Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Bucs / Image: Zuma Press

After the game, Bucs head coach Raheem Morris kept things in perspective in getting his first-ever win:

“A great start to how we want to be, how we want to look, how we want to play. These guys played passionate. Obviously it’s not about me. It’s about us.”

Josh made his fair share of mistakes today. Especially early on. He looked like he had a case of first-start jitters. But after he got rid of the nervousness he was certainly feeling, I think he gained a wealth of experience on a special day for this organization. When the season started—when Byron Leftwich was named the starting quarterback—I knew matters would eventually fall into the hands of Josh Freeman, the QB this team drafted to be their quarterback of the future. And he didn’t disappoint.

I loved the throwback look today (and I emphasize today). But when the Bucs went to red and pewter 13 years ago, it was probably the best uniform upgrade in the history of the NFL. After today’s impressive win, I wonder if the team is rethinking that decision?

Sources: Buccaneers.com, NFL.com, TampaBayOnline

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Josh Freeman Makes First Start, Bucs Win

The suspension will sideline Dante for the Panthers game vs. Buffalo this Sunday.

In a letter to Dante today, Mr. Anderson wrote:

“The playing rules (Rule 10, Section 1, Article 1) specifically provide that a member of the kicking team is prohibited from interfering with a receiver attempting to catch an airborne kick. The prohibited contact in this case went well beyond simply interfering with the receiver. Instead, by striking your defenseless opponent in the head and neck area, you committed an unnecessary and unnecessarily dangerous act that is specifically prohibited by the rules. Your actions are of particular concern in light of the emphasis that our office has placed on developing and enforcing rules designed to protect players from injury, including head and neck injuries. The safety of our players is paramount to all of us in the NFL.”

Dante will lose about $36,000 (his weekly game check) because of the suspension. He would later say he was “just trying to make a play.” But he’s clearly in denial. Dante lost his mind for a moment and the mistake will cost him a week’s pay. Luckily, Clifton Smith emerged uninjured after the collision.

Source: NFL Media

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Dante Wesley Suspended One Game

Gaines Adams traded to Chicago Bears / Image: Zuma Press

Gaines was widely considered one of the “faces” of the Tampa Bay franchise—hey, he was even one of four players who modeled the throwback orange creamsicle unis this season—so this comes as a shock in that sense. But when you look at his lack of production (13.5 sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles in 37 games)—and head coach Raheem Morris’ no-nonsense (and no-patience) style—I can’t say I’m surprised that the Bucs chose to beat the NFL trading deadline by four days in dealing Gaines.

Coach Morris put the handwriting on the wall just a few weeks ago:

“He hasn’t (put forth the production), and I think Gaines knows that. Gaines is one of those guys that knows that he is judged on whether he touches the quarterback or not. Right now he is not getting production as far as not just touching the quarterback, the tackles, the sacks. He’s not getting any of that. He is not playing up to par right now. He’s holding himself accountable. We have to hold him accountable, and it is tough right now. He is not getting it done. There are no excuses. There are no explanations. Gaines is not getting it done right now.”

I’m not sure this deal makes a lot of sense for the Bears. They get a young defensive end with a lot of potential. But it’s just potential. And he’s not going to start ahead of Adewale Ogunleye and Alex Brown. So, why would you give up a second round pick for an unproven, backup defensive end?

I hope I’m wrong, but Gaines’ best football might already be behind him. His numbers have been declining. And when you consider what the Bears are giving up (the aforementioned second round Draft pick), I think it’s too much of a risk—especially because with this deal complete, they are now without a first and second round selection in next year’s Draft. Remember, they let go of their number one pick in 2010 when they acquired Jay Cutler from Denver. Gaines Adams better have a tremendous career turnaround to justify this kind of commitment by the Bears.

Sources: PewterReport.com, ChicagoBears.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Bucs Trade Gaines Adams to Bears

Byron Leftwich, Tampa Bay Bucs / Image: Zuma Press

Byron was in a highly publicized competition with Josh Freeman and backup QBs Luke McCown and Josh Johnson. He was pleased to have another opportunity to be a starter:

“I was very excited. When I get home, I’ll probably be screaming, getting my emotions out. I’ve been holding them in. To work my tail off and get back to this point again, to be a starter on Week One ….. this is what I wanted and I’ll take full advantage of it. I think it will lead to a lot of good things for the Bucs this year ….. When I watched the film, I wanted to make sure I was going to the right place with the ball. I’ve never been an inaccurate passer. I know how to hit those passes. I’m not worried about that. The great thing was that I was able to get to the right reads with the ball. Some of those were on my third or fourth read that I got to, and that’s what I wanted to see. The balls that I missed, I missed them. Thank God it was the preseason and not the regular season. I learned a lot from it, and I’ll hit those when they count. You want to hit them in the preseason, but I’ve never been an inaccurate guy. That was something that I haven’t worried about my whole career and I won’t begin to worry now.”

