Old friends of Erik Kramer and Jim Everett want to knock their blocks off Sunday.
Kramer, who used to quarterback the Detroit Lions, returns to Pontiac, Mich., at the helm of the Chicago Bears. Everett, for eight years the starter at quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams, will be in charge of the New Orleans Saints when the Rams come calling at the Louisiana Superdome.In other games, Cincinnati is at Cleveland, Pittsburgh is at the New York Giants, Seattle is at Kansas City, Washington is at Indianapolis, Atlanta is at the Los Angeles Raiders, Dallas is at Arizona, Denver is at San Diego and Tampa Bay is at San Francisco. On Monday night, Houston is at Philadelphia.
Buffalo, Miami, New England and the New York Jets are idle.
Kramer has missed the last three games, all Chicago victories, because of a separated shoulder. Yet his status as No. 1 was never in jeopardy, and coach Dave Wannstedt put Kramer back into the lineup as soon as doctors gave the OK.
"That really makes me feel good," Kramer said. "That helps the cause. That's one of the reasons I came to the Bears."
With Detroit, Kramer couldn't get free of the three-man quarterback battle with Rodney Peete and Andre Ware.
"To be honest, I thought the Detroit Lions were a great team to play for," Kramer said. "The difference is that I'm the guy that is wanted now, instead of just the guy that's around."
Detroit linebacker Chris Spielman, one of Kramer's pals when he was with the Lions, sees only the enemy now.
"He's just another guy on another team that you're trying to beat on a Sunday," Spielman said. "There's no emotion. I think about him being the opposing team's quarterback.
"After the game, you're friends again."
Everett also realizes playing the old team is something extraordinary.
"This is an important game for this team to win, so it's important for me to play well," Everett said. "I admit I'll have a little extra emotion for it, but the real thing is how the team does, not how I do."
Everett was written off in Los Angeles, dumped for a mere seventh round draft choice in 1995. He's gotten a new outlook with New Orleans, despite a 2-5 record so far.
"However you want to look at it, we're both better off," Everett said. "I know that I'm a lot better off. I like my state of mind right now. I like the team I'm playing for. I'm happy.
"It's frustrating losing, but I feel confident we'll get things turned around and I'm happy to be part of that.
Rams coach Chuck Knox, who said the decision to get rid of Everett was made before he took over as coach, expects the veteran quarterback to be fired up.
"I would guess any player who goes somewhere else and plays his former team always has extra incentive to want to play well," Knox said.