"Cadillac: Creating a Higher Standard"

Buccaneers RB Carnell “Cadillac” Williams was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year on Wednesday, thanks to a hot start and a strong finish that led to 1,178 rushing yards.

Carnell "Cadillac" Williams, A first round draft pick, and 5th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2005 NFL draft has started what could be a Hall of Fame Career. My favorite position in football has always been running back. We have had our share of good running backs during the Buccaneers 30 years; Such memorable running backs have been Ricky Bell, James Wilder, Errict Rhett, Warrick Dunn and Mike Alstott (FB, but an actual RB), but none of these running backs have what Cadillac Williams has and that is the Total Package.
Cadillac won The Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Caddy finished the regular season with 1,178 yards and six touchdowns. Cadillac was the reason in the Buccaneers turnaround season to include the NFC South Division Championship.

Cadillac had 47 of the 50 votes from the nationwide sports writers panel.

Cadillac responded on his winning the NFL Rookie of the Year award, "It's always been my dream to play on this level," said Williams, the fifth overall pick in last year's draft. "Ever since I was a kid, playing football in the backyard, middle school, high school, college, I was working to get to this level. To come out here and be named offensive rookie of the year is an amazing accomplishment. That's a great honor. I'm dead happy the way the draft went, me landing in Tampa," he said. "This is where I wanted to play. But after everything was said and done, looking back on things, I was like: 'Man, I was the third back taken. I was the fifth pick, but I was the third back, so people still don't believe, or for some reason doubt me."

His eventual total was the fifth-best rushing mark in Tampa Bay annals and it easily surpassed the 978 yards that won former Buc back Warrick Dunn the same award in 1997. Dunn and Williams are the only two players in franchise history to win the AP’s Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.

Man, I love this guy. I have been waiting for a running back like this to come to Tampa Bay. The only other great running back that we drafted was Bo Jackson, (that son of a bitch) who refused to play for the Buccaneers and chose to play baseball, now look at him. Cadillac Williams number 24 will live in the hearts of all the Buccaneer fans, specially the life long fans like myself, who season after season have watched our offense struggle. The torch is being passed from the Defense to Offense and the Buccaneers Offense will be the reason why we win games in the future.

For a great Cadillac Williams story read mu old post:The Best There Is, Was, and Ever Will Be.

http://pewterpirates.blogspot.com/2005/12/best-there-is-was-and-ever-will-be.html

On a side note Simon Rice was Honored as the NFC Defensive Player of the Week. However, Rice is playing his final season as a Buccaneer. It has been reported by the Pewter Report, that Rice is more then likely a Salary Cap Casualty. His locker room problems and his criticism of Coach Gruden and his 9 million Salary cap hit is likely grounds for Rice to be wearing a new uniform next season. I would rather see Rice gone then Brooks, which there is also talk Brooks might be a Salary Cap Casualty with his 10 million dollar salary next season. After the Season I will be posting an article about the Bucs Salary Cap situation for next season. Even with the Bucs cutting 40 million off of next years cap during this off season, the Bucs are still reported at 5 million over the Cap for next year this includes the Salary Cap jumping to 8o million. The Buccaneers also need to resign Chris Simms, Chris Hovan, Ike Hillard, Juran Bolden, Matt Bryant, Jameel Cook, Dexter Jackson, Dave Moore, Todd Steussis, Kenyatta Walker, Torrie Cox, Sean Mahan, Anthony Davis, Earnest Graham and Edell Shepherd. Can you say we are in trouble next year again. With only 5 million dollars to spend, stay tuned for who the Pewter Report (Official Magazine of the Bucs) thinks will become cap casualties, and who I think might be gone next season.