Shaun Hill frustrated but understands demotion
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/12228/hill-frustrated-but-understanding-of-demotion
EARTH CITY, Mo. — St. Louis Rams quarterback Shaun Hill waited three full seasons between starts.
That long wait ended in the season opener when Hill started against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1 after Sam Bradford had a second ACL tear in the team’s third preseason game. As it turns out, Hill’s stay as the starter lasted all of one half.
Hill played those first 30 minutes against the Vikings but did not return to that game after injuring his calf. Austin Davis took over and performed well enough in the two starts he made after to claim the job on a more permanent basis.
Rams coach Jeff Fisher confirmed as much Wednesday, the same day he informed Hill that Davis would be the starter moving forward after repeatedly insisting that Hill would resume starting duties upon returning to health.
“It’s not that Shaun lost the job, it’s that Austin earned an opportunity to keep it,” Fisher said. “Shaun understands, he’s a team player, he’s ready to come in at a moment’s notice. He is healthy enough to play this week.”
Hill is healthy enough to resume playing but upon his return, he’s going back to the reserve role he was initially signed to fill back in March. It’s a role he knows well but one he isn’t afraid to acknowledge is a bit disappointing given that he was finally in position to play again.
“It’s frustrating but you take a step back and think about it, it’s not about me, it’s about the team,” Hill said. “It’s frustrating but at the same time, you’ve got to keep going. It’s a tough league for tough minded people and I put myself in that category.”
Indeed, Hill has lasted 13 seasons in the NFL in no small part because of his ability to adapt to changing situations and circumstances. While he never had designs on becoming the Rams’ starter long-term, he was admittedly excited to be back starting after his lengthy hiatus.
Even the prospect of playing against Philadelphia brought up positive memories, as Hill threw for a career-high 335 yards and two touchdowns in a 2010 loss to the Eagles. But after watching Davis perform well and seeing him continue to get repetitions over the bye even as he returned to health, Hill began to see things trending in the other direction.
“To be honest with you, last week I could kind of see the writing on the wall,” Hill said. “I wouldn’t let myself go there, though. As soon as my mind kind of went to that, I caught myself and you can’t let your mind go there over the bye week. Looking back on it, you know, it kind of seemed like it was headed in that direction.”
Considering the injuries that have already hit the quarterback position this year, it’s always possible Hill could find himself back under center at some point this season. Such is life as the backup quarterback.
“I’m a professional,” Hill said. “I’ll come to work every day and continue to try to help this team any way I can.”
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