Knox Won’t Name No. 1 Quarterback : Rams: Rubley says he’s not ready, believes Everett will start Sunday against 49ers.

Coach Chuck Knox insisted Monday that he does not know who the Rams’ starting quarterback will be Sunday against the 49ers in San Francisco.

T.J. Rubley, however, believes that Jim Everett will retain his position, and furthermore, Rubley said, he doesn’t believe he is ready to make his first NFL start.

“As far as I know, Jim will still be the starter,” said Rubley, who completed 12 of 17 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday’s 16-13 loss to the Detroit Lions. “I’ll try to come in this week and execute my role as the No. 2 guy and work on my (place-kick) holding a little bit.

“Right now I’m not (ready to start). I have the confidence to play, but also there comes a time when if you don’t have enough preparation that boyish enthusiasm can turn into foolishness. I don’t want that to happen. I want to be prepared.”

Rubley, who relieved Everett in the third quarter for his first NFL experience, was forced to call a timeout before his third play.

“He was a little bit rattled,” said Ted Tollner, Ram quarterback coach. “He had enough composure to call time out. He got into a formation with motion that didn’t fit. Right away, we knew the play couldn’t be run and then he realized it. He made a mistake, but that was better than running a play and turning the ball over.”

Tollner said he wasn’t so much surprised by Rubley’s appearance as he was pleased. He said each time the team has placed Rubley in position to perform, he has done so.

Rubley, however, declined to take credit for his play, and suggested he would experience much more difficulty as a starter.

“We were very fortunate to execute the two-minute drill, but once again that’s probably what I do best,” he said. “So you saw my best foot forward because with limited experience that is definitely experience from (training) camp. As far as in the huddle on first- and second-down offense when you’re going on long drives, that’s something I’m going to have to grow into because that offense changes week in and week out.”

Everett, meanwhile, reported for duty Monday and had some explaining to do after labeling the Ram game plan “obsolete” after Sunday’s game. Everett also criticized Knox for showing a lack of faith and pulling him in the third quarter.

“I asked Jim what he meant by obsolete and he said he was referring to not putting points on the board,” Knox said.

As for Everett’s contention that Knox lacked faith in him, he said: “I didn’t take any special thing out of that at all.”

Has Knox lost faith in Everett?

“Do you know the difference between faith and knowledge?” Knox said. “Faith is what you believe and knowledge is what you know. This is not a question of having faith.”

Has Knox lost confidence in Everett?

“No, I haven’t lost confidence in him.”

Is Knox concerned that his players might be choosing sides in this quarterback controversy?

“It’s really not a concern,” Knox said. “Were not going to vote on it. Everybody has their job to do.”

Will the fans’ reaction to Everett influence his decision?

“What was the fans’ reaction?” Knox said. “I wasn’t listening.”

While the fans are down on Everett, Tollner remains in his corner.

“I think Jim Everett can play top-level football in this league,” he said. “When the decision is made by the head coach, it will be what gives us the best possible chance to win at this moment. I know the guy can play winning football in this league.

“Now what happens from here is really beyond our control. It’s a head-coaching decision.”

Knox said he will meet with his staff today before deciding who will start Sunday.

“I don’t think our relationship has been damaged,” Knox said of Everett’s angry reaction to being benched. “I certainly understand him not being happy with being pulled out of the game. I wouldn’t want somebody that is going to be happy with being demoted.”

Of his postgame comments, Everett said: “I’m only human, too. He’s just trying to do things to get this club to win. Faith or no faith, that’s the ultimate goal.”

Everett started his 87th consecutive game Sunday, but left after completing two of nine passes for 12 yards, with an interception. It was the third time in 23 games under Knox’s leadership that Everett has been pulled, but the first time that his future as the starting quarterback has been in question.

“Coach Knox and I had a talk,” Everett said. “He’s the coach and I’m the player and he’ll coach and I’ll play and try to do what is asked of me. I’ll be prepared whatever it is, and I’ll be ready.

“More importantly than any relationship with Chuck, this team is 2-5. We can’t forget the win and the loss column is what it is all about.”