Football Players Labor Relations

Ram officials declined Monday to squelch speculation that quarterback Jim Everett is about to be released. "I have no comment," Coach Chuck Knox said. John Shaw, Ram executive vice president, said, "The decision on his status is a coaching decision." Shaw and Knox were advised that such non-denials would undoubtedly add fuel to reports that Everett's release is imminent. "I don't respond to rumors," Knox said. "First of all, we don't make personnel decisions on Mondays; I'll answer it that way."

Bob Waterfield retired at the age of 33, dignity intact, two years after leading the Los Angeles Rams to their first and only NFL championship. Norm Van Brocklin was traded to Philadelphia, where he led the Eagles to their most recent NFL championship. Roman Gabriel was traded for Harold Jackson, the speedy wide receiver who paired with John Hadl to usher in the first Chuck Knox era with an NFC West championship. And how will the self-proclaimed greatest quarterback in Ram history be leaving us?

Ram officials declined the opportunity Monday to squelch speculation that quarterback Jim Everett is about to be released. "I have no comment," Coach Chuck Knox said. John Shaw, Ram executive vice president, said, "The decision on his status is a coaching decision." Both Shaw and Knox were advised that such non-denials would undoubtedly add fuel to reports that Everett's release is imminent. "I don't respond to rumors," Knox said. "First of all, we don't make personnel decisions on Mondays.

The battle between quarterback Bernie Kosar and Coach Bill Belichick of the Cleveland Browns ended Monday with a knockout punch that shook the football world. Kosar, one of the most popular players in franchise history, was cut. "Basically, it came down to his production and a diminishing of his physical skills," Belichick said at a news conference. But sources say the reasons were much more personal.

Defensive end Fred Stokes' wife, Regina, delivered Sunday night--a 7-pound 5-ounce boy, Landon Foster Stokes. And the Rams delivered on Monday, announcing they would pay Stokes even though he skipped most of Sunday's 40-17 loss to San Francisco at Candlestick Park to be with his pregnant wife at an Orange County hospital. The team said that Stokes would be paid because of the "special and unique circumstances involved."

T.J. Rubley got a promotion Monday, and although he advanced only from No. 3 to No. 2, behind starting quarterback Jim Everett, the Rams' confidence in Everett appears to be eroding. In making the change, the Rams have decided to risk the effectiveness of kicker Tony Zendejas to better prepare Rubley for possible play.

The Rams released wide receiver James Lofton on Monday and re-signed linebacker Brett Collins, who had been cut last week. The Rams had signed Lofton, 37, on Sept. 22 after he was released by the Raiders. He caught one pass for 16 yards, and according to the Rams-Falcons' game summary, he did not play a down in Thursday night's game. "We wanted to go with the younger players," Coach Chuck Knox said. Knox said Ernie Jones will work as the team's No.

New York Jet defensive back Ronnie Lott, often called the hardest hitter in football, took shots at his former club, the Raiders, on Wednesday. Specifically, he didn't like: --The treatment of running back Marcus Allen. --The performance of quarterback Jay Schroeder. --And the style of defensive backfield coach Jack Stanton. So Lott is glad to be out of here, right? Not exactly. He returns to face his former teammates at the Coliseum on Sunday with a lot of good feelings as well.

Eric Dickerson, the NFL's No. 2 all-time rusher, hasn't been waived after all by the Atlanta Falcons. On Tuesday night, Dickerson concluded that he was being released after conversations with assistant coaches June Jones and Ollie Wilson. On Wednesday, Falcon President Taylor Smith and Coach Jerry Glanville took turns labeling Dickerson's conclusion a "misunderstanding."