Bucs' Cadillac Williams Aiming for Training Camp

Anyone who saw Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Cadillac Williams’ knee injury last year knew how serious it was right away. In fact, initial reports of the injury were that Williams’ career was in jeopardy after suffering a torn patellar tendon in week four at Carolina that ended his 2007 season.

But Williams has been working like a man possessed for months in his effort to come back from that devastating injury and contribute this season, and he told fans at the team’s annual FanFest on Saturday that’s the plan.

“Everybody was asking me how I’m doing,” said the 2005 NFL Rookie of the Year. “I told them I’m feeling good and they should expect me to contribute in ‘08.”

Coach Jon Gruden has noted Williams’ devotion to the process and is even semi-optimistic about the possibility that he might return in 2008.

“He’s doing great,” Gruden said. “I look out my (office) window every morning; I see him, right at the crack of dawn. I swear to that. Every morning I open up my window, and I look out there. As soon as the crack of dawn comes around, he’s out there with a couple of trainers. He’s way ahead of schedule, but we don’t know how close he is to being ready to go.

“What he’s done is nothing short of miraculous,” Gruden said. “He has worked his tail off. He’s got a chance to be ready to play football again this season. The amount of work he’s put forth has really excited our players, and he’s really done a great job.”

General manager Bruce Allen said that Williams has even proposed the idea of participating in this week’s three-day minicamp, but that’s a little too optimistic for the club’s tastes.

“We’re going to have to harness him a little bit,” Allen said. “What makes the difference in the NFL is your competitive drive, and his competitive drive was never injured. Carnell’s going to prove a point to everyone who doubted him.”

The Bucs’ running attack actually improved when Williams went out. Tampa Bay finished 11th in rushing yards per game, led by reserve Earnest Graham, who surprised many with 898 yards rushing and 10 scores after being an afterthought for years. As a receiver, Graham hauled in 49 passes for 324 yards.

However, Graham has not attended any of the club’s voluntary workouts so far. He wants a new contract indicative of his role as a starter. There has been noise of him missing this week’s mandatory minicamp and possibly some of training camp, but neither side seems worried about that.

“I assume everything will work out with Earnest,” Allen said.

Graham noted he often works out on his own in lieu of attending the voluntary OTAs.

“I always have,” he said. “Last year I didn’t [make] any OTAs, but as far as workouts I made like 13, so I’ve always worked out on my own. It’s not anything against our team.

“I expect to go into training camp and just compete like everyone else.”

The Bucs added Warrick Dunn in the offseason to be a change of pace, so they are probably set in the backfield if need be. If you really read between the lines, the team isn’t expecting to get much if anything from Williams this year.