Big Demand For Cadillac?
February 21st, 2011
A blocking icon who can catch the ball, Cadilllac Williams is a guy the Bucs should want to hold on to if they’re thinking playoffs and Super Bowl in 2011.
But if rock star general manager Mark Dominik is thinking long term, then he’ll probably have no problem letting Cadillac walk in free agency. Earnest Graham can surely fill his role, Erik Lorig can play fullback and the Bucs can bring in more competition at that position.
Longtime NFL writer Brad Biggs, now of NationalFootballPost.com, says Cadillac could command a good piece of change, which could put the Bucs’ desire for Cadillac to a quality test.
The question becomes: At what price? Tampa stuck with Williams through knee injuries that wiped out the 2007 and 2008 seasons for him. Williams became a change-of-pace back with Blount during the second half of the season, and he also was dependable on third down. He had a career-high 46 receptions and was the team’s best blocker in the backfield. Those are skills that teams pay a premium for, just look at what the Chicago Bears did with Chester Taylor last March, signing the former Minnesota Viking to a $12.5 million, four-year contract.
What money and offers await Williams remains to be seen. Certainly the Bucs could have real competition for his services. He’s been a model professional for them.
Joe doesn’t know the details of Taylor’s deal, but Cadillac is younger than Taylor was last year, and Cadillac’s numbers are better.
Do the Bucs pay Cadillac $4.5 million next year? Joe thinks it’s a no-brainer, especially since that’s about what a sniveling center earns.
February 21st, 2011 at 10:35 am
I’m sorry, Joe, but I have to disagree.If a team wants to pay that much, let them have Caddy. We can get someone else to fill the role for less.
And you seem upset with Faine for his words, so you’re taking digs. But frankly I think he didn’t say anything nearly as bad as what you make it out to be.
Do I think Faine should go? Maybe, but not for that reason. I like Faine, and I think he plays an important role on this team. My concern is injuries, which seem common with him. That’s why I would get rid of him…if I decided to.
If he were to start putting the team down on a regular basis, then maybe I would agree. But in this case what he said wasn’t that bad, and it could very well have been intended to rile his teammates up so that would show up.
Or, maybe he was making excuses because he himself does not plan to show up (and with his injury history, I wouldn’t blame him for not showing up as much as others).
I regard to Caddy, I love the guy. I love his story. But lets be up front…there is very little chance he will play a large role in a playoff run and a superbowl. He can block. He can catch out of the backfield. And occasionally, he can break a short run.
He’s a backup player.
And he should get backup money. Period. And just because another team might overpay for another less skilled guy, that doesn’t mean we should follow suit.
And when we look back in 10 years, after winning at least 2 more superbowls, none of us will be talking about how Caddy played a role in getting them. So if he has no chance of doing so, then why keep him at all? We could get a quality blocking fullback and turn Blount loose to get much better results.
Case in point…we held on to Stovall far to long because he was good at blocking and special teams. We held on to Clayton because he was a good blocker for too long.
Yet when we finally let go of them, the WRs got better. The same could be true of Caddy. If we get rid of him, we could get better. Maybe not immediately afterward, but soon after. Especially with the talent evaluations the Front Office seems capable of.
February 21st, 2011 at 10:37 am
On the other hand, Caddy mostly plays the role of a tight end now. Maybe a change in position would help him. With Winslow and his knees, it would be nice to have someone a little reliable there.
February 21st, 2011 at 10:48 am
Keep Caddy, let Graham walk, draft a home run hitter
February 21st, 2011 at 10:50 am
I say let both Graham and Caddy go, and get someone better. There’s always someone better.
February 21st, 2011 at 10:52 am
I think the demand for his services is overblown. After two major knee surgeries?
I suspect the bucs feel the same and would only keep him if the price is right, especially with the young eager Blounte on board.
February 21st, 2011 at 10:59 am
pay the man, his leadership and ability to keep freeman upright is worth 4.5 milly. LGB was quoted multiple times giving tons of credit to Cadillac. Locker room full of young talent needs a few a guys like this.
February 21st, 2011 at 11:05 am
Joe here,
@Eric – Demand might be overblown, but after not missing a game through two seasons, Joe doesn’t think Cadillac’s health is an issue.
February 21st, 2011 at 11:37 am
Why is it 4.5 Million a year .. If we are talking matching Chester Taylor at $12.5 million for 4 years .. Thats $3.5 Million a year ..
I look for a contract similar to Chester Taylor with a 2 yr buy out option.
February 21st, 2011 at 11:38 am
My Bad .. Monday morning Math .. that is $3.125 million a year .. HAHA
February 21st, 2011 at 11:51 am
I dont know what Mr. Dom has done since taking over that would indicate the slightest willingness to pay caddy 4.5 million per season.
Not happening.
