Nick Hill Weighs Options, Waits on the NFL
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Less than 48 hours after being cut from the Chicago Bears, Nick Hill was back in Du Quoin doing what he does best: playing quarterback and teaching young people.
Hill, 23, worked out at Van Metre Field and then stayed around to assist with Du Quoin High School's Freshman Football camp Thursday morning.
Hoping to earn at least a spot on the Bears 2008 practice squad as the third or fourth string quarterback, Hill's first rookie training camp ended abruptly Tuesday.
He was let go when the Bears filled a roster need at tight end, re-signing veteran holdover Marcus Stone.
With Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton getting most of the snaps in practice, opportunities for Hill and fellow rookie free agent Caleb Hanie were few and far between.
"I met with (offensive coordinator) Ron Turner and the general manager (Jerry Angelo) after the morning practice and that's when I found out," Hill said. "They told me to stay ready because I could be called back to camp anytime. Coach Turner still thinks I'll play in the NFL one day. But since NFL Europe (developmental league) folded last year, only 80 players can be in camp instead of 90. It's a business and gets to be a numbers game sometime. They needed a position player and I was the odd-man out."
Bears coach Lovie Smith echoed Hill's statement when asked about the move to bring Stone back to Bourbannis.
"We feel like Caleb Hanie had kind of solidified himself right now as our third guy," Smith told the Associated Press Wednesday. " We were looking to possibly bring back another position. We're a little thin at a couple of spots."
Hill and Hanie expected to see action in the Bears preseason opener, Aug. 7, and were still heavily involved with each practice session while working under the close watch of Smith, Turner and quarterbacks coach Pep Hamilton.
Its clearly a two-man race between Grossman and Orton for the starting position with rumors of the Bears pursuing veteran QB's Chris Simms and Dante Culpepper running rampant.
"There's just so much movement on rosters everyday during training camp," Hill said. "You just never know when a chance will open up. My agent (Andy Simms) has been in contact with other NFL teams and also with the CFL (Canadian Football League). I could probably sign with a Canadian team right now, but I am not ready yet to give up on the NFL."
In mid-September, NFL players waived in training camp become eligible to sign with CFL franchises. There's also the option of playing Arena Football during the winter.
For right now, Hill's planning to spend the next few weeks back home in Du Quoin. The daily regiment will include constant contact with Simms and intense workouts.
He's torn between a solid offer from former SIU coach Jerry Kill-to assist with Kill's quarterbacks at Northern Illinois University while continuing to workout-and staying close to home.
In Du Quoin, he could enjoy younger brother A.J.'s senior season and return to SIU. Hill needs just eight weeks of student teaching to complete requirments for a B.S. in Education. There's also no doubt Al Martin could find room for his former standout on the Tribe sideline this fall.
At DeKalb, Hill would be reunited with Kill and the coaching staff he played under for three years in Carbondale. That group will also coach A.J., who recently tendered a verbal committment to play quarterback for Northern.
"I am kind of torn right now," Nick said. "I want to coach and spending more time around coach Kill and that staff while I work out would be great. But being around for my brother's games-and I know they will have a great season-would really be special."
Of course, another crack at the NFL could be just a phone call away.
"The Bears camp was a great experience and I definitely want to play in the NFL," he said. "There were thousands of people watching practice. I just want the chance to prove myself. Hopefully, another opportunity will come up."