Caddy almost certain to be activated

Barring an unforseen change of heart, the Bucs have every intention of putting Cadillac Williams on the active roster Wednesday.

Williams, who suffered a torn patellar tendon in his right knee nearly 14 months ago, participated in contact drills with pads on Monday. Coach Jon Gruden said he has no reason to believe Williams won't be activated from the Physically Unable to Perform list.

"We staged a couple drills for Carnell Williams to get hit. He responded to it. It's exciting,'' Gruden said. "I've said that for a long time. It's almost like Christmas is here. And Christmas is Wednesday, I hope.

"We'll see how he feels. We'll talk to the trainers and the medical people. If my eyes don't deceive me, I think he has a chance to be a player this year and that would be exciting.'

Williams return could come at a good time for the Bucs. Earnest Graham has a knee injury and could miss Sunday's game against Minnesota. Warrick Dunn has a pinched nerve in his back and did not play at Kansas City.

   "This guy is a hell of a back. This guy is a very good back,'' Gruden said of Williams, the Rookie of the Year in 2005. "We have film to prove that. We want him to be a big part of our organization. So if he's healthy, he's going to play here.

"Earnest (Graham) has done a heck of a job. We do have some injuries. Warrick (Dunn) has been out for the last two games. If we could ever get Warrick Dunn and Earnest Graham and Carnell Williams, that would be exciting for us.''

Gruden cautioned not to expect Williams to jump into the role of feature back as soon as he returns.

"Obviously, this is a process. We'll take it day by day,'' Gruden said. "As we gather more information and get evidence that he's 100 percent back, obviously, his role will be determined by that.''

To make room for Williams, the Bucs will have to release a player or move one to injured reserve. One candidate could be Michael Bennett, who has played sparingly this season even in the wake of injuries to Dunn and Graham.

"That's why they hire these general managers to make these tough decisions,'' Gruden said. "I'll just say this: it'll be a tough call for us.''

Comments

[Valrico Rick]

I am not convinced that releasing a healthy running back is the best approach to take in this instance. If Bennett is released that would make Smith the only "healthy" running back on the roster. Although Dunn could come back and Williams might be fine, they are both question marks. Cutting Jackson probably won't happen, but that is a wasted roster spot right now. We will find out soon I suppose! 'Nuff Said!!!

[Bill]

Thats what im talking about!!!

Roll Caddy Roll!!!
I cant wait to see my boy back on the field!!! I say he will get 5-10 Carries next week... Geezz i cant wait!!!

[Bill]

I dont think its going to be either Bennett nor Jackson to be released.. i think its going to be someone, no one is going to expect!!

[CW]

Bennett also is a wasted roster spot. That guy has hardly gotten on the field, despite a backfield that has been plagued with injuries. If Clifton Smith is getting on the field before Bennett, Bennett probably needs to be the one to go here. He obviously doesn't have the confidence of his coaches and they're the ones who see him practice everyday. But, I would agree that with the injuries to Graham, Dunn and Caddy's questionable status - plus the fullback situation - it might be necessary to keep Bennett for RB depth reasons. What a tough decision...good luck with that one Gruden/Allen.

[Hayes]

Releasing a running back to activate a running back makes the most sense. Activating Cadillac would give us five active players at RB...to deep to keep that many, even with injuries. We don't have the depth anywere else to release a player...we don't use Bennett for anything...He would make the most sense????

[skp]

running out of wiggle room on the roster with all the injured players and "redshirt" rookies like josh johnson and dexter jackson....i understand that our RBs are banged up, but adding another iffy RB is going to cost us a healthy player on another unit, and probably further dent special teams which is already missing the likes of stovall, askew, and lost a couple good LBs this offseason in roster cutdowns.

[Steve]

i think askew gets ir'ed and caddy takes his spot.....

[Greg]

The midget is sure not a good or average personnel man..would rather see Thomas Jones out there..you know, the back who ran for 149yds yesterday and could not wait to get out of tampa because he hated the midget so much...like a lot of former buc players.
c williams can not hold up as an every-down back and if used that way will continue to break down..thank your midget coach.....

[Jesse Henn]

I am very excited that Carnell will be back & hopefully to prove all his doubters wrong. It's a no-brainer to activate him, if he's healthy, because, as long as he is healthy, he will strengthen an already tough corps of RBs. Who they release may be a tough decision, but I am sure they will do the right thing. Why people want to personally attack the Coach for things that he may not even decide displays a lack of understanding by some people, & it shows no faith. Like the past, Thomas Jones is gone. This is a good dilemma for the team, not a bad one.

