LA Rams get to meet former TE Gerald Everett twice in 2021

Some sports (well, I use the term loosely) rely upon the hero versus the heel to drum up fan interest. Those fringe sports such as the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) or UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) rely upon an emotional connection to the fan base to drive up ticket and merchandise sales. Of course, there are lessons to be learned here for the more mainstream sports, and it seems at least one rival is tapping into that hero-to-heel transition.

You see, the moment that former LA Rams tight end Gerald Everett signed with the rival Seattle Seahawks, he made some cheap attempts to endear himself to his new fanbase by tossing shade at the Rams. Now that’s all fun and games, except he signed a one-year prove-it deal in Seattle. He’s got to prove himself worthy of a long-term contract. Dissing his former team doesn’t seem like a good starting point.

Of course, he’ll have that chance to prove himself as he faces his former team twice in the 2021 NFL season. The first meeting occurs on Thursday Night Football on October 7, 2021, at 5:20 pm PT when the Rams travel to Seattle. If that fails, he will have another crack to intimidate the LA Rams defense by showing up at SoFi Stadium on December 19, 2021, at 1:25 pm PT.

Of course, he could show up and play well this year.

Unrealized potential

Los Angeles Rams

But much of his production was dependant upon the offensive playbook of head coach Sean McVay. You see, McVay lined him up wide, close, as an H-back, as a power back, as a full back, and sometimes even as a true tight end. In four seasons with the Rams, he caught 127 of 204 passes thrown his way for 1,389 yards and eight touchdowns. Yes, he had potential. But that never seemed to develop in the Rams offense despite the many looks and ways he was used in the Rams offense.

The Seattle Seahawks love to throw to the tight ends, so Everett has arrived in one of the best possible teams for his resurgence in the NFL. And yet, it would have made more sense to show off on the football field.  You see, his only 100+ yards receiving effort occurred on October 3, 2019, against the Seattle Seahawks when he put up a 7 of 11, 136 yards performance.  Perhaps it was that game that attracted Seattle to sign him up. The Rams ended up losing that game, 30-29.

Everett seemed to flourish in the Rams offense when he was infrequently targeted. When targeted five times or more in a game, he caught 19 of 33 passes for a completion rate of 57.5 percent.

Of course, many of his former teammates are still on the Rams defense and are no doubt quite versed in how to defend him. And based on his social media statements when he signed with the Seahawks, he’ll likely be back out on social media as the Seahawks prepare to take on the Rams. The old Hero versus the Heel strategy sells tickets and merchandise, but it’s a Ponzi formula. You see, Gerald Everett is on a one-year deal. As soon as the Seattle Seahawks land in his rear-view mirror, he will be slamming the Seahawks and welcoming the opportunity to join the next something special.