Cadillac believes he will play in '08

Injured Bucs running back Cadillac Williams says he expects to play in 2008.

"Oh yeah, no doubt,'' Williams said. "I definitely have a great shot. I feel good about it.''

Williams, sporting a nine-inch scar on his right knee from surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon, took a break from rehab Friday to discuss his future.

He admitted that shortly after the injury occurred in a game at Carolina last Sept. 30, he doubted whether he would ever play football again.

"You're laying in bed, you're doing rehab and you can't move your leg,'' Williams said. "So you start to think that even though the doctor is telling you, 'Whoa, they're just speculating, be patient.' But we're human. You get to thinking like, 'Man, maybe it is (career threatening).

"But at the same time, I bounced back, did a lot of praying and I feel like I'm going to be okay.''

Williams said he working on building up his right quad muscles. He is able to do some light squats, run stairs at Raymond James Stadium, jog and do full-speed running in the pool.

"I'm actually starting to get active on this thing and put some pressure on it,'' Williams said. "Yesterday, I got where I was able to do some quick ladders and little drills, pushing the sled. I'm actually getting where I can put some pressure on this thing and see where it goes.''

Dr. James Andrews, who performed the surgery, told Williams it is a 9-12 month injury. But his goal is to be ready for training camp -- and at the very least -- play during the 2008 season.

"Everybody knows it's a patellar tear,'' Williams said. "But it's something that I don't feel is a career-ending injury. I'm showing up every day with my hard hat on and looking to get better and better.

"It's been an uphill battle.

"Me personally, I'd love to be ready for training camp. Ready for opening day. Of course, that's my goal. But at the same time, we've got to be smart with it.''

The Bucs do not appear to be counting on Williams next season -- even if they're not ready to count him out.

Earnest Graham, who rushed for 898 yards and 10 touchdowns in Williams' absence, is expecting a contract extension. The Bucs re-signed Michael Bennett prior to the start of the free agent signing period and signed former Falcons running back Warrick Dunn on Monday.

Andrews told Williams that other players, including Eagles running back Correll Buckhalter and Denver Broncos linebacker Nate Webster have returned from torn patellar injuries.

"There's been a couple guys who had this same injury who came back and have done well,'' Williams said.

Comments

[mark]

caddy will be ok and u haters will regret the noise u are making....he thrives on negative feedback...so watch out...............

[cory]

Unless the info I'm looking at is wrong, warrick dunn will make more money next year than cadillac. So you people are telling me we need to cut him because he costs too much and is a waste, but there is no problem with 33 year old dunn getting paid more and staying? You people are out of your minds.

[cory]

Opposing teams only game planned against cadillac also because he was the ONLY offensive threat. He had 8 people in the box every play with a terrible offensive line. How did frank gore do last year being the only threat on his team?

[Kurt]

How does you not knowing anything about football make that a chauvenistic comment? Our O-line is what needed improvement and that's exactly what has happened over the past 3 years. Haven't you been paying attention? It's really no fun having a battle of witts with someone so unarmed. You're just hate-mongering and not seeing the reality of the situation Amy. The guy is pretty good. He has had "some" injury issues, but so has every QB we've had behind that horrendous line. It has become much improved and the running game has followed suit. Besides, if he's so terrible and you are right, then what kind of trade value would he have? I bet he would be picked up the second we cut him; so where would that leave your theory on his value? I'm just saying...

[Skylar]

Amy, you should call DR and the two of you can go out! Good points Cory, Kurt and Oliver. It's nice to see some people with quality insights on here. It's usually just a site for bashing the bucs. Godspeed Caddy!

[Kurt]

No. Va.? No I'm a Tampa native, but I live in Charlotte, NC now. I have season tickets and migrate down for all the home games (at least most of them.) I also get to see them play in Atlanta and Charlotte, of course. Panter fans suck bad. There are always tix way under value. At least I get face value for mine when I can't make it. Why you ask?