February 21st, 2011 at 12:27 pm
Why do any of you care if the Bucs over pay or under pay anyone, as long as they win I could not care less about their business decisions. If they think Cady gives them a better chance to win, so be it. If not, he will help some other team.
February 21st, 2011 at 12:56 pm
3 yr, $8.5 mil deal with a club option the final year. Base salaries of 3.5, 2, 1.5, with 1.5 in signing bonus, no guarentees.
Or
2 yr, $6.25 mil, no signing bonus – guaranteed.
February 21st, 2011 at 1:27 pm
….especially since that’s about what a sniveling center earns.
LOL
Nice dig Joe.
They paid Derrick Ward more than that and he was useless. Caddy is a good insurance policy worth $3Mill – $4 Mill. You can never be over-insured in the event of a major problem. It wasn’t long ago that all of the Bucs’ backs were injured and the cupboard was bare. Caddy was healthy last year and this year his knees should be even stronger. As much as I love Graham, he’s the one I would let go, or get that excess weight off him. EG should get back to about 215#s, 235#s is too much for him, and he is a RB, not a FB. Sorry for the blasphemy.
February 21st, 2011 at 1:42 pm
I love Caddy, but if the market is that high, I don’t see Dom paying that. I’d like to see Blount develop his pass catching skills and use him as an every down back. That would help keep the defense off balance. Assuming he is healthy, I see nothing wrong with Huggins as a change of pace back.
February 21st, 2011 at 2:04 pm
Huggins may start on the PUP, his knee was that bad. Also, that speed and quickness tend to drop off after significant injury. I’m a Huggins fan, but don’t expect him back this year – he will be replaced.
February 21st, 2011 at 3:09 pm
Huggins’ injury was a fairly standard ‘contact’ ACL rupture (tear). Given the timing, there’s no reason to expect him not to be fully fit by pre-season. Learning to trust the knee is another issue, although, as Wes Welker showed, it doesn’t have to be.
February 21st, 2011 at 3:41 pm
Ravelston,
Not sure where you get your info .. Huggins knee was very bad and tore other Big Ligaments .. From what I hear they dont think he will be practicing until after the Reg Season starts .. Thus the pup list for him.
Demar Dotson though should ready to roll
February 21st, 2011 at 3:48 pm
Huggins is a good option if he comes back from the injury. Joe, have you heard anything at all on him? I suspect once the lockout starts, player news will be hard to come by.
February 21st, 2011 at 4:25 pm
jvato24
http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-1/Season-Ends-for-Huggins/bd0cfc24-7ec4-46f4-8df3-ae21f60c3ea1
Can’t find anything that suggests it is more serious.
February 21st, 2011 at 5:09 pm
Ravelston,
I believe it was PR that had info on him .. a month or two ago .. I cant search right now .. Either way .. Hopefully it is sooner than later .. It will be easy to label him as injury prone .. But if you watch the hit I dont think any player would have avoided it .. He got torpedoed right into the knee.
February 21st, 2011 at 5:11 pm
I believe the Bucs said Huggins had a set back just recently, and it was posted on their website. Either way, they need to do better than Huggy. He wasn’t impressive when the live ammo was being used. Caddy is a much better option IMO. I think the Bucs will take a RB in the Draft. I couldn’t guess when but I’d be willing to bet that Dom drafts one. I’m not one to bash Chucky too often, but when he kept Michael Pittman in 03/04 and let Thomas Jones(627yds) get away, that was a bad move. Jones came on strong at the end of the season it was obvious he could play. Sorry Chucky, but that was a bonehead move. In many ways RB’s are like DT’s in that it takes a couple of years for them to get their legs underneath them and get the game figured out. I think Caddy is just now getting to that point where he can breakout, although his knees are about 10 yrs in the league. I wouldn’t trade in the Caddy yet, it runs well and has a nice paint job.
February 21st, 2011 at 5:37 pm
I love caddy but lets be real, he is great in pass protection, he is a good leader for a young offense, but he is a below average runner and a average to above average pass catcher. I want him back but if we are going to pay that much i would rather get darren sproles as my third down back. What says you guys
February 21st, 2011 at 6:03 pm
I dont know Big Mac, most runningbacks hit the league tearing it up.I dont see them hitting freeagency for one or resigning Caddy to a big contract for the fact that if they pay them they will have to pay Blunt or risk him feeling slighted.
February 21st, 2011 at 6:20 pm
Blount needs to get paid for sure, and more than Caddy based on production. Yes some backs do bust on the scene and tear it up, but others don’t and still are very productive. Marshall Faulk is one. Brian Westbrook took 3 years to get rolling and then had about 5 stellar years. Still, backs like Payton & Sanders took off in their 2’nd years so it goes both ways and depends on the player, line, QB and what offense is being run. I don’t think they will look for a FA RB unless it is an undrafted rookie which is pretty typical here lately. I’m just a Caddy homer and either way this offense shoul flourish with or without him, kinda like Ruud on defense. I don’t think he really matters much either. More blasphemy.
