Rams Pass on Deal to Give Everett Release : Pro football: Sources say the team now believes the quarterback can be traded for a conditional draft pick.
Jim Everett remains a Ram, and although the team says it has made no decision regarding his future, management confirmed Monday that it passed on an opportunity to give him his outright release in exchange for financial considerations.
“We discussed it, but we never had an agreement,” said John Shaw, Ram executive vice president. “If he’s not part of our plans for next year, and we haven’t determined that yet, we will attempt to trade him.”
The Rams must pay Everett, who is due to earn $2.15 million in base salary in 1994, an additional $450,000 the day he reports to training camp next summer.
The team, however, talked in late November with Everett’s agent, Marvin Demoff, about the possibility of freeing itself at season’s end from much of that $450,000 by giving Everett his release and the opportunity to sign elsewhere.
The Rams believed at the time that they would be unable to trade Everett during the off-season because of his poor play and huge contract.
The sides agreed to consider such an option once the season was over, but did not agree on specific financial terms at the time and reached no formal agreement.
At that time, Demoff told The Times that it would be best if Everett continued his career elsewhere. Everett has two years remaining on his contract.
Shaw said Monday, however, that he was not sure if such a financial arrangement remained open for discussion, and that it no longer mattered because the Rams aren’t interested.
Demoff could not be reached for comment, and Everett referred all interview requests to Demoff.
Team sources now say the Rams can trade Everett, receive as much as a conditional second-round pick and unload all financial responsibilities on Everett’s new employer.
The NFL trading period opens Feb. 17.
“You have to have a quarterback now, a good quarterback,” Coach Chuck Knox said. “I would say that’s an area we need to look at.”
Everett, who turned 31 Monday, completed 49.3% of his passes this season before losing his starting job to T.J. Rubley. In his eight years with the Rams, Everett has completed 1,847 of 3,277 passes for 23,758 yards with 142 touchdowns and 123 interceptions.
Everett’s last game for the Rams this season was in relief of Rubley at Phoenix on Dec. 5. He played in 107 games for the Rams, and was 46-59 as a starter. In the past four seasons he was 17-40.
Must Everett continue his career elsewhere?
“No, I don’t believe that at this particular time,” Knox said. “I haven’t really sat down and thought about it and looked at the options.
“What I’m looking at is, who is going to take his place? We have a guy that’s here, and I don’t know what we have to replace Jim Everett. We don’t know what’s going to be out there or what we might have access to. I’m not in position now to make a definitive statement until we know what’s available.”
The Rams will start shopping in the free-agent market Feb. 17, and Knox said he has been assured by management that the team will be competitive. The top free-agent quarterbacks expected to be available are Miami’s Scott Mitchell, Atlanta’s Chris Miller, San Diego’s John Friesz, Detroit’s Erik Kramer and Kansas City’s Dave Krieg.
“We will be very aggressive with free agents,” Shaw said. “We’re going to spend to the salary cap limit.”
Knox said the team will also look to the draft to improve itself at quarterback. The Rams will select fifth in the first round and are not expected to have a shot at either of the top two prospects, Tennessee’s Heath Shuler and Fresno State’s Trent Dilfer.
“I don’t think you can address (the quarterback problem) to get immediate help in the draft,” Knox said. “Historically, that has not worked.
“We’ve got a number of options. . . . Obviously we’re looking for an accurate live arm, quick feet and a guy with some height.”
Such as Everett?
“He’s got all the skills,” Knox said.
But they probably will be used elsewhere next season.