Yesterday, Tampa Bay Buccaneers tailback Carnell Cadillac Williams became St. Louis Rams new tailback, and everyone here at Bucstop.com wants to wish Cadillac the best of luck, while he plays the other 30 teams! Here then is our Video Tribute to Carnell “Cadillac” Williams…
Cadillac came to Tampa Bay in the first round of the 2005 season when Jon Gruden wanted to draft a real NFL star running back. All he did was put his cleats in the hall of fame, when he did what no other Running Back has ever done, run for 100 yards in each of his first 3 games. Even the great Alan Ameche only ran for 2 hundred yard games. Not only that, but Cadillac gained more yards than Ameche in those first three.
Perhaps he was run too hard though, because Cadillac was injured for the next 6 weeks, never gaining over 20 yards in a contest, until week 10 in Atlanta when he ripped off a 30 yard gain on the very first play from scrimage.
Read More about Cadillac Williams stay with the Bucs…
The 2005 season was perhaps the last best season for the Pewter Bucs, the Defense finished no.1, but inconsistancy at QB caused some issues. Brian Griese started the season out like he finished 2004, with high completion percentage, but he was knocked out for the year against the Miami Dolphins. 3rd year man Chris Simms took over in the ultimate Buccaneer irony. It was Simms who was the starter for one game in 2004 when Chris was knocked out of the game aginst the New Orleans Saints on a late hit, that allowed Griese to get on the field and excel in the first place! Now as the teams QB, Simms struggled for several games, but eventually, in one of the most exciting games ever played, led the Bucs to a stunning comeback against the Washington Redskins and got the Bucs back on the winning ways.
It was the next week in Atlanta Cadillac came back into his own, and the Bucs made the push for the playoffs. They eliminated the Falcons in week 15 in another equally stunning and shockingly exciting game that saw the Bucs fumble the opening kick off return in overtime, only for the Falcons FG to get blocked, which in turn led to the Bucs Matt Bryant having his FG attempt go wide. Only in the final seconds, fueled by Cadillac’s intense running, did the Bucs kick a FG with only seconds away from a tie game, to put the Bucs in the playoffs.
Unfortunately, 2005 would end in a home divisional round playoff game as two fluke plays sparked a 14-0 Redskins lead, and Chris Simms hopefull last minute TD pass would fall in and out of the hands of WR Edell Shephard. The next year Simms would start the year out horribly, and after life threatening surgery to remove his spleen, Simms was never the same again. Cadillac Williams was the Bucs only offensive weapon, and with QB Bruce Gradkowski at the helm, the Bucs were helpless. Still, he finished only 200 yards shy of another 1000 yard season.
Then came the ultimate in sad days for the Auburn running back, who tore up one knee in 2007, and after 14 months of rehab, tore up the other only 4 weeks later. Buc Cadillac came back from BOTH injuries, and regained his starting role in 2009 and 2010. But his running was not the same. The emergence of LeGarrette Blount spelled the end for Carnell Cadilac Williams, at least from him on the team. His memory, his determination to never quit, to never give up, is something Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans will never forget.
You can watch the Video in 720 P High Definition by clicking here and viewing it in your browser. First half of the video will appear grainy because video content is only standard definition, until 2007 highlights and on which are HD.
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