Qb Won't Let Life Get Dull -- Hilger Keeps Seahawk Teammates Laughing

KIRKLAND - If the movie "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" had required a quarterback, Rusty Hilger would have been a perfect choice.

Hilger is not only one of those high-strung free spirits who's impossible to pin down, but also one of the funniest men in the NFL.

"If I can't make somebody laugh, it ain't worth it," said the witty, tobacco-spitting quarterback.

Hilger had Seattle Seahawk teammates in stiches Wednesday with a wacky end-zone dance after he suckered a linebacker off his feet with a pass fake and dodged under the defender's arms.

Ever the character, Hilger has turned his quest for a good time into a second occupation. He owns a bar and restaurant in Oklahoma City, his hometown.

"I love throwing parties so I thought instead of having everybody over to my house all the time tearing it up, we could do it at another place, and maybe I could make some money," Hilger said.

With such logic, Hilger, 30, figured he was destined for a life of bachelorhood, but that changed when he met top-fuel drag-racer Lori Johns in 1990. They were married six months ago.

Johns may switch to IndyCars next year.

"If she does," Hilger said, "I'll run the hospitality tent."

Hilger is battling Stan Gelbaugh for the job as Seattle's No. 3 quarterback. He admits it isn't exactly the spotlight competition of the camp.

"It's like running dead last in the Olympics," he said.

Hilger was a 1985 sixth-round draft choice by the Raiders out of Oklahoma State, where he once exasperated coaches by spending the night on the 50-yard line in a sleeping bag because practice was set for 5:30 a.m.

He has been with four NFL teams and six different head coaches in pro football.

This is Hilger's third go-around with the Seahawks. He was cut in camp in 1990. Last year, he spent three weeks as a backup but didn't take a game-day snap despite lobbying to play ahead of Dan McGwire if starter Jeff Kemp got injured.

Hilger finished the past two seasons with Indianapolis, finally getting in for two plays last year.

He returned to Seattle in the off-season as a Plan B free agent.

"I'm not a great player, but I'm not a guy who (messes) it up," Hilger said. "If you want that little extra, I'm not your guy. If you just need someone to go in and to fill the spot, I can get it done."

His best season was 1988, when he started nine games for Detroit and was named the team's offensive Most Valuable Player.

Detroit switched to a run-and-shoot offense during that off-season and Hilger found himself unemployed.

Seahawk Coach Tom Flores has labeled Hilger "a character," no doubt recalling his days with the Raiders when running back Marcus Allen came out of a game and said: "Coach, that guy is crazy."

Flores also remembers when the Raiders played New England in 1985, and Hilger yelling at the Patriot defenders, "You're never going to get me!"

"I told him, `Rusty, these are guys you don't want to get mad at you,' " Flores said.

In a crucial drive late in the same game, Flores told Hilger,

"`We're going to run a fake trap and pass off a bootleg."

Hilger liked the call.

"That's wild! That's crazy!" he nearly shouted.

"We all started laughing," Flores said.

The play worked for a touchdown and the Raiders won.

Despite all this fun, Hilger said he never has enjoyed football as much as this summer.

"Now after settling down and not worrying about the little things like, `Am I going to be released?' it's fun playing again," he said. "I'm having so much fun with the guys. Everyone is calling me crazy and nuts. I'm truly enjoying what is going on."