Source: Buccaneers.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Bucs Name Byron Leftwich Starting QB

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler was upset to hear his name being thrown around in trade talks this weekend. And I can’t say I blame him. Before Matt Cassel was traded from New England to Kansas City yesterday, Jay’s name came up in a proposed three-way deal with the Tampa Bay Bucs that would have brought Matt to Denver (and reunited him with his former offensive coordinator from New England and Broncos new head coach Josh McDaniels) and sent Jay to Tampa Bay. It obviously didn’t work out but the trouble had already started as far as Jay was concerned:

“I’m upset. I mean, I’m really shocked at this point. I could see why they want Cassel. I don’t know if they think I can’t run the system or I don’t have the skills for it. Or if they don’t think they can sign me with my next contract. I just don’t know what it is. I’ve heard I’m still on the trading block.”

Coach McDaniels denies that Jay is on the trading block — or ever was for that matter. But it sounds like damage control to me because a source close to the situation confirmed the Broncos were trying to trade Jay for Matt before Matt was traded to Kansas City. Hmm. Allow me to pose this question: What led the Patriots or Bucs to believe that Jay could be traded in the first place? Somebody had to put out the word that he was an option for a trade. Why else would another team call the Broncos and pose that kind of ridiculous question? Because it is ridiculous. I’m guessing they must have leaked word that Jay was a “trade-able” possibility. Yes, of course they did.

This shows a lack of respect for what Jay has accomplished in Denver thus far and it’s tantamount to a slap in the face if you ask me. I don’t know what Jay has to do to earn any more respect in Denver. All he did last season was throw for 4,526 yards and 25 touchdowns and make the Pro Bowl. I know 31 other teams who would like to have that kind of productivity from their quarterback. I’m not going to bash coach McDaniels because I don’t know his knowledge of the situation, but he appears to be lying and sure isn’t getting off on the right foot with the most important member of his new team.

Sources: ESPN.com, NFL.com, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Jay Cutler Upset With Trade Talk

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

The Tampa Bay Bucs continued to cut into their massive amount of salary cap space today, keeping receiver Michael Clayton on the roster with a five-year, $24 million deal ($10.5 million is guaranteed money). Michael spent some time interviewing with the Lions and Vikings, but cancelled a trip to Seattle when he realized the weather in Tampa was really nice. Actually, the Bucs called him and told him not to get on any plane that wasn’t headed to Tampa. In other words, they gave him what he was looking for financially. Plus, the Bucs appear to have a good thing happening with new head coach Raheem Morris so why would Michael want to be anywhere else?

The signing means both Michael and fellow receiver Antonio Bryant will remain with the team in 2008 — which is a good thing considering both players were rather prominent in the Bucs’ passing attack last season. Antonio was, without question, the team’s top option (83 catches for 1,248 yards), but Michael managed 38 catches and was second on the team in yards per catch (12.7). Even with the addition of tight end Kellen Winslow, I believe Michael’s role in the Tampa Bay offense will be increased in 2009.

Source: Tampa Tribune, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Bucs Keep Michael Clayton

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

The Tampa Bay Bucs traded the always intriguing “undisclosed draft picks” to the Cleveland Browns for tight end Kellen Winslow today. Kellen’s introductory presser ended just about an hour ago and he said:

“I’m happy to be playing football, happy to have a job. You know, it’s tough. This is just a blessing. Cleveland was great to me (liar). I had a good time in Cleveland (liar) … But, this is a new opportunity.”

In signing with the Bucs, Kellen gets to return to the state of Florida where he spent his college career at the University of Miami. And it ends a five-year era of injury and controversy in Cleveland where, outside of the 2007 season, Kellen never lived up to his true potential. It’s almost as though his time in Cleveland was doomed from the start. Still, he managed 219 receptions for 2,459 yards and 11 touchdowns in 44 NFL games. But he’s only 25-years-old and hopefully the change of scenery will jump-start his career. The Bucs are certainly figuring that will be the case. As long as K2 can stay away from motorcycles and staph infection, he should be good to go.

Source: Buccaneers.com, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Bucs Trade for Kellen Winslow

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

The Tampa Bay Bucs went nuts today, releasing five veteran players in a move that made a firm commitment to the team’s younger players. Linebacker Derrick Brooks, receivers Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard, running back Warrick Dunn and linebacker Cato June were all sent packing. Only Cato is under 30-years-old. And sure, I can accept that the Bucs want to go in a different direction. But when a team loses not only good players but also good people — some of the best in the entire National Football League — it’s hard to imagine it can be a good thing. New head coach Raheem Brock understands this:

“There’s no doubt we are losing players with a tremendous amount of leadership and character. You never replace a guy like Derrick Brooks. This was not a money issue or a youth movement. This is a direction change. We are moving forward. We’re going to play some people that were behind these guys and let them compete.”

That doesn’t really explain what direction the team is headed. But if it’s not a money issue or a youth movement — and leadership and character have already been factored in — the team obviously feels the skills of these players has diminished beyond repair. So, it will be interesting to see how the former backups do in starting roles. And it will be interesting to see how each of these now free agent players fits with other teams, if at all. In other words, I hope the Bucs know what they are doing as they change their direction.