[Duane]

Wow Amy, am I glad I'm not your boyfreind or husband. The Bucs line, unti last year, has been average at best. Last year it was average and very young. Hope you never become my boss, either. I've had women for bosses. Always overcompensating.

[John P]

No matter what gets said here in the blog or the article, the odds are against Cadillac having a long NFL career. He seems like a really good guy, a decent enough person. But he's suffered an injury that is a very likely sign that he is both prone to this, and likely will suffer another of the same severity.

McAllister from the Saints has the exact same problem - Billy Sims as well for those who remember him. You can't count on Caddy being healthy for a season, ever again. I root for the guy, definitely. But I'll cringe every time I see him land at an angle or plant his foot to cut against the grain. It's only a matter of time before it happens again - and the Bucs absolutely know this.

It'd make a nice feel good story to see the guy succeed, but there's a darn good reason why they've re-signed Bennett, gotten Dunn back and will extend Graham. They lose little for keeping Williams for another season (his base salary is still acceptable). And miracles, while rare - do occasionally happen.

[Justin M]

I CANNOT STAND to see people write that Cadillac was a waste of money. This guy plays the game hard. I will bet all my money that at the end of 2005 you were all singing his praises. Bunch of phoneys you guys are.

Truth is you all hold that miserable 2006 season against him. Our whole team stunk from top to bottom. He was running behind a line with two rookies and collection of mediocre journeymen. Remember this was the same O-line that nearly got our QB killed.
Then he had to play with that weak O-line and a QB (Gradkowski) who couldnt throw the ball over 20 yards. There was nowhere to run last year and as a RB his season was set up for disappointment.

Cadillac Williams has his shortcomings like most players. He is a weak receiver and route runner, but he is by far (when healthy) the best pure runner on this team.

[ryan callahan]

I definately think he will be back next year, but it may not be untill after week 6. Now wheter he comes back and was the caddy that he was in 05 is still to be determined.

[The Man]

You're all a bunch of uneducated tools!!! Half of you can't spell, the other half are just stupid. Makes me proud to be a Bucs fan!

[Bucs4ever]

Half of the comments some of these people are putting up show how cold-hearted and ruthless they really are. Cadillac is a professional football player and I guarantee you he's putting in a 100 percent right now in rehab to get back on the field. Look at Cedric Benson in Chicago he was taken before Cadillac in the draft and so far he's a bust but the Bears are still comitted to him someway. Sometimes you have to wait and see how these players pan out in their careers. Many of you are saying football is a business. Well when you invest in a product sometimes you ave to let the product develop and see it's full potential or the whole thing goes to waste. Cadillac is a 3 year pro, hes been in the league for only 3 years. Give him time people and plus we got other great running backs in his place and a lot of cap space for the time being. Another thing i would like to say is, if everyone says its a business then why did you guys have a problem when John Lynch got released. Don't get me wrong i love Lynch but at the time he was hurt too, and we were having cap problems. Denver took a chance on him and they did the right thing because he played like his old self. The same thing applies to Cadillac. This past year was a very special one even if we didn't get past the first round because the team achieved a lot with adversity. As with Gruden i think he is doing a good job. When he won the superbowl in 2002, people said that he did it with Tony Dundy's team. But he also inherited the cap-hell that Dungy and Mckay put the team under the previous years which lead to sub-par talent which eventually lead to the pathetic overall records. Now we're out of the cap-hell so let Gruden do his job. Enough of " get gruden out of town" chants he signed on an extension so deal with it. When Tampa traded for him he didnt have a choice but ot come down here, but if he did he probably would have never came because of all the ignorant people that have a grudge towards him for no reason. It wasn't his falut that Dungy got fired but some of you guys are not intelligent enough to comprehend that.

[Justin M]

Some of these comments about Williams are despicable and low. This same garbage went on when Simms was initially hurt. The roar of the crowd in 2006 at RJS against Carolina when Gradkowski entered for Simms made me want to puke.

Too many bandwagon fans who have bizarre agendas. They dont want Cadillac to come back because they have already labeled him a bust. There is an enjoyment out of saying, "I told you he was a bust." Its a sad and sorry way to speak about a player on your so called team.

