PRO FOOTBALL ’87 : An Unexpected Catch : Wide Receiver Drew Hill Is Best Gift Oilers Could Have Received From Rams

The Houston Oilers, those frequent gift-givers, finally can thank someone for an unlikely present, wide receiver Drew Hill.

The Rams bade Hill a fond farewell three seasons ago, banishing him to the dreadful Oilers for seventh- and fourth-round draft choices. The Rams were nice enough about the departure. They said they were committed to newcomer Ron Brown, which was another way of saying they weren’t committed to Hill.

Coach John Robinson even offered his best wishes. Or were they condolences?

“He told me that he thought it would be a great opportunity to come over here,” Hill said earlier this week in a telephone conversation from Houston, where he’s getting ready to face his former teammates Sunday at the Astrodome.

This, of course, is like telling someone a Yugo is better than a Caddy because it has more trunk room. The Rams were on their way to four consecutive postseason appearances. The Oilers had won six games in three years.

Hill did what he could while with the Rams. He returned kickoffs. He averaged more than 21 yards a catch in four of his six seasons. Then again, he never caught more than 19 passes during his stay, and spent 1983 on the injured-reserve list because of a herniated disk.

Then along came Brown, the Olympic sprinter, followed soon thereafter by Hill’s trade to the Oilers.

Hill said he hasn’t forgotten the moment he learned of the news.

“I was just thinking about leaving the Rams, a playoff contender,” Hill said. “They have a lot of great people out there. And coming to Houston, a team that was like 3-13 the year before . . .

“Then maybe there might be a good chance for me to go and start and show the people in L.A. that I can play. I know that they’re committed to Ron Brown and a lot of young guys . . . but just show them that I can play.”

No problem there. Since his departure, Hill has caught 129 passes. In 1985, his first season with the Oilers, Hill had more receptions, 64, than in all of his six seasons with the Rams, 60. And he had only one fewer touchdown--9, compared to 10 with the Rams--which pretty much confirmed Robinson’s new-opportunity speech.

Only a month away from his 31st birthday, Hill is the oldest player on the Oiler roster. “These guys are calling me grandpa,” he said.

Hill’s new-found status ends what had become a series of unfortunate developments--for the Oilers, that is. Who can forget that wacky Houston management team in 1983 as it traded the Rams the No. 2 pick of the draft for the No. 3 choice and a pair of fourth-round selections. For this, the Oilers got the ever-exciting offensive tackle Bruce Matthews. The Rams got Eric Dickerson.

The Rams also send frequent thank-you notes to Oiler front-office types for last year’s deal that brought quarterback Jim Everett to Anaheim. Weary of bickering with Everett’s agent, Marvin Demoff, and already in possession of a high-priced passer, Warren Moon, the Oilers traded the rights to Everett for guard Kent Hill, defensive end William Fuller and the Rams’ No. 1 choices in 1987 and 1988 and a fifth-rounder in 1987.

Said Oiler Coach Jerry Glanville, who knows the local history as well as anyone: “Drew Hill’s the best thing that ever happened to us with the Rams. He’s just blossomed here late in his career.”

Glanville used to be the defensive coordinator of the Atlanta Falcons. He has vivid memories of watching Hill, then with the Rams, poke holes in his pass coverages. Truth is, Glanville didn’t know whether to get angry or applaud quietly.

“I always liked Hill because . . . he used to catch three touchdowns a year and all three of them were against us,” Glanville said. “He always beat us deep. I thought more of him than most people in the league. When he became available, we jumped on him.”

And this from friend and former Ram teammate LeRoy Irvin: “Shocked as usual why the Rams ever traded him. A great receiver. I knew he was going to be great. He’s like Eastern Airlines: He earns his wings everyday. Or like Delta: We’re ready when you are.”

Now you can find Hill on the Oiler media guide cover, among the league leaders in pass receiving yardage, the centerpiece of the Houston pass offense. “We’ve actually featured him and he’s the big key,” Glanville said.

Hill seems unaffected by all of this. Asked to describe his success, he launches into a short speech about the Oiler offense. When pressed, he allows that American Football Conference teams play a lot of bump-and-run coverage.

“If you can get away from that, you’ll be able to get open,” he said. “I’ve got a great quarterback here. I feel like I’m an integral part of this team. When that happens, I think you work a little harder.”