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Hilliard OK After Big Collision

Tribune photo by CLIFF McBRIDE

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ike Hilliard loses the ball after a hard hit.

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By ANWAR RICHARDSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 20, 2008

Updated: 10/20/2008 07:40 am

TAMPA - Tampa Bay has been plagued with injuries to its receivers, but the Bucs avoided a potentially horrific injury against Seattle.

Bucs WR Ike Hilliard sustained a concussion during a helmet-to-helmet collision with Seattle LB Leroy Hill during the second quarter, but apparently avoided serious injury. Bucs coach Jon Gruden said Hilliard was taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure and would be held overnight for observation.

"We think he's going to be fine," Gruden said. "Obviously, we're very concerned about him, but we think he's going to be OK. All the preliminary reports are that he'll be overnight in the hospital and he's going to be OK."

The Bucs had possession on Seattle's 9-yard line in the second quarter when QB Jeff Garcia completed a short pass to Hilliard. After the catch, Hilliard was hit from the front by Hill, the force of the collision driving Hillard's back backward into the helmet of LB Lofa Tatupu.

Hilliard crumpled to the ground and was motionless as his teammates anxiously called for Tampa Bay's medical staff.

As doctors tended to Hilliard, the majority of his team took the field, with several kneeling and praying for him.

Hilliard eventually sat up under his own power and refused to sit in the back of a golf cart. Instead, Hilliard sat in the passenger seat and reassured his teammates that he was OK.

During Hilliard's rookie season, he was diagnosed with a serious neck injury and was placed on injured reserve.

Adding insult to injury, Seattle challenged the play. Replay showed Hilliard lost possession of the ball before he was down by contact, and it was ruled a fumble. Seattle took possession.

"I knew right when he got hit he was going out on the way down," Garcia said. "You never like to see that. It's just unfortunate the way that it happened. (It) looked like his helmet got sandwiched between two guys. I felt like it was probably a bad concussion. I was thankful that it wasn't a neck injury.

"Ike's a tough guy. He'll respond. He will come back, but more importantly, he needs to take care of himself right now. Regain his sense and get back to where he feels good again. When he's ready to come back, we'll be ready to welcome him back."

Tampa Bay already is without WR Joey Galloway, who has missed the past five games with a foot injury, and WR Maurice Stovall, who did not play because of a sore hamstring.

WR MAKES DEBUT: Tampa Bay WR Brian Clark made his first appearance on the 53-man roster this season. Clark, a former Chamberlain standout, was on Tampa Bay's practice squad this season and activated on Saturday because Stovall and Galloway were unable to play due to injuries.

As a result, Tampa Bay released LB Matt McCoy prior to Sunday's game.

Clark has played in 12 career games with Tampa Bay and Denver since entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2006.

SAPP: GRUDEN NO GENIUS: Former Tampa Bay DL Warren Sapp was asked about his former coach, Jon Gruden, during the NFL Network's pregame broadcast, and he did not hold back any punches.

When Sapp was asked if Gruden was an genius, Sapp replied with "It was 'Boy Wonder' not the genius label. He is not a genius," Sapp said.

Sapp was then asked if Gruden won the Super Bowl with former coach Tony Dungy's players and he also did not credit his former coach.

"The cake was already in the oven," Sapp said.

BRYANT'S BIG RECEPTION: Tampa Bay QB Jeff Garcia's 47-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Bryant was the longest pass play this season. ... Many of the fans in club level seats were watching the Rays game and keeping everyone on the outskirts updated on the score. When the Rays tied Boston at 1, the fans erupted into a "Lets Go Rays" chant. ... Tampa Bay TE Jerramy Stevens, who spent the first five seasons of his career in Seattle, had three receptions for 50 yards by halftime.

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