Why Cadillac Williams Is a Deserving Choice for NFL Comeback Player of the Year

Carnell “Cadillac” Williams has certainly had his ups and downs during his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

During his rookie year, the No. 5 overall draft pick seemed to be living up to the hype, as he captured the 2005 NFL Rookie of the Year Award.

The next few years proved to be dicey, as Williams would be forced to deal with an inconsistent offensive line as well as several devastating injuries.

It appeared that Cadillac would be stuck in the garage for the rest of his career.  

This year, Williams reintroduced himself to the NFL with a very remarkable season that should culminate with Williams taking home the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award.

At the onset of Buccaneers training camp this season, Williams appeared an afterthought on the team. After all, the team had paid big money for free agent running back Derrick Ward and had the effective Earnest Graham returning as well.

Williams was returning from his second patella tendon injury, and no one really knew what to expect from him.

What we all saw was a man determined not to succumb to injury and to continue his dream of playing in the NFL.

At first glance, his numbers are not very overwhelming.

821 yards rushing and a 3.9 YPC average to go along with four touchdowns are fairly pedestrian.

Those numbers don’t tell the whole story of how far Cadillac has come this season. Here are a few additional numbers to help paint a better picture.

Two

That would represent the number of major and potentially career-threatening knee injuries Williams has suffered during his short career.

Many thought Williams would never be the same after he suffered this injury against the Carolina Panthers in 2007.

Williams was placed on injured reserve for the rest of the season.

When the 2008 season started, Cadillac vowed he would return to the lineup, and after missing the first 10 games, he would make good on his promise and return as the starting running back.

Unfortunately, just as he was rounding into game shape, he suffered yet another catastrophic knee injury against the Oakland Raiders in the season finale.

Against all odds, and after another offseason of grueling rehabilitation, Williams returned to training camp this season with the intention of reclaiming his spot as the starting running back.

He would realize this goal as head coach Raheem Morris announced Williams as the starting back for the Buccaneers' opening game against the Dallas Cowboys.

The number of games Cadillac appeared in and started this season. For a guy who was returning from those types of injuries to the unforgiving world of the NFL, that is astounding.

Not only was Williams able to stay on the field and prove he could stay healthy for an entire season, he was able to play at a high level for a young struggling team.

Three

The number of wins the Buccaneers had this season.

Football is a team game, and it’s hard to put up Adrian Peterson numbers if your team just isn’t that good.

The Bucs were busy breaking in a rookie quarterback after an offseason where there was a complete overhaul of the roster. Not much was expected of the team.

Yet Cadillac was able to put up some very respectable numbers against teams that were gearing up to stop the run.

In fact, he carried the team to an upset win of the then 13-1 New Orleans Saints when he ran for 129 yards and a touchdown.

Additionally, Williams was able to add a new dimension to his game this year, as he became more of a pass-catching threat out of the backfield, amassing 219 receiving yards to go along with three touchdowns.

This new dynamic would prove vital in the development of quarterback Josh Freeman, as there was always a dependable check-down option.

Not once this season did Cadillac appear to run with any fear or trepidation. He would pound between the tackles just like he did prior to his injuries.

This fearlessness, coupled with his passion for the game, is exactly what we should admire in an NFL player, and to do this after rehabbing from two major knee injuries is pretty remarkable.

Carnell “Cadillac” Williams has worked his way back twice from the brink of his career to once again become a solid every down back.

I really want to know if there is another deserving candidate for Comeback Player of the Year, because frankly I don’t think there is any other choice.