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You Be The Bucs' GM: Pick The Running Backs

By ANWAR RICHARDSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 20, 2009

Running Backs

Regardless of contract status, impact on the salary cap or position on the depth chart, who do you want to see on the Bucs next season?

FB B.J. Askew

FB Jameel Cook

RB Warrick Dunn

RB Earnest Graham

RB Clifton Smith

FB Byron Storer

Click here to discuss your choices

Ready, Bucs fans? You be the general manager.

The NFL free agency period begins at 12:01 a.m. Feb. 27. For seven consecutive days, The Tampa Tribune and TBO.com will feature one position each day. We'll provide an analysis and list the players to consider: Tampa Bay Buccaneers under contract for 2009, and Bucs and notable NFL players scheduled to become free agents.

The Bucs are roughly $40 million under the projected $123 million salary cap, so they have money to spend.

What would you do?

RUNNING BACKS

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have four running backs, yet questions surround each of them.

Earnest Graham is Tampa Bay's best running back, but is recovering from a season-ending ankle injury. Cadillac Williams rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a rookie, but sustained his second major knee injury last season. Warrick Dunn is 33 and just completed his 12th NFL season. Clifton Smith was a special teams standout who had problems holding onto the ball.

Tampa Bay needs to add a solid running back to its group in case Graham or Williams are not 100 percent healthy when the season begins. Dunn could play a significant role if necessary, but needs help to ease his workload.

Considering Smith is needed on special teams, Indianapolis' Dominic Rhodes could be a solid addition, along with Seattle's Maurice Morris, but going after New York's Brandon Jacobs, who has a franchise tag, is very unrealistic.

Bucs Under Contract For 2009

FB B.J. Askew: Can key the running game when healthy.

FB Jameel Cook: Makes the team only if Byron Storer is not 100 percent.

RB Warrick Dunn: Still putting up respectable numbers despite his age.

RB Earnest Graham: Tampa's best back when healthy and given opportunity.

RB Clifton Smith: Special teams standout could become a dynamic RB.

FB Byron Storer: Productive starter recovering from an ACL injury.

Bucs Potential Free Agents

None

NFL Potential Free Agents

RB Correll Buckhalter, Eagles: Played well behind Brian Westbrook, but has missed three full seasons in his career after reconstructive knee surgeries.

RB Rudi Johnson, Lions: Could revive his career if healthy and not in Detroit.

RB Brandon Jacobs, Giants: Franchise tag means he's virtually untouchable.

RB Deuce McAllister, Saints: Injury prone, old and on his way out of the NFL.

RB Maurice Morris, Seahawks: Odd man out with Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett.

RB Darren Sproles, Chargers: Franchise tag means options are limited.

RB Derrick Ward, Giants: Odd man out in New York ready to emerge.

RB Dominic Rhodes, Colts: Can be a good No. 2 back, but probably not a starter.

FB Tony Richardson, Jets: Helped to revive Thomas Jones' career.

FB Leonard Weaver, Seahawks: One of the top young fullbacks in the league. An undrafted free agent in 2005, he was a Pro Bowl alternate in 2008.

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