Rams News

Hill was off to a doozy of a start, then disaster struck
09/20 08:57 PM

By Elizabethe Holland
Of the Post-Dispatch Staff

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Greg Hill's day was shaping up to be a doozy.
The Rams' starting running back had rushed for a career-high 158 yards. He had scored two touchdowns, one of which produced the Rams' first, albeit short-lived, lead of the season. And shortly before the first touchdown, Hill had jetted downfield during the Rams 34-33 victory Sunday over the Buffalo Bills' for a 46-yard run -- the longest of his career.
Then, doozy turned into disaster.
With 8:19 remaining in the fourth quarter and the Rams in a precarious position on the St. Louis 1, Hill was handed the ball, then was splattered by Bills nose tackle Ted Washington for a safety.
``I was trying to get the ball out of the end zone and big 340- or 350-pound Ted Washington just fell on my leg trying to tackle me,'' Hill said. ``If he were maybe 20 pounds lighter, I might not have broken it.''
But break it he did. Hill heard his right leg pop and figured he had sprained his ankle. But after he was taken off the field on a cart, X-rays showed a broken bone.
Hill, the game's leading rusher with an average of 8.3 yards on 19 carries, did not return to the game and is not expected to see action for about six weeks because of a broken fibula.
But despite his misfortune, the running back was upbeat.
``I ended up with 158 yards and two touchdowns and we won -- that was the ultimate,'' said Hill, who left the stadium on crutches. ``If you have a career day and you end up hurting your leg, it's OK -- as long as you come back. At least I'm not out for the season.''
The accomplishments were not only milestones for Hill, who tallied 113 yards in his previous best game as a Kansas City Chief, but for the Rams as well.
His 46-yard run was the longest for the Rams in five years, since Jerome Bettis' 71-yard run at New Orleans on Dec. 12, 1993.
And it was the best for a Rams running back since the team's move to St. Louis -- since Lawrence Phillips' 126 rushing yards in last year's season opener against New Orleans.
Hill was so joyous over the win, and so occupied with his newly bandaged leg, he was unaware of his contributions. Reporters informed him of his 158-yard total and that Sunday's game had been his fourth 100-yard outing.
``Oh Lord, look at that,'' he exclaimed, giddy over his statistics. ``How many carries?''
Hill was also happy to note that the time he will miss due to his injury includes the Rams' upcoming bye week. The team does not play Oct. 4.
``It's only like six weeks, so I get a chance to miss a couple of (Dick) Vermeil practices and I'll be a little stronger when I come back,'' he said. ``The boys will be all right till I get back.''
In the meantime, he won't let a broken leg break his heart.
``It's part of the game,'' he said. ``Believe me, it hurts to have a broken leg. But you go out there knowing that something like this will happen one day and hopefully you you can come back from it. . . . We won so I'm happy. I didn't want to break my leg, but I'm happy.''
Hill and teammate Isaac Bruce, who missed the game with a sore hamstring, shared a similar philosophy Sunday. Both were too pleased with the win to be upset by their injuries.
``You can't stop fighting because you lose some soldiers,'' Bruce said. ``They lost some soldiers, too, so you've just got to keep it going. Greg's a big asset to this team now, you can tell. But he's still smiling in the locker room and I'm still smiling.''

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