RAM NOTEBOOK : Fans May Differ, but Everett Sticks With Everett

Who should be the starting quarterback for the Rams this week?

“That’s a good question,” said quarterback Jim Everett, who called that same question “ridiculous” a few weeks ago.

“I don’t think I’m the guy to ask,” Everett said after completing two of nine passes for 12 yards and an interception. “If you took a poll now with our fans, I’d say, ‘No.’ ”

Should the fans be making the decision?

“It seems like they have been,” Everett said.

Everett has started in 87 consecutive games, presently the longest streak in the NFL among quarterbacks.

“My decision, of course, I would start,” Everett said. “I feel that about myself. I feel unfortunate how the events have turned.”

Everett was asked if there is a point a player reaches with an organization and fans where there’s nothing that can be done to change opinions.

“I haven’t been through something like this in my career,” Everett said. “What those points are and where we go, that’s left to be said.”

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To Miss Some Action: Jackie Slater, who tied Jeff Van Note and Mike Webster for most games played by an offensive lineman with 245, left the game in the second quarter with a torn pectoral muscle.

Slater, playing in his 18th season, watched the second half in street clothes, while being replaced by Robert Jenkins.

“There was nothing said about surgery,” Slater said. “It just needs time to heal. They say it’s slightly torn, but they haven’t told me how long I will be out.”

Slater’s loss was noticeable in the second quarter. On second and six from the Lions’ 44-yard line, Jenkins was beaten badly by linebacker Tracy Scroggins, who was playing in place of the injured Pat Swilling.

Scroggins unloaded on Everett, forced a fumble and it was recovered by Lion nose tackle Lawrence Pete.

Jenkins’ holding penalty in the fourth quarter wiped out T.J. Rubley’s 27-yard touchdown pass to Henry Ellard. Rubley, however, came back a few moments later and threw a four-yard scoring pass to Ernie Jones.

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Gentleman Jackie: While many of the Rams chose to avoid Everett after he was removed from the game, Slater elected to stand by him as Rubley ran onto the field for the first time.

“I just wanted to make sure he was all right and dealing with it OK,” Slater said. “I think it was hard on him, but he was dealing with it OK.”

Of Everett, Rubley said, “Jim Everett is a true professional. He was very supportive and just said, ‘Go get ‘em.’ He gave me all the confidence in the world.”

Of Rubley, Everett said, “I feel T.J. did come in and spark the team. I thought the guys played extremely well. I think it’s an unfortunate loss for our ballclub.”

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A Vote for T.J.: Detroit Coach Wayne Fontes was asked about the Ram quarterback controversy confronting Coach Chuck Knox this week.

“He has none,” Fontes said. “You think he has one? He doesn’t have any. That guy (Rubley) did it almost by himself.”

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Defense Tough on Barry: The Ram defense had limited running back Barry Sanders to 2.2 yards per carry two years ago, the lowest mark in Sanders’ career. It continued to have good success against him Sunday, but he kept coming at them and finished with 91 yards in 26 carries.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game,” Sanders said, “and they didn’t let us down.”

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Flipper Bruised: The Rams played the second half without wide receiver Flipper Anderson, who suffered bruised ribs in the second quarter.

“He wanted to get back in there,” Knox said. “But we went with someone who was 100%.”

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Streak Ends: The Lions’ victory broke a 12-game West Coast losing streak.

“That really doesn’t mean anything to us,” cornerback Ray Crockett said. “You can’t think about how many you’ve lost on the road. You have to think about how many you’ve lost this year.

“I haven’t even played 12 games on the West Coast, so I don’t care. I played two, and I’m 1-1.”

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A Homecoming: Rodney Peete, a USC alumnus, enjoys returning to Southern California--but not too much.

“It feels good to come back,” said the Lion quarterback, who purchased about 50 tickets. “It’s good playing in front of friends and family, and getting the win, but I don’t want to do it on a regular basis. It put too much of a dent in my wallet.”

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Need A Thick Hide: Peete, who has been the subject of various quarterback controversies during his five years in Detroit, said he heard the home crowd booing Everett.

“You deal with it,” Peete said. “That’s the way it is in Detroit. Something is going to happen, and you’ve got to understand that if you’re the quarterback.

“You’re going to get all the blame and if you aren’t thick-skinned, there are going to be some problems. The fans are not going to boo the left guard or the left tackle.”

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Loves Those Rams: Lion receiver Rodney Holman, who caught the 25-yard pass that helped set up Detroit’s winning field goal, is no stranger to big days in Anaheim. While with Cincinnati, he caught 10 passes for 161 yards against the Rams in October, 1990--both career highs.

“I had a premonition that this was going to be the same kind of game for me,” Holman said. “I was looking forward to it.”

The 25-yard reception was Holman’s only one of the day.

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A Sure Bettis: Everett’s ineffectiveness in the first half may have helped rookie tailback Jerome Bettis have the best game of his career.

Bettis rushed for 113 yards in 23 carries, surpassing his previous high of 101 yards against New Orleans. Bettis’ 85 yards rushing in the first half accounted for all but 12 of the Rams’ total offense.

“The game plan was to start out running the football and loosen things up,” Bettis said. “I don’t think it was totally predicated on me running the whole game.”

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Catching on: Second-year wide receiver Todd Kinchen entered Sunday’s game without a career reception, but had four catches for 60 yards in the second half--all from Rubley.

Kinchen said he was comfortable with Rubley because they had played together on the Rams’ scout team earlier this season.

Times staff writers Mike Reilley and Scott Miller contributed to this story.