[M-Rock]

Caddy is all heart-and deserves a shot back in our line-up. You sceptics must admit, when Carnell brings his A-game, he's a big splash player w/ plenty of potential. Problem is, he's a whale-hunter, getting 1-2 yds per carry most of the time, and always a threat to bust one open for 45 yds. Not an every-down back, cause he'll break down (he's proven that). Graham is much more dependable (like #40 was), by far. Hope he exceeds everyones expectations, and rocks da house Sunday!

[John]

Gruden is AN IDIOTIC JERK.

[Jeff]

I didnt know Thomas Jones hated "the midget"

[IDontdrinkkoolaid]

" Gruden cautioned not to expect Williams to jump into the role of feature back as soon as he returns."

Williams has absolutely zero business being the feature back in this offense. Graham has shown over the last year + that he is the better of the two backs. So I can't wait for Gruden to annoint Cadillac Williams the feature back, having him getting 30 touches a game by week 16 after Graham seemingly 'falls off the planet.' GO SUCS!

[OAR]

THOMAS JONES WAS WHEN WE WERE IN SALARY CAP HELL. HE SIGNED FOR ONLY 1YR(BECAUSE OF NO $) THEN SIGNED 3YRS WITH BEARS FOR A LOT MORE $ THAN WE COULD OFFER. NOW PLAYS WITH JETS (ONLY HAD 542 YDS BEFORE HIS "149YDS GAME" YESTERDAY) SO GREG I DONT THINK YOUR GRUDEN BASHING IS A LEGGIT EXCUSE.

[Justin M]

Thomas Jones credits Jon Gruden for reviving his career. He took big money to go to Chicago. Quit making stuff up.

[John Klopfer]

why whine about Thomas Jones? He was a good player for us...not great. Ernest Graham has done just as much. I believe that we will be saying good-bye to Bennett. If he can't break into the line up on special teams...especially with his speed, it is time for him to line up somewhere else. He may have some juice in his tank but he has failed to show it here. Lets face it, in the NFL-now is the only thing that matters.

[Yoshi]

Damn, i've been waiting for this since the season started. I cant wait to see cadillac go out there and ball. With this two/three back set we're runninig cadillac will be fresher every carry and his transition back will be smooth. I think bennet needs to be released he may be an okay back but we obviously dont use him so he is practically useless. GO CADI YOU STILL GOT IT!

[Tuck]

Get rid of Bennett - he doesn't fit into the Bucs offense.

Thomas Jones was a big mistake by the Bucs, but not for the reasons written earlier. He wanted to return, but he got MUCH more money from the Bears. It wasn't that the Bucs couldn't afford to sign him; they spent twice as much to get Charlie Garner instead.

Garner was old and coming off of a knee injury. I don't think that he played more than a dozen plays for the Bucs.

Giving Garner twice as much money as what Jones signed for in Chicago was a big-time mistake.

THE END

PS - Greg, you are a mental midget. Gruden is an excellent coach. It's armchair QB's like you who chased Dungy away.

[Vince]

IDontdrinkkoolaid, Graham may be a more complete back (catching and blocking), but he is not a better runner. A healthy Caddy turns a lot of Graham's 15 yd runs into 30-40 yard runs or more. How quick everyone forgets 2005. Heck, you don't even have to go that far back. How about the play that Caddy was injured on.

[shane]

strap yourselves in because i've got a gut felling it's going to be one hell of a ride with caddy and graham in the backfield

[shane]

*feeling

[G. Michael Reynolds]

I'm gonna be hoarse from cheering the first time this season #24 breaks one. The odds are against a full comeback, but, odds are meaningless in the face of actual humans.

[Rick in Atlanta]

Like it or not it is probably going to be Bennett. Be honest...why not? How does that hurt the team? The coaches see SOMETHING that has even made it a better choice to start Clifton Smith over Bennett.

Bennett was a nice idea at the time, but that times has gone. Who knew Graham would be the stud he is?

I think in a week or two you may see Bennett starting and happier in Denver anyway.

[Lauren]

This is the greatest story of where hard work and persuasiveness can get you!!

and I agree he shouldnt be thrust into the feature back role in his first few weeks back. It'd be smart to use Carnell somewhat sparingly to keep him from sustaining another injury..because if he does then its all over(his career that is)..

but for now i will revel in this wonderful comeback story!!