The New Orleans Saints signed Jim Everett to a two-year contract on Friday, sending an undisclosed draft choice to the Los Angles Rams in exchange for the rights to the quarterback.
Everett said he negotiated a lower salary for the chance to play for the Saints. Both Everett and Saints officials refused to say how much Everett would be paid."For the last eight years that I've been with the Saints, we've seen some exhibitions where he's blistered us," coach Jim Mora said. "Now, we're hoping he can blister some other teams for the Saints."
The Saints cut Wade Wilson, the free agent quarterback they signed from the Atlanta Falcons last season, ridding themselves of Wilson's $4 million salary.
The Rams, who wanted to unload Everett's $2.65 million salary, decided this week to no longer demand a high draft pick.
The Saints would not say what draft pick they gave for Everett.
"I feel like I'm 22 again," Everett said. "This is a new start for me, a fresh beginning."
New Orleans brought Wilson, 34, in to replace Bobby Hebert last season. Wilson got the Saints off to a 5-0 start, only to finish 8-8.
`I knew there was no way I'd be back at that salary," Wilson said Friday. "I'd still like to play for them, but under the salary cap teams won't keep you if you don't produce quickly."
Everett led the Rams to the NFC championship in 1989. After three consecutive losing seasons, however, Everett was benched last season in favor of quarterback T.J. Rubley.
The Rams considered cutting Everett in November to save money, but instead cut backup quarterback Mike Pagel.
In another move Friday, the Rams acquired wide receiver Nate Lewis from the San Diego Chargers on Friday in exchange for an undisclosed draft choice.
Lewis, 27, was originally a seventh-round draft choice of the Chargers in 1990 after playing at Oregon Tech. He has started 29 games over the last four years for the Chargers, catching 128 passes for 1,789 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also returned 34 punts for a 9.8 average and one touchdown and 92 kickoffs for a 22.3-yard average and one TD.