Now if Williams comes back in 2008 and starts scoring TDs, these hyprocrites will cheer and proclaim him to be back and better than ever, forgetting they left him for dead not long ago.

I hope Cadillac comes back and mows down opposing defenders and doubters alike.

[Jez]

you guys are so emotional about caddy get of his jock "oh caddy" "oh caddy" dont worry itll be ok poor baby.

it aint ok if EG puts up a big season consider your backside out of hear buuuudy

[Jez]

Here*

[NC Buc Fan]

No offense to Cadillac or his injury, I hope he eventually comes back and has his full career and lives out his dreams, I just hope it isn't with the Bucs. This guy to me is the biggest dissappointment of the last few years in the 1st round. Even when healthy (hes always hurt tho) he doesnt perform. Earnest Graham is 50 times the back Cadillac is. I remember my mother (knows nothing of football) glanced at the tv screen once and saw Cadillac running and was like "Man, he's slow to be a football player". She is totally right. He has no game speed. This guy will never be a good NFL rb (just like Reggie Bush, star in NCAA, nothing in the NFL).

[Nate Dogg]

Listen people, the simple truth is this: we all wish Carnell the best and that he recover to live a happy and healthy life. Who the hell wouldn't?

However, do I want to see him play another down in a bucs uniform? No. I'm sorry if that comes accross as cold hearted, but his unneccessary dancing/"juking" and consistant inability to catch a ball have all gotten old. Yes I understand how unbelievably bad our quarterbacks and offensive line have been the last two years, but do you really think if he hadn't gotten hurt, he'd be a 1,400+ yard back with this year's offensive line? Doubt it. All of the reasons I listed above, as well as his inability to break tackles and use his "speed" to avoid tackles, have been well documented the previous two seasons (before he got hurt this last season).

In some form of "kindness", I do hope he can get a fresh start on a new team when he's healthy and can prove that he's still worth being taken as the #4 overall pick.

He and Simms.

I wish them all the best and hope they get healthy, but in terms of the lack of production and wasted cap space they bring to the table, they both need to go.

A full off season going into next season will really help our current stable of running backs. Graham, Dunn, and Bennett will do a fine job of making the plays they'll need to make when their number is called.

Nate Dogg

[Nate Dogg]

Here, here!...well said, "NC Buc Fan"!

[NC Buc Fan]

You so called do-gooder Buc fans trying to make everyone feel ashamed for not liking Cadillac. Are you watching games? We want to see our teams win, if that means playing the best player and getting rid of others to make room for real proven rbs like Pittman and Dunn, so be it. I think if you really really want to see Cadillac back in a Buc uniform than you are the one thats not a fan, you are a fairweather fan who probably bought his jersey because of his name from college.

[Timothy]

they paid like 60 million for a beat up caddy. I don't know how anyone thought he would be worth that money with a name like cadillac. of course he's trying to come back. he doesn't get paid otherwise. cut him.

[Trevor]

I remember watching Caddy play that first year. When he was getting tons of carries and doing pretty well. But When you give a running back that kind of carries in that short period of time.. "Driving your running back in to the ground"

[cory]

$60 million??? He made 1.4 mil last year, but ok. LMAO at graham is 50x better. He is a good back, but how come he has NEVER played at all before last year? I remember last year reading an interview with Art Valero last offseason and he was talking about how to help cadillac improve. He showed him a compilation of all the best 1 and 2 yard gains he had in 06. I know that sounds silly, but thats the point on how bad the rest of that offense was. He would break 2 or 3 tackles and end up with a 1 yard gain. Regardless of who you think is better, saying he should be cut is just plain stupid. When has competition ever hurt? Look at what competition did for jermaine phillips last year. If he didn't have 2 rookies breathing down his neck all offseason, he wouldn't have been half the player he was.

