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Bucs Get K.C.'s Bennett To Aid Ailing Backfield

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By ROY CUMMINGS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 17, 2007

Updated: 10/17/2007 12:11 am

TAMPA - The Bucs lost one of their home run hitters when Cadillac Williams went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 4. On Tuesday, they got that home run potential back.

It came to them in the form of running back Michael Bennett, a former Olympic sprint candidate who was acquired by the Bucs in a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Exact terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Chiefs coach Herm Edwards said the Bucs gave up multiple draft picks for Bennett, who originally came into the league as a first-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in 2001.

'We lost a good football player,' Edwards said of Bennett during a news conference announcing the deal. 'Obviously, we felt it was good for both organizations.

'It was good for Michael Bennett, who has a chance to start on a good football team, and we acquired two conditional 2008 and/or 2009 draft picks for the future. So it was good for everybody. Michael was a little surprised, but in the end, it was good for him.'

Though Edwards suggested Bennett might start for the Bucs, his actual role remains uncertain. There is, however, a good chance he will at least split carries with Earnest Graham, who started last week's game against Tennessee.

Other than a comment from General Manager Bruce Allen saying Bennett should 'strengthen' Tampa Bay's running back corps, the Bucs did not offer comment on the trade.

Clearly, though, the move adds speed and some starting experience to a backfield that has been forced to start its third-string tailback and third-string fullback because of injuries. The run of injuries began in the preseason when Mike Alstott reinjured his neck. The Bucs lost Williams to a knee injury three weeks ago, and the following week Michael Pittman went down with an ankle injury.

The Bucs signed veteran Zack Crockett and former Buc Lionel Gates after losing Pittman, but they vowed to keep looking for upgrades, primarily at the tailback spot.

Bennett, 29, gives the Bucs a slashing type of runner who has 21 runs of more than 20 yards as an NFL back.

Bennett, who went to the Chiefs from New Orleans for a fourth-round pick last year, became expendable this week when the Chiefs announced plans to pull Priest Holmes off the physically unable to perform list.

As a backup to Larry Johnson, who set a league record with 416 carries in 2006, Bennett played sparingly last season. He has 20 carries for just 52 yards this year and 10 receptions for 47 yards.

Bennett has 769 career rushes, has gained 3,426 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. He also has 145 catches for 1,164 yards and five touchdowns during his six-plus years in the league.

However, since he ran for a career-best 1,296 yards with the Vikings in 2002, Bennett has not eclipsed more than 500 yards rushing and has not started more than seven games in a season.

He did start 49 of the 64 games he played for the Vikings and was named to the 2002 Pro Bowl. To make room for Bennett on the active roster, the Bucs released Gates. They also re-signed running back Kenneth Darby to the practice squad.

Reporter Roy Cummings can be reached at (813) 259-7979 or

rcummings@tampatrib.com.

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