Knox Won’t Name No. 1 Quarterback : Rams: Rubley says he’s not ready and is convinced Everett will start 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, remains convinced that Jim Everett will retain his position, and furthermore, Rubley said, he doesn’t believe he’s 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 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 in the game.

“He was a little bit rattled,” said Ted Tollner, Ram quarterback coach. “He had enough composure to call a timeout. 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--during exhibition games--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 reported for duty Monday and had some explaining to do to coaches 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 . . . To tell you the truth, I had cotton in both ears.”

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,” said Knox in reference to 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.”

In regard to his postgame comments, Everett said Monday: “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. We have to correct that, and that’s bigger than Jim Everett and bigger than Coach Knox.”

Does Everett feel he will be the starter Sunday?

“I’ll be prepared if that’s his decision,” Everett said. “I’ll be prepared to start.”

Everett, who ranks 14th among NFC quarterbacks, said he was aware of the fans’ unhappiness with his play.

“It’s real,” he said. “No one wants a standing boo-vation, but that’s what I got. People want to see points put on the board and when I was in there we didn’t get it done.”

Rubley also took note of the fans’ reaction and didn’t like what he heard when they showered Everett with boos.

“That’s something I’m very sensitive to; it’s unfair,” Rubley said. “I don’t think any man deserves that. For God sakes, this is football. I know I surely wouldn’t enjoy that.”

Whether Everett or Rubley starts against the 49ers, the Rams will be decided underdogs. Knox began this season talking about the playoffs, but the Rams have lost three in a row and those possibilities appear to be fading with each passing Sunday.

“I would say (the playoff hopes are) alive,” Knox said, “but we’re going to have to win a lot of games down the stretch.”