Rams News

Banks and Bruce are nursing injuries, but progress is in sight

09/23/98

By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch Staff

The heart of the Rams offense this season, Banks to Bruce, was on the sidelines Wednesday at Rams Park.
Quarterback Tony Banks rested a sore throwing shoulder that required a shot of painkiller before the Buffalo game.
Meanwhile, Isaac Bruce, who still leads the NFL in reception yards despite missing the Buffalo game, rested his tight right hamstring.
Bruce said he would take a day-to-day approach but wouldn't attempt to practice again until Friday.
Bruce emphasized that he hasn't felt sharp pain, as he did last year when he basically missed five games with a hamstring injury in his other leg. ``I'm just trying to get it loosened,'' he said. ``And it's loosening up pretty good. For the most part I'm feeling pretty good. I feel a lot better than I did Sunday.''
With a bye week coming up after the Arizona game, Bruce was asked if he'll be more conservative in his approach to the injury.
``I don't know,'' Bruce said. ``I only know one motion, and that's wide open. I need to be on the field. My team needs me on the field.''
Bruce was listed as questionable on the Rams' official injury report to the NFL office on Wednesday. Banks, meanwhile, was listed as probable.
``Just to keep it from getting any worse, I'm trying to lay off a little bit, and see how it responds,'' Banks said. ``I think last week I got in trouble when I tried to practice last Wednesday.''
He ended up missing half of that practice and all of practice last Thursday. Banks originally hurt the shoulder taking a hit from Minnesota safety Robert Griffith two Sundays ago. He said it was very sore Sunday night and Monday following the Buffalo game.
``It's not an injury that can actually get worse if I continue to throw,'' Banks said. ``It's just a pain thing.''
Also sitting out out Wednesday's practice were defensive end Kevin Carter (calf), cornerback Todd Lyght (thigh), linebacker Lorenzo Styles (groin), safety Toby Wright (knee), and offensive lineman Ryan Tucker (neck).
``We have some guys banged up, and I think that's pretty much typical of everybody's program right now,'' coach Dick Vermeil said. ``You play a few games, you get the bumps and bruises. I anticipate most of these guys being ready to go Sunday.''
DV on LP: Vermeil reiterated Wednesday that Lawrence Phillips does not fit into the team's plans.
``I really don't feel it's a possibility at this time,'' Vermeil said. ``I understand it's created quite a little news thing around the country. I'm sorry I did that. I'm going to have to start not answering questions honestly when someone asks me something. Because it just creates problems. . . . I get ridiculed.''
But Vermeil added, ``I like Lawrence Phillips and I cared about the kid and I still do. I recommended him to three other teams. And I couldn't very well recommend him to three other teams, without at least having him on my mind in some way or another, just as a person, as a player, and a guy that I coached.''
Phillips, in fact, visited Green Bay on Wednesday.
G. Hill is honored: Running back Greg Hill was named NFC offensive player of the year for his 158-yard, two-touchdown rushing performance Sunday against Buffalo. Vermeil visited Hill in the hospital, where he is recovering from surgery to repair a fractured fibula and torn ligaments in his ankle.
Vermeil said Hill's spirits were ``extremely high. He's a very positive kid. Far more positive than I would be in the same situation.''
Vermeil said the Rams might wait a week or so before deciding whether or not to place Hill on the injured reserve list.
Ram-blings: As of Wednesday afternoon, about 650 tickets remained for the Arizona game. . . . The Rams will show any Mark McGwire highlights on the scoreboard screens at the Trans World Dome during stoppages in play Sunday.

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