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No Blame Game For Hilliard Over Hit

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By IRA KAUFMAN

ikaufman@tampatrib.com

Published: October 23, 2008

TAMPA - Ike Hilliard isn't blaming anyone for the unplanned nap he took on the field at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday night.

Tampa Bay's veteran receiver just is seeking a clear head and a green light to help the Bucs at Texas Stadium, where the Cowboys administered a 38-10 Thanksgiving Day beating in 2006 as Hilliard was limited to one catch for 3 yards.

"I fell asleep for a minute, but I was OK," Hilliard said Wednesday, referring to the jarring collision when he was sandwiched between Seattle LBs Lofa Tatupu and Leroy Hill. "It was a good NFL hit. I took all the tests and everything came back fine."

Hill could be facing a league fine for leveling a helmet-to-helmet blow against Hilliard, who leads the Bucs with three TD catches. The big hit came early in the second quarter when Hilliard caught and then fumbled a Jeff Garcia pass near the Seattle goal line in a high-traffic area.

"That's why he's Ike Hilliard ... he's made a living between the hashes his whole career," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said. "He's a great receiver, and the first thing he says to me is, 'Hey, that was just a good NFL hit. I'm all right.'"

Hilliard didn't practice Wednesday and acknowledged he still isn't 100 percent. "That's to be determined," he said, referring to his status for the Dallas game. "They want all the symptoms to be done."

Injury Update

WR Maurice Stovall (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday for the Bucs. WR Joey Galloway (foot), RB Warrick Dunn (pinched nerve) and FB B.J. Askew (hamstring) were limited, along with K Matt Bryant (hamstring) and LS Andrew Economos (shoulder).

With the availability of Hilliard, Galloway and Stovall unclear, the Bucs signed WR Paris Warren to the practice squad Wednesday. Warren, selected by the Bucs in the seventh round of the 2005 draft, was released this summer and has five receptions in eight NFL games.

The Cowboys are also hurting. QB Tony Romo (fractured pinkie) is out, along with dynamic rookie RB Felix Jones (hamstring), who averages 8.9 yards per carry and has returned a kickoff for a 98-yard score.

Ira Kaufman

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