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It Has Been a Strain, Says Bain; No Longer Can He Carry Around 300 Pounds
October 15, 1985[
articles.latimes.com]
If all goes well, there will be less Bill Bain to push people around when the undefeated Rams play at Kansas City next Sunday. The All-Pro offensive tackle isn't sure less will be better, but he is convinced it will last longer.
"After 11 years (in the National Football League) of being able to carry over 300 pounds, it's caught up with me," Bain, 33, conceded Monday. "I can't fool anybody or myself anymore. It shows in my joints and my knees and my general health."
His nagging injuries had accumulated and last week offensive line coach Hudson Houck ran Bain off the practice field. He didn't play in Sunday's 31-27 win at Tampa, aside from token appearances as a blocker for kicks.
"I don't blame him (Houck)," Bain said. "I was sitting there flopping around, not doing my job, and he got ticked off. I was trying to hide the pain and gut it out and it didn't work. (Sunday) I felt like the biggest jerk in the world not being able to help those guys."
Bain has been riding an exercise bike for the last two weeks. He never would tell exactly how much he weighed--estimates ran as high as 325--and all he'll say now is: "I've lost two belt notches on my practice pants."
