Imagine for a moment having professional football players unnaturally bending your body like a pretzel. Perhaps this is the daily risk of a running back, who has two instinctual priorities: Stay on your feet and don't lose the football.
With 5:54 remaining in the first quarter, Hill confidently powered his way for six yards through a mass of humanity, easily converting a second-and-five into a first down. Yet, he was still on his feet. Manti Te'o wrapped Hill from behind, pulling him backward while trapping his leg underneath. While that was happening, the football was exposed and Donald Butler yanked the football away from Hill.