Brown's accuracy brings NFC honor

By Bill Coats
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Thursday, Oct. 30 2008
It's not as if Rams kicker Josh Brown never had made a tackle before he dropped
New England's Ellis Hobbs on Sunday, saving a touchdown on a kickoff return.
Brown was a star running back, safety, punter and kicker at Foyil (Okla.) High.

"I went to Nebraska as a safety and then got out of that because I didn't like
going to the meetings," Brown explained. "It kind of worked out for me."

That it did. The Rams made Brown the highest-paid kicker in NFL history when
they signed him to a five-year, $14.2 million deal during free agency this
year.

Now, the dividends are coming in. On Wednesday, Brown was named the NFC
special-teams player of the month. "I'm very pleased and I'm very honored,"
Brown said. "It's great to be recognized."

In three games in October, Brown made nine of 10 field-goal attempts and all
five of his extra-point kicks. For the season, he's nailed 14 of 16 field goals
— both misses were from beyond 50 yards — and is 10 for 10 on PATs.

"I honestly don't know my stats," Brown said. "If I miss, I know I had a bad
game. I judge by the obvious rather than anything else."

Brown picked up a couple of weekly NFC honors during his five seasons with
Seattle, but this is his first monthly award. The last Rams player to be
similarly honored was running back Steven Jackson, who was the conference
offensive player of the month for December 2006.

Kicker Jeff Wilkins, whose retirement after the 2007 season led to Brown's
acquisition, was the last Rams player to be the NFC special-teams player of the
month. That was in December 2003.

GAME IS A SELLOUT

Although some tickets still might be available this week because of Arizona
returns, Sunday's home game officially is a sellout and will be televised
locally (KTVI, Channel 2).

HILL IS BETTER

A month after tearing cartilage in his knee and undergoing surgery, cornerback
Tye Hill is about ready to go. Hill participated with the scout team Wednesday
and reported that his knee "felt all right. As practice went on, it got a
little stiff. Other than that, I'm happy with where I'm at right now."

If he's on the 45-man active roster Sunday, it'll be as the fifth cornerback
behind starters Ron Bartell and Fakhir Brown, nickel back Jason Craft and
Jonathan Wade. "Depending on what groups are in, (Hill) might get some playing
time," coach Jim Haslett said. "We're just going to try to ease him back into
it."

Hill was struggling before he was hurt, and now he's facing a tough climb up
the depth chart.

"He played a lot better earlier in his career," Haslett said. "So, I expect him
to come back and compete at that level again and try to fight for his job."

INJURY UPDATES

Jackson (thigh), defensive tackle Adam Carriker (ankle) and defensive end
Leonard Little (hamstring) were limited at practice. Jackson took about a third
of the snaps with the first team; Carriker and Little did individual work.

"All three will be question marks," Haslett said, although barring a setback,
Jackson is expected to be ready to take on the Cardinals.

Wide receiver Drew Bennett (foot) and safety Todd Johnson (kidney) will be out
again this week.

Little, who was hurt in the first half Sunday, missed two games earlier with
the same injury. "It's going to be there the whole year," Little said, "so I
have to stay on top of it, rather than thinking I'm 100 percent and going out
and doing the same thing."

RAM-BLINGS

The Cardinals haven't lost at the Edward Jones Dome since 2004. ... Haslett was
1-1 vs. Arizona as head coach of the New Orleans Saints.

Quote:

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"I went to Nebraska as a safety and then got out of that because I didn't like
going to the meetings," Brown explained. "It kind of worked out for me."

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If only it were so easy.... :)

Glad that we signed him. :)