Buffalo’s Hill Is Victim of Carjacking

Two gunmen forced Raion Hill of the Buffalo Bills into his car in Gretna, La., and drove him across a bridge to New Orleans, where another assailant tried to run him over, police said.

Hill’s leg was injured but he told the team it was not serious. His agent, Keith Schulefand, described the injury as a bruise.

“I think he’s just happy to be alive,” Schulefand said. “He didn’t want to get shot.”

Hill, a 24-year-old defensive back, is from New Orleans and played at Louisiana State. He spends his off-season in the New Orleans area.

Col. John Fortunato, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office, said the men approached Hill about 7 a.m. local time Monday outside a restaurant in Gretna, across the Mississippi River from New Orleans.

Hill told detectives that the driver--called “Lonnie” by the other man--asked him several times during the drive into New Orleans if he had drugs, Fortunato said.

The men stopped at a cash machine about three blocks from Hill’s high school, Brother Martin, but could not withdraw money. A black car then pulled next to Hill’s and followed it, Fortunato said.

He said Hill was ordered out of his car, and the second driver tried to run over him. The men also stole a small amount of money and personal items from Hill.

Before going to the restaurant, Hill had been at a New Orleans nightclub, where a man who looked similar to one of the carjackers walked up to him and said something about Hill’s 1999 Yukon, Fortunato said.

New Orleans police said they do not have any information about what happened.

Hill played in eight games this season for the Bills, making 19 solo tackles and assisting on two others.

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Cortez Kennedy wants to leave the Seattle Seahawks after spending all 11 of his NFL seasons with the team.

The defensive tackle told the Seattle Times he plans to return to Seattle in two weeks and ask General Manager and Coach Mike Holmgren to release him.

The Seahawks have until March 10 to release or trade Kennedy. If they keep him, he’s due to earn a $2-million roster bonus.

Kennedy has a no-trade clause in his contract that would allow him to veto a trade.

Seattle could allow him to finish the final year of a contract that will pay him $4.5 million next season.

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New Orleans Saint offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy became the latest NFL assistant to interview for the head coaching opening at Cleveland.

McCarthy, coming off his first season directing the Saint offense, is the second candidate to interview this week with the Browns. On Monday, Tennessee Titan defensive coordinator Gregg Williams met for three hours with Browns officials.

The club will interview San Francisco 49er offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg today and is trying to set up a meeting with Minnesota Viking offensive line coach Mike Tice later in the week.

The Browns also received permission to talk with New York Giant defensive coordinator John Fox. Both Fox and Baltimore Raven defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis will be in Cleveland for visits after the Super Bowl.

Cleveland defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel is also expected to interview.

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Henry Ellard is back with the St. Louis Rams as a coach.

Ellard, 39, a former standout receiver with the team, will serve as an offensive assistant to Coach Mike Martz, who also promoted Bobby Jackson to associate head coach and named Ken Zampese receivers coach.

Ellard played 16 seasons in the NFL, the first 11 with the Rams. He spent last season as an assistant at Fresno State.

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The Kansas City Chiefs named former Rutgers coach Terry Shea as quarterbacks coach. . . . Minnesota completed its coaching staff shuffle, hiring former Detroit Lion assistant Brian Baker as defensive line coach. Baker held the same position with the Lions for four seasons and with the San Diego Chargers in 1996.