Happy Everett Declines to Gloat Despite the Golden Opportunity
NEW ORLEANS — What a postgame interview New Orleans quarterback Jim Everett could have had Sunday. With dozens of cameras circling him and microphones stuck in his face, Everett had the opportunity to blister his former team after leading the Saints to a 37-34 victory over the Rams at the Superdome.
He could have criticized the Rams for trading him to the Saints for a lousy seventh-round draft pick last spring.
He could have taunted a Ram defense that had mocked him a week ago but barely put any pressure on him Sunday. And he could have unloaded on Ram Coach Chuck Knox, whom he skillfully avoided in the post-game handshakes at midfield.
Instead, Everett stuck with his politically correct theme, and was bland and downright boring. After all, the Rams and Saints meet again Dec. 4 in Anaheim Stadium.
“We knew we were in the cellar and we want out,” said Everett, whose Saints (3-5) are tied with the Rams for last in the NFC West.
“And this is a step toward the playoffs. I just thank God that it happens to be against the Rams. It makes it extra special for me, considering I had played there a long time.”
Everett was haunted at times Sunday by his shaky past and controversial off-season.
He was greeted by a banner that read, “Who dat, Chrissy Everett?” an obvious poke at his apparent attack on ESPN2 talk-show host Jim Rome, who mocked him by calling him “Chris” in an interview last spring. By the end of the game, the banner was gone and Everett ran off the field with the game ball.
“I was happy to get this win,” he said. “It was a big win for me and it was a big game for us. A lot was made of the Jim Everett situation but this was a huge game for us.”
Yes, that really was Everett pumping his fist in the air after Derek Brown’s three-yard touchdown run capped the Saints’ opening drive.
Yes, that really was him going to a wide open Wesley Walls over the middle for a 30-yard touchdown pass.
And yes, that was Everett completing his first eight passes for 111 yards before completing 17 of 26 overall for 206 yards and a touchdown.
Before the Rams could “get to those happy feet,” as safety Anthony Newman put it last week, Everett was dancing all over the sideline in celebration. In his mind, justice had been served to a team that had turned its back on him after nearly eight full seasons as the starting quarterback.
“There was some electricity before the game,” Everett said. “I might be the generator. It was pretty awesome.”
The Rams’ pass rush, which had terrorized Joe Montana and Dave Brown, barely made Everett shuffle in the pocket. End Robert Young dropped him for a 10-yard loss in the second half.
“Everybody knew Jim wanted to go out there and have a big game against the Rams,” said Willie Roaf, a Saint offensive tackle. “Hell, he has done a great job all year. All we have to do is keep protecting him.”
Said Saint Coach Jim Mora: “Everett did a good job and made some key throws. And we did a good job of protecting him. We’ve been doing that every week, and it’s one of the real positives about this team.”
Everett called the victory one of the biggest of his career. It also was one of the strangest.
The Saints’ Tyrone Hughes set an NFL record with 304 yards in kickoff returns, including returns of 92 and 98 yards for touchdowns.
Ram rookie Toby Wright grabbed a Lorenzo Neal fumble and returned it 98 yards for a touchdown.
The Rams’ Robert Bailey outsmarted the Saints’ punt coverage, sneaking the ball out of the end zone and returning it a league-record 103 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Everett tucked the game ball under his arm and was met by a small group of former teammates at midfield. Defensive end Fred Stokes hugged him. Linebacker Roman Phifer slapped him on the arm. Center Tom Newberry shook his hand and wished him luck.
“I’m saying this because I mean it, I feel for the guys on that team,” Everett said. “I know they’re still trying to turn things around over there.”
Did Everett approach Knox?
“Haven’t talked to him at all,” Everett said.
Was that intentional?
“No, I said all week that I have nothing to say,” Everett said.