[dv7401]

Though I love Caddy's heart and determination, Earnest Graham is 10 times better than he is. Williams is one dimensional, he's never been a recieving threat out of the backfield. Graham breaks tackles, is elusive, makes people miss, hardly ever gets taken down by the first defender, AND catches almost everything thrown to him. Graham worked hard to get to where he is, Williams got a great contract without earning it. So, tell me, why is Caddy better?

[Talon]

go bucs

[dv7401]

Oh, I forgot to mention the stiff arm. You know what I mean? Earnest Graham has a bad @$$ stiff arm move. What does Caddy have, besides his dive to the ground to avoid being hit move?

[Talon]

Caddy is coming back...I know it. If we trade him you know exactly what will happen...he'll be awesome somewhere else. He defiantly hasn't played behind the line we have now. Can you imagine what it could have been like last season had he and Petitgout not gotten hurt? People say he's crap but it sure will feel funny when he gets snatched up in 2 seconds by another team. Same goes for Gruden if he got canned. This is our season...

[dv7401]

Excuses, excuses. How is it that when Caddy or Simms gets hurt, it's because of the offensive lines' lack of protection? Graham played harder... didn't get hurt. I don't recall McCown running for his life either. Williams is a great kid, but you people are kidding yourselves if you think he has any chance of regaining what form he did have. The injury he sustained could have been avoided if he knew how and when to take a hit, period. It was well documented that the Panthers' playing field was in poor condition that day, especially along the sidelines. It's something that a good running back has to have a feel for, taking everything into account. He should have gone out of bounds before the hit, knowing the field was trash and that he would have horrible footing. It's sad, yes, but was definitely avoidable. Here's to hoping Graham is the starter on opening day and for years to come.

[McHenry]

Some of you all have good points, but the only reason Graham did well was because of the O-line. If I am correct, Caddy got injured on what was the longest run til that point. If he had played, there is no doubt that he would have done as well as Graham. Why trade him? Both would be complimentary to each other. Hope Caddy comes back 100 percent healthy. That would be nice...Caddy and Graham.

[otaibi]

Amy

Learn how to be optimistic and stop hating.

GO bucs

[Joe]

Caddy your gonnha be fine. Even if you have to miss a couple weeks in the start of the season,Earnest can carry the load while yuor gone

[dv7401]

Hmm... so Caddy didn't do well because of the O line, and Graham only did well because of the O line... interesting. Good backs make average lines look great. Average backs make average lines look horrible.

Sorry, the O line is not the ONLY reason Graham did well. He has a vicious stiff arm, escapability, burst, strength, good hands... none of which is a product of the O line. What games were you people watching last year? Graham reminds me of Emmitt Smith.

[The Man]

I heard Detroit is looking to trade for Caddy if they don't sign Pittman. They're also gonna pick up Dilfer since SanFran just cut him loose. Marinelli is looking to pick up Simeon Rice for his D line, as well as attempt to talk Warren Sapp out of retirement. Look for Millen to trade a 2nd rounder to Indy for Booger McFarland. There's also speculation that Shelton Quareles will come out of retirement and sign with the Lions. The Associated Press is reporting that the Detroit Lions will be moving their training camp to Disneyland in Anaheim California this season, as well. Rod Marinelli's little brother is also looking for a job as a head coach in the Arena League.

Marinelli has Gruden envy!

[Stephen Holder]

Hey everyone... Wanted to chime in on this Cadillac issue. I agree that people are being really harsh on the guy. I just want to say a couple of things because I think I have a unique perspective being around the team every day during the season. Gruden and Valero always talked up Cadillac for one reason: he has home-run potential. There are many reasons to like Earnest, but he does not possess that quality. Cadillac didn't do it often, but at any given time, he could gash you for a 20-yard run. In fact, the run on which he got hurt was one of those highlight type runs. He has the most explosion of any back on the roster (or had before his injury). I think the one thing we haven't taken into account is the offensive line he played behind. In short, during his first two years, it was horrible. The line the Bucs hope to line up with this fall will be entirely different. Who knows what he could do behind these guys. And let's not even begin to talk about what he might be able to do with a quarterback who is actually a threat. Remember, his sophomore slump came with BRUCE GRADKOWSKI under center. I will make no predictions. I think Caddy has flaws (his hands and the fact he sometimes is indecisive as a runner) and he'll have to first overcome this injury to be even worthy of much conversation. But when you're judging the guy, let's be fair. I feel like many here aren't doing that.

