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Gruden: Cadillac's Comeback From Injury 'Amazing'

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 18, 2008

TAMPA - Most of Tuesday's media attention focused on a player who was not at One Buc Place, but the overlooked story was a running back desperately trying to rejoin his teammates.

Bucs RB Cadillac Williams spent Tuesday morning on a practice field with a trainer during the first day of minicamp. Williams is not allowed to practice until he is medically cleared, but Coach Jon Gruden called his player's speedy comeback from last year's knee injury just short of a miracle.

"It's one of the most amazing comebacks that I've seen," Gruden said. "He hasn't come back yet, but he is banging on the door. Our fans would be proud of him."

Williams suffered a career-threatening knee injury on Sept. 30, 2007, against Carolina, tearing his patellar tendon after sprinting up the right sideline on an 18-yard gain. He tried to plant his right leg to cut and was simultaneously knocked to the ground by a hard hit from Panthers SS Chris Harris.

Williams had surgery in October and has been rehabilitating since. While the coaching staff initially believed Williams would not play in 2008, prompting the immediate re-signing of Michael Bennett and the acquisition of Warrick Dunn, his progress has many around One Buc Place believing he could see the field this season.

During Tuesday's practice, Williams did several 100-yard sprints, including some at full speed.

"He's ready to go now, if you ask him," Gruden said. "He's really putting some good tape together in his individual workouts ... the explosive movement appears to be coming back. Change of direction, confidence, stamina, all those things day after day after day a running back has to do are coming to him. That's what's really exciting.

"He doesn't appear to have any setbacks at this point. I just keep my fingers crossed and hope it continues, because it's exciting."

BOYD NOT PRACTICING: Rookie RB Cory Boyd was held out of practice because of a knee injury, and he is not expected to play again until training camp in July.

Boyd, a seventh-round draft pick who played for the University of South Carolina, spent most of Tuesday's practice on the sideline.

JACKSON NEEDS TO CATCH ON: Amarri Jackson quickly learned the importance of ball security Tuesday.

The rookie receiver out of the University of South Florida caught a flare pass down the right sideline and took a few strides before dropping the ball. CB Phillip Buchanon picked up the fumble and headed toward the end zone as Gruden watched intently.

"He has another opportunity to showcase if he belongs in the final 80 players invited to training camp. If he fumbles the football like he did today, it's going to be hard on him," Gruden said. "He's a big guy who is a heck of a competitor. He's an athlete, and he's confident. He's a pretty smart guy. I like him. I really like his potential. We have to harness it and get a little more consistency from him."

Jackson agreed with Gruden's assessment and tried not to let his gaffe rattle him.

"Coach came at me a little bit, but I know you can't fumble balls, especially at this level, because these guys here know how to scoop and score," he said. "I was pretty upset with myself, but you have to bounce back and make plays. As players, we need to hear constructive criticism and roll with it."

BUCS BITS: Tampa Bay had another quarterback on its practice field during minicamp, but he was no threat to become the sixth on its roster. Former Nebraska QB Scott Frost attended Tuesday's practice as a guest of defensive backs coach Raheem Morris, and he even participated in a few drills by throwing passes that were designed to be intercepted by the unit. ... Bucs kicker Matt Bryant's wife, Melissa, gave birth to their second son, Matthew Tryson, on Monday at 7 p.m. Bryant attended practice Tuesday.

Ira Kaufman,

Anwar S. Richardson

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