Bucs RB Earnest Graham's Season May Be Over

By JC De La Torre

In his Monday Press Conference, Jon Gruden told the media that starting halfback Earnest Graham's season may be over.

"Earnest Graham's ankle looks to be a serious injury," Gruden said, "and his status for the rest of the season is very much in question right now."

If Graham is finished, the Bucs will have to lean on Warrick Dunn and Cadillac Williams a little more than they intended. Dunn has advanced in age and he cannot absorb the pounding he once could. Every Buc fan knows the story of Cadillac Williams, whose patella tendon blew up 14 months ago and he's made a miraculous recovery to become eligible to play. The question is - can Cadillac handle the pounding of an NFL stretch run?

"We brought Cadillac up with the understanding he was ready to go," Gruden said Monday.

The Bucs may also lean on rookie free agent Clifton Smith, but Smith's propensity to put the ball on the turf is a concern.

Special teamer\linebacker Geno Hayes may also be lost for the season with a knee injury.

Caddy's Comeback a Long, Tough Road

By JC De La Torre



There was just an absolutely terrific article in the St. Pete Times by columnist Gary Shelton today about the long, hard road back for Cadillac Williams. There were nights of doubt, tears - its just gut wrenching stuff.


"I'm human,'' he told the Times, "To be honest with you, yeah, the doubts were there. There were nights when I would just wonder if I would ever be able to play this game that I love so much again. The first four months were really tough. There was all this speculation that I wouldn't be able to make it back. I'm sure the Bucs wondered. When I came back in December, I had lost my thigh. It wasn't as big around as my arm. My knee wouldn't bend past 95 percent. I'm not going to lie. There were definitely some doubts.

If you would see me, I wouldn't show it. But I was really going through it. At night, when I was by myself was the worst time. Yeah, I would cry. Sometimes, I would ask, 'Lord, why me?' My mom helped me through the process. She was there every day, all day.''


Cadillac will likely be inactive for Sunday's game against Minnesota, as the team is trying to ease him back into the lineup and co-starters Earnest Graham and Warrick Dunn are a go for Sunday. I for one, can't wait to don that #24 and become Cadillac again.

JC De La Torre is an author of Science Fiction/Fantasy and other realms of Speculative Fiction - check out his latest works at JC Delatorre.com

The 'Lac is Back

By JC De La Torre

Carnell "Cadillac" Williams was activated to the active 53 man roster for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. To make room for Williams, the Buccaneers released running back Michael Bennett. In addition, the Bucs promoted Wide Receiver Brian Clark from the practice squad and placed Wide Receiver Maurice Stovall on injured reserve.

I think getting Carnell back is a fantastic thing for the Buccaneers, who, if he can return to form, will add big play capability back to the Tampa Bay running attack. Expect Caddy to be eased back into the rotation with Earnest Graham and Warrick Dunn and as he shows he can handle the workload, his carries should increase.

The news of Stovall was unfortunate, as it is the second season in a row the young wide out has ended the year on IR. RB Michael Bennett had begun to crow about his lack of playing time as he had apparently reached the far end of Jon Gruden's doghouse. Even rookie free agent kick returner/running back Clifton Smith got more carries than Bennett did in the Bucs last game at Kansas City. Among Bennett's gripes was a lack of communication from the coaching staff.

“I’m not going to go to them and say “What did I do?” or say this or that because that’s not me,” Bennett told the Tampa Tribune, “If it’s something, you be a man and tell me. Right now, I don’t see it being nothing. It’s not my ability. It’s not like I’m not able to do this or not able to do that.”

Some analysts believed that Bennett's inability to pick up the blitz limited his appearances in the Buccaneers offense.

JC De La Torre is an author of Science Fiction/Fantasy and other realms of Speculative Fiction - check out his latest works at JC Delatorre.com

Caddy Coming Out of the Garage?

By JC De La Torre

As the Tampa Bay running game has cascaded on to the rocks, with injuries, turnovers, and just poor play in general, it may get a high powered boost on Thursday. Carnell "Cadillac" Williams will either be placed on IR for the season or activated, causing the Buccaneers to release a player (likely little used Michael Bennett).

"It's a green light, but it doesn't mean it's a green light that he's a featured back," Bucs Head coach Jon Gruden told the Tampa Tribune of Williams, "It's almost like Christmas is here. Christmas is Wednesday, I hope. We'll see how he feels, but if my eyes don't deceive me, I think he's got a chance to be a player for us this year."

There were significant doubts that Williams would ever play again following the horrific Theisman-esque injury suffered early in 2007 when Williams went one way but his knee went another, ripping his patella tendon - and injury that essentially ended the career of Kijana Carter. His road back has been a tough one, filled will hours and hours of excruciating rehab. Throughout the off-season, Williams held a goal to be ready when the season started and worked like a maniac to achieve it. Unfortunately, his dream was dashed when Tampa Bay placed him on the Physically Unable to Perform List coming out of training camp. Still, Williams continued to work, getting closer and closer.

If he is activated today or tomorrow, Williams brings the big play potential back to the Buccaneer running attack. Williams popped off runs of 70 or more yds several times in amassing 2,184 yds and 10 touchdowns in two and a quarter seasons of football.

JC De La Torre is an author of Science Fiction/Fantasy and other realms of Speculative Fiction - check out his latest works at JC Delatorre.com