[dv7401]

Hey, we all love the kid, really do! But above all else, we are (most of us anyway) Bucs fans, and want whats best for the team. I wish Caddy well and hope he recovers, I'm just saying don't expect it. I also hope he doesn't feel pressured by the teams personnel moves, because if he rushes his recovery, it might end his carreer. He needs to take his time and heal, and let the team do what it does. As far as that's concerned, Graham, Bennett, and Dunn makes for a solid stable of RB's.

[The Man]

Some people look under their bed for the boogie man. The boogie man looks under his bed for Jeff Garcia.

[DR]

Jeff Garcias' tears cure cancer. Too bad he never cries.

[Oliver]

Stephen, thank goodness you are here.

dv7401: If you can't remember McCown running around (which I certainly can) then remember that Garcia spent a lot of time dodging the rush, which is due to the offensive line's struggles in pass-blocking at times. Tampa's run game, however, was one of the offense's major strengths last year, with a legitmate passing attack to open up the run, Sears and Jospeh as pulling guards helped make plays - Sears particularly came on very strongly in the second half of the season, as did Graham, and as would Cadillac have done.

Cadillac is just a vital a back as Graham is, as Williams has good pace in his running, wheras Graham has probably the better feet and stiff-arm. Last season, we saw Cadillac ploughing himself into 2 or 3 defenders before hitting the turf, not to mention that he actually has a better amount of receptions than most people think - I think it has improved each season, and he would have this season, if he hadn't suffered a horrific injury. The guy was already struggling with cracked ribs after the hit Tatupu put on him on opening day, yet he came back and was scoring TD's. One of the best all-round performances of the Bucs last year was at home to a poor Rams' side, with both Cadillac and Graham excelling.

To sum this long post, Cadillac and Graham can be a truly dominant backfield. It is truly irritaing to see people whining and moaning about players that give their all for the team (Chris Simms comes to mind) yet still get utterly slated by such fickle people. The Bucs organisation understand what they need. They know the player that Williams is, he will be back.

[DON]

amy,NC Bucs Fan, kim, eric, dr, and brandon all you guys are talking about caddy hashe dont have break away speed or how he cant catch or how he fumbles the ball, all the rest of the caddy fans and i would love for yall to put on a uni and see how well yall would do. CADDY is a good back he will come around with the catch and everything else. if it wasnt for him carrying the load his rookie season the bucs would have not made the playoffs he had a 1000yards something that pittman wasnt doing so you guys should stop hating and love the guy caddy if u read this everybody else besides the few i have named loves u here in tampa and cant wait to see what u and graham will do in the back field together GET WELL AND GO BUCS

caddy sucks

[Jenise]

Definitely excited to hear that Carnell is doing so well. I know that him being named a successful/productive back in the future(or the past for that matter) is questionable, but I feel that he's shown himself to be a great RB. This experience will definitely make him a lot better and a lot stronger!! There are still people out there that think you're great Mr. Williams.. Prove everyone else wrong. My prayers are definitely with you Cadillac... God Bless.

[Tony]

he is overated! too bad we didnt take adrian peterson in the draft although i do like graham and dunn should help out just not a big fan of caddy he stays hurt. wish we could trade him for a good receiver to help out galloway.

[DR]

Earnest Grahams' tears cure cancer. Too bad he never cries.

[Ho Chi Minh]

Jeff Garcia invented the bowflex, just so that his opponents would have a slightly greater chance of surviving his roundhouse kick.

[DR]

Spider Man wears Jeff Garcia pajamas.

[Dicky Lewis]

Earnest Graham rules

[Earnest Graham]

Earnest Graham rules