Raheem Wants Cadillac Re-Signed
December 30th, 2010
Heading toward unrestricted free agency, Cadillac Williams will be a man without a team in a matter of weeks, unless the Bucs offer him a new deal.
Will the Bucs pay what is necessary to keep him in Tampa?
Amazingly, Cadillac has proven that he’s 100 percent healthy, having not missed a game in 2009 and 2010. And with 46 receptions and loads of intangibles, Joe would imagine 28-year-old Cadillac would command some interest on the open market, even if he’s not a starting caliber running back.
After Raheem Morris said Monday on WDAE-AM 620 that he wants Cadillac to return in a big way, it seems the only way Cadillac won’t be a Buccaneer next season is if he doesn’t want to be, or Mark Dominik and Team Glazer don’t want to meet his contract demands.
Raheem was very clear that he wants Caddy on his team.
“You know the job that Cadillac has done for our football team this year has been unbelievable,” Raheem said. “Caddy really goes in there in our third-down package. He’s our veteran leader. He leads that room. He’s a team inspiration. For me, he’s a gameday captain, so to speak. He’s one of those guys that really means a lot to this football team. And really provides us with great carries and great minutes when he’s out there.
“He catches the ball extremely well. He’s an extremely great blocker for Freeman — keeps him protected. You know, he’s a very integral part to everything we’ve done this year and everything that we got, you know, hopefully planned on here. Hopefully, we can work something out and get him in for a while. He means a lot to this football team.”
So there you have it. In no uncertain terms, everyone’s favorite Coach of the Year hopeful wants Cadillac on his team.
Will he get him?
Joe doesn’t see how the Bucs could pass on Cadillac. Aside from his value as a role player, what kind of message would waving good-bye to him send the team? Nobody’s worked harder than Cadillac, who overcame horrific injuries, plus Raheem wants him.
December 30th, 2010 at 10:21 am
Two points that were missed is that Caddie is a fan favorite and the Bucs need as many reasons for fans to buy tickets next year as possible. Blount said that Caddie was one of the key players that helped him get in the game as soon as he did because he helped coach him up. With all of his up side, the Bucs would be foolish not to bring him back. GO BUCS!!
December 30th, 2010 at 10:30 am
Here’s what would keep Caddy from coming back:
“We’re willing to offer you a chance to compete for a starting job.”
Another team can offer him that, Tampa cannnot as long as Blount is healthy.
December 30th, 2010 at 10:57 am
Caddy’s coming back. He’s a true Buccaneer.
December 30th, 2010 at 11:04 am
He stays.
December 30th, 2010 at 11:39 am
Caddy should stay, but what they really need is a third down back that can catch a pass out of the backfield and has some breakaway speed.
December 30th, 2010 at 1:07 pm
what will probably help caddy stay on this team besides him basically being a team and fan favorite is the fact that the bucs will need to work at meeting the new salary cap floor. he’ll be an easy guy for the team to overpay for without any fan outrage.
December 30th, 2010 at 1:11 pm
We better not overpay for Cadillac (we did that in his first contract). I think the Bucs will get a “hometown discount” with Caddy. I think he’ll want to stay with Raheem, who hasn’t given up on him.
December 30th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
i think you’re probably right hire, my point is that they may end up having to pay a little bit over market value up front for some of these guys to make thier books work inconjunction with the new cba numbers.
December 30th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
Hire,
“We better not overpay for Cadillac (we did that in his first contract).”
Don’t most top 5 draft picks get BIG payday? Of course we did, LOL!
BTW that’s the problem with NFL draft picks and salaries. They never have played a down in the NFL, so you don’t know until later if they are worth it. Most turn out not to be worth those huge contracts! They’re RIDICULOUS! I hope the they revise those rookie/draft pick salaries.
December 30th, 2010 at 3:40 pm
He has a lot of value as a pass blocker and out of the backfield. His experience is also valuable as far as helping the younger guys and on the field (i.e. blitz pick ups).
December 30th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
Pete422,
I agree!
December 30th, 2010 at 4:12 pm
HE’S THE HEART OF THIS TEAM AND WITHOUT YOUR HEART YOU CAN’T BE ALIVE. HE BRINGS THIS TEAM TO LIFE!!!
December 30th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
I dont think the Bucs need a hometown discount for CAddy. There WONT be a market for him. He will be easily resigned for cheap if Dominik wishes to do so. Teams simply won’t be interested in a back who is so poor at creating his own holes and getting the most out of small creases unless they have an offensive line that can part the red sea(teams like Texans,Giants) and even then there will be better backs than Caddy available cheaply to those teams. Pass catching and blocking ability alone wont interest anyone in paying CAddy good money. I think Caddy should be brought back as a third stringer behind Legarrette and a #2 back with some pass protection AND rushing ability that they will hopefully draft . If 3rd string isn’t good enough for Caddy then they should let him walk because I don’t care how good he is at picking up blitzes, your #2 back MUST be able to run the ball better than Caddy.
December 30th, 2010 at 7:15 pm
Oh and they do need to draft or sign a #2 back. GRaham is getting too old to factor into future plans and Huggins is a frail pipsqueak who I guarantee will stay injured for long stretches and shouldn’t be counted on at all.
December 30th, 2010 at 8:03 pm
gitarlvr
SSSSSHHHH!!! Don’t let Patrick know this. So long as Thomas Jones is wearing an NFL jersey, so too should Earnest Graham be wearing a Bucs jersey. 🙂
December 30th, 2010 at 9:53 pm
I think I hear Buc You crying. Will someone fix him a bottle?
December 30th, 2010 at 11:05 pm
I like how Oar regurgitates my point as if he’s saying something new.
Yeah first round picks all get huge paydays. But that doesn’t mean that they’re all overpaid. A guy like AP has earned his first contract. Cadillac hasn’t. I didn’t think I had to spell it out for all the numbnuts. But I forgot about you, OAR.