Source: Buccaneers.com, Photo: Newscom.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Bucs Purge Veteran Roster

The opponents for all 2009 regular-season games have been determined and a complete list of each team’s home and away matchups was issued yesterday by the NFL. The scheduling formula implemented in 2002 with realignment guarantees that all teams play each other on a regular, rotating basis. Under the formula, every team within a division plays 16 games as follows:

• Home and away against its three division opponents (6 games)
• The four teams from another division within its conference on a rotating three-year cycle (4 games)
• The four teams from a division in the other conference on a rotating four-year cycle (4 games)
• Two intraconference games based on the prior year’s standings (2 games). These games match a first-place team against the first-place teams in the two same-conference divisions the team is not scheduled to play that season. The second-place, third-place, and fourth-place teams in a conference are matched in the same way each year.

The official 2009 schedule, with playing dates and times, will be announced in the spring. NFL Kickoff 2009 Weekend will begin on Thursday night, September 10, and the regular season will conclude on January 3. Wild Card Weekend will be Saturday and Sunday, January 9-10; Divisional Playoff games on the weekend of January 16-17; and the AFC and NFC Championship Games on Sunday, January 24. Super Bowl XLIV at Dolphin Stadium in South Florida will be played on Sunday, February 7.

AFC EAST

Miami Dolphins
Home: Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Away: Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, San Diego Chargers, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers

New England Patriots
Home: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers
Away: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

N.Y. Jets
Home: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers
Away: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Oakland Raiders, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Buffalo Bills
Home: Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Away: Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers

AFC NORTH

Pittsburgh Steelers
Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Tennessee Titans, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings
Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions

Baltimore Ravens
Home: Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions
Away: Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings

Cincinnati Bengals
Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions
Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, New York Jets, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings

Cleveland Browns
Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings
Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions

AFC SOUTH

Tennessee Titans
Home: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, San Diego Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams
Away: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks

Indianapolis Colts
Home: Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Denver Broncos, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks
Away: Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams

Houston Texans
Home: Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks
Away: Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams

Jacksonville Jaguars
Home: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams
Away: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks

AFC WEST

San Diego Chargers
Home: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins
Away: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants

Denver Broncos
Home: Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants
Away: Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins

Oakland Raiders
Home: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins
Away: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants

Kansas City Chiefs
Home: Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants
Away: Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins

NFC EAST

N.Y. Giants
Home: Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers
Away: Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs

Philadelphia Eagles
Home: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs
Away: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers

Dallas Cowboys
Home: New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers
Away: New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs

Washington Redskins
Home: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, St. Louis Rams, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs
Away: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Detroit Lions, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers

NFC NORTH

Minnesota Vikings
Home: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, New York Giants, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals
Away: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers

Chicago Bears
Home: Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers
Away: Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals

Green Bay Packers
Home: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals
Away: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers

Detroit Lions
Home: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers
Away: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals

NFC SOUTH

Carolina Panthers
Home: Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins
Away: Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots, New York Jets

Atlanta Falcons
Home: Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins
Away: Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots, New York Jets

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Home: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, New York Jets
Away: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Seattle Seahawks, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints
Home: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Detroit Lions, New England Patriots, New York Jets
Away: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, St. Louis Rams, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins

NFC WEST

Arizona Cardinals
Home: St. Louis Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts
Away: St. Louis Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, New York Giants, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans

San Francisco 49ers
Home: Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans
Away: Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts

Seattle Seahawks
Home: Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans
Away: Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts

St. Louis Rams
Home: Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts
Away: Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Washington Redskins, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

NFL 2009 Opponents Determined

My heart really goes out to Tampa Bay Bucs running back Cadillac Williams. After suffering a torn PCL in his left knee last year, his career was in jeopardy. Cadillac fought his way back and somehow returned to the Bucs’ roster last month. It was one of this season’s most inspirational stories. This afternoon in a 31-24 loss to the Oakland Raiders, he was having his best day since the injury (12 carries and five receptions for 115 yards) until he hurt his right knee — with perhaps the same devastating results. Cadillac appears to have torn the patellar tendon in his left knee, one year after sustaining the same injury to his right knee. I feel sick for him if that truly is the case. Bucs head coach Jon Gruden seemed to think it was:

“Cadillac Williams — I think that scene didn’t help us at all. That was a very emotional downer on our sideline. It’s the other knee, not the same knee. That’s the real tragedy today.”

I’m not sure how much one person can take. Everyone is different and the amount of determination a person has and their physical limitations are, of course, different for each person. I do know that the rehabilitation process Cadillac went through was incredibly grueling and to have to think about going through that very same thing again is a crushing thought at this point. Hopefully it’s not as bad as it appears right now, but if anyone can make it back, Cadillac can. Former Cleveland Browns safety Gary Baxter was as determined as any human being could be in attempting to recover from torn PCLs in both if his knees, but he wasn’t able to complete the comeback. When it’s your career on the line — when your knees are your livelihood — it just makes it that much more devastating.

Source: TampaBay.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Cadillac Williams Injured Again