price also had a hand--make that a foot--in the Rams’ third-quarter touchdown drive, which resulted in a 23-14 lead. On a third-and-five play from the Charger 21, Everett completed a short pass to Price on the right side.

But just as Price turned upfield at the 13, he bobbled the ball, dropped it and accidentally booted it forward. Luckily for Price, and the Rams, Henry Ellard recovered at the one-yard line, and Robert Delpino scored on the next play.

“My hands were real wet then,” Price said. “I caught the ball, and (Buford) McGee gave me a great block--I thought I had another touchdown. Then I kicked the ball.”

And what did he say to Ellard after the play?

“I almost kissed him,” Price said. “That was a big play.”

Sunday’s performance was also a big step for Price in his effort to replace former tight end Pete Holohan, who caught 49 passes last season but was left unprotected and signed as a free agent with Kansas City.

It also wasn’t bad for a guy who was not drafted in 1990 and almost didn’t make it out of training camp in 1991. A hamstring injury slowed Price through August, and there was speculation he might get cut.

“There was stuff in the papers, and once you read something, you start believing it,” said Price, 25. “Deep down, I thought I’d make the team, but you never know. I wasn’t getting a lot of sleep during that time.”

Robinson can sleep a little easier knowing Price is beginning to fulfill his potential.

“He has gigantic shoes to fill,” Robinson said. “He hasn’t done that yet, but he’s making progress. He gave an indication of what he can do today.”

Price’s first touchdown catch was special, not only because it was was Price’s first as a professional but also because it was Everett’s first of the season.

And for that, Price will be $500 richer--at least, until the first of next month. Everett promised a $500 bonus to the receiver who caught his first touchdown pass, but it’s not as if Price will reap much benefit.

“It will probably go back to Jim,” Price said. “I’ve got to pay rent.”