February 21st, 2011 at 7:05 pm
Payton, Sanders and Faulk eh?
Man oh man are the sheep fired up!
February 21st, 2011 at 7:22 pm
Yeah man, fired up! Dont you just love that your team is winning,theres finally an upside to the talent ,and every seems to be right on schedule or ahead talent wise .yes this sheep or whatever that means is very happy
February 21st, 2011 at 7:24 pm
Everyone seems to be
February 21st, 2011 at 7:25 pm
Few better than those 3. Just a few.
Eric, I think you stepped in dog$hit because all of sudden it really stinks in here.
Imagine a little lawyer boy calling someone a sheep. Lion, Tiger, Bear maybe, but sheep, I don’t think so. Maybe you lawyer types like to get bent over like sheep. After all, you are all mouth, and screw all of your clients, be it male or female.
February 21st, 2011 at 8:04 pm
Please stop, I can’t take it anymore………………………………..
Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 21st, 2011 at 8:09 pm
Aint it great???????????????????????????? !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 21st, 2011 at 8:12 pm
Joe here,
@BigMac – Let’s clean it up, huh. Joe really hates playing traffic cop. FYI, Guest#27 was banned this morning. Crossed the line and came after Joe in a hateful tirade of lies. Never a good move.
February 21st, 2011 at 8:38 pm
Sorry Joe. You’re the Man.
Salami, Salami, Balogni, yeah, yeah, and all that. I get the point. Not Guilty.
February 21st, 2011 at 8:55 pm
Guest 27 banned?…I think he was banned last time when his name was Buc you.
Tommy .o must be feeling quite lonely.
February 21st, 2011 at 10:49 pm
I take some credit in getting guest 27 banned, as I’m the one who drove his fragile Lil mind to break- I feel congratulations are in order.
I think everyone is overlooking a key to Caddy’s value. The running game struggled the first half of the season. It picked up tremendously when BLont started. Buuut- NOT just because Blount started. By that point, half of our non productive, over-rated, can’t block for squat vets had been replaced with new, talented young players- who can block. I said all preseason that our O- line was over rated and ineffective. Once we got some new linemen in there, Caddy’s yards per carry went way up, along with the emergence of Blount
Caddy may not be a feature back. But he is exactly the kind of player you want on your team. The Glazers have plenty of money. Pay him he has a lot more value than he’s being given credit for here. It’s not his fault that our highly drafted Line continues to fail to produce. The new players will fix that this season( iF there is a season!)
February 21st, 2011 at 11:10 pm
You could see it coming for #27 lately. I don’t understand all the Buc hate from these guys. I get a little raw sometimes when they get started too, but luckily Joe just makes me sit in the corner for a few minutes and all is well. The thing that really gets me is why these idiots go on tirades against the Joes, like that is going to get you anywhere. If they hate it so much why not just leave in the first place instead of having to be booted. I guess it’s part of the thick skull syndrome where you the sky is green no matter how many times you show them it’s blue. Well you definitely have to be tough to be dumb.
I agree with the O Line theory Captn. These young guys worked hard and really produced. They may have gotten beat occasionally, but they were mean and nasty and pushed some defenses around. I can’t wait to see more of our No Name O Line.
February 22nd, 2011 at 12:52 am
Love that shot at Faine. A little whipping is good for the attitude.
February 22nd, 2011 at 1:47 am
I really hope we keep Williams.
February 22nd, 2011 at 5:49 am
BigMacAttack- thanks. Don’t get me wrong, Blount would improve anyone’s running game! But no back has had success running here, since the strange release( still don’t know why) of Thomas Jones. At some point- it’s the O-line. They weren’t much good in pass protection either. Yet the interjection of Larsen, Zuttahal at Center, Hardman, and Lee- boom ! Suddenly we can run, and block , and beat the Superbowl champs! I expect as many as 4 new starting linemen by season’s end this year.only Penn has been the consistent player to remain. Lucky for us to have him- he absolutely dominates.
February 22nd, 2011 at 5:57 am
By the way, thinking of changing my name to “Capt. Troll killer” what do ya think. I for one am already happier here at JoeBuc, now that the repulsive troll guest27 is dead. He was an idiot with an agenda, and ruined a lot of great articles. I am very glad he is gone again!
February 22nd, 2011 at 8:22 am
Yeah, let’s hope it lasts, but there are a lot of great posters here that know what’s really going on.
February 22nd, 2011 at 12:35 pm
The Cadillac is an all-around player with a great work ethic, and they should keep him. It would be great if they could end up woth Cam Newton too. That would be a heck of a combination. War Eagel! Go Bucs!