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After spending more than a year in rehab following a gruesome knee injury early last season, Tampa Bay Bucs running back Cadillac Williams is back on the team’s active roster. The Bucs made the expected move today, activating Cadillac from the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform List to their 53-man roster. To make room, the Bucs released veteran running back Michael Bennett, who was quickly claimed by the San Diego Chargers (see note below). Cadillac was thrilled to be back at practice:

“I’ve put in a lot of work. I’m just excited. In these next few weeks we’ll see what happens.”

There’s really no way to predict how well Cadillac will perform. I’m sure he’ll have some trepidation and it will take some time, and a few hits, to get the confidence in his knee back. But he certainly won’t have to carry the workload. He’ll simply compliment fellow running backs Earnest Graham and Warrick Dunn. It’s a matter of depth at the position and Cadillac should be able to ease his way back into the lineup as a sidekick. Too bad his return (if he plays this weekend, that is) is against the National Football League’s third-best run defense (70.1 ypg) in the Minnesota Vikings. Nevertheless, it’s a great story that I hope has a happy ending.

Note: Concerning Michael Bennett, apparently the Chargers claimed him off waivers just to keep him from signing with the running back depleted (and AFC West rival) Denver Broncos. Both the Broncos and Chargers put in claims on Michael, but the Chargers have a worse record so they got priority. Funny how that works. Or not funny if you’re a Broncos fan.

Source: Buccaneers.com, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Cadillac Williams Returns to Bucs Roster

In the only other NFL trade deadline deal worth mentioning today (I posted on Chris Chambers to San Diego earlier), the Kansas City Chiefs dealt RB Michael Bennett to the Tampa Bay Bucs for undisclosed draft picks in 2008 and 2009 based on performance criteria.

This is a logical move for the running back-depleted Bucs who have already lost Cadillac Williams and Michael Pittman to injuries. Michael is not the most durable back, but he still has good breakaway speed and he can catch the ball out of the backfield. He also has enough experience to read defenses, pick up blitzes and protect QB Jeff Garcia when called upon to do so. Michael should be able to give the Bucs 15 touches a game.

The Chiefs, on the other hand, are banking on the successful return of RB Priest Holmes to the team which gives them, potentially, a most impressive one-two punch with Larry Johnson in the running game. Should that plan not work out, they’ve really got nothing left to fall back on so losing a quality player like Michael Bennett is a bit of a gamble for KC.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Bucs Acquire Michael Bennett From Chiefs