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TAMPA – Sometime later today or tomorrow, the Bucs will no doubt tell us that RB Cadillac Williams underwent “successful’’ surgery to repair the patellar tendon he tore in his right knee Sunday.
They won’t tell us how long they truly expect Williams to be out of action because in cases like this, time-tables for recovery are almost impossible to predict.
At best it will take Williams several months to recover from this injury. At worst it could take him several years. Either way, there’s a chance Williams will never be the same again.
“That injury at the running back position is a tough one to come back 100-perecnt from,’’ said Dr. Johnny Benjamin, chairman of orthopedics at Indian River Medical Center of Vero Beach. “Leg strength and drive are very important [and] hard to generate after this type of injury.”
LeCharles Bentley, a center for the Cleveland Browns, can attest to Dr. Benjamin’s findings. He tore his patellar tendon on the first day of training camp last year. He still hasn’t made it back.
He is currently on the Physically Unable to Perform list, the hope being that he will be well enough to attempt a comeback later on this month or early next month.
But Bentley has undergone four surgeries on his knee since he first injured it, including two for staph infections that developed inside the knee, and he admist he’ll never be 100 percent again.
“It will never be 100 percent and I’m not expecting it to be,’’ Bentley told the Cleveland News Herald earlier this year. “But if I can get it into the 90s, that’s good enough.”
It wasn’t quite good enough for fomer NFL linebacker Kailee Wong. Wong tore the patellar tendon in his right knee during a game in Oct. 2005. He returned a year later and played in 10 games but retired before the start of this season.
Nate Webster hasn’t retired. In fact, the former Bucs linebacker’s story may provide Williams with the kind of inspiration he needs to make a comeback himself.
After joining the Bengals as a free agent in 2004, Webster suffered a torn patellar tendon during a Week 3 loss to Baltimore of that year. He missed the rest of the 2004 season and all but one game of 2005 as a result.
He signed with the Denver Broncos prior to the start of the 2006 season but he only played in three games last year. This year, however, he is starting for the Broncos at strong-side linebacker and he’s making an impact.
Though the Broncos defense has not played up to its usual standards (it’s ranked sixth overall but is 31st against the run), Webster has played well and ranks fourth on the team in tackles with 26.
“It’s not even in my mind right now,’’ Webster said when asked by the Boulder Camera about his knee injury. “That’s a blessing for me to come out here and not even think of it and just play ball like back in the day like I used to.”
Williams may one day play ball like he used to as well. But that day is probably months, if not years, away.
Posted by Rob Berube, NAPLES on 10/03 at 07:52 PM
We Lost a great running back. Cadillac had the potential to be the best running back in Bucs history. Only one other running back had his potential “Bo” make no mistake about it. My favorite Buc running back Ricky Bell. The most effective Buc running back The “A” train. I own land in NC & tonight while searching for lumber to build my house I clicked on a link from the ceo of the lumber company (Panther season ticket holder). the link was to a Panther website and showed the game video clips. The Caddy was moving on the play he was hurt on.Man I mean moving fast, very fast. Look at the first td by Garcia, Caddy picked up a blitzing lb. This guy was special, we just did not realize it.. I sure hope he can rehab and get a new chance.
Posted by Rusty Fox, memphis on 10/03 at 12:25 PM
Why are the Bucs freaking out trying to find a new RB? We’ve still got Graham and Pittman, who, if I remember correctly, are not too bad when they have a little blocking. I wish Cadillac the best, but he hasn’t been consistent (he’s fumbled several times this year and dropped 2 passes last week before his injury, though he was running a little better). We’ve still got Darby, too, who was well on his way to being a first round pick until his dad was diagnosed with lung cancer. It’s time to activate him and see what we’ve got. I have a feeling that Pittman and Graham will be perfectly capable of handling the load, though. Since Donald Penn can handle Rucker, I’m not too worried about that either.
Posted by H Meyer, Palmetto Beach, fl. on 10/03 at 11:44 AM
Penn will fill in fine at LT and Davis can slide over there if need be. We do not need to react to these injuries and further damage our cap situation. We need to Rally with the guys we have and keep plugging along. Caddy wasn’t producing as he should or could i should say and petigout was playing well but he isn’t the second coming of Paul Gruber.
We’ll be fine. Situations like this are why COACHES get the contracts they do!
Posted by Barbara Nicholson, Canton, Ohio on 10/03 at 10:22 AM
Go Bucs!! I wish Cadillac the best!
Posted by Shawn Golan, Los Angeles, CA on 10/03 at 08:49 AM
Dodson hit it right on the head…losing Petitgout is the bigger loss. Pitt and EG can carry the load in the running game. but, Donald Penn CANNOT be the LT that Luke is.
Posted by Michael Harris, Oldsmar, FL on 10/03 at 06:46 AM
He was stale bread prior to the injury; now he’s toast.
Posted by Patrick Dotson, Tampa,FL on 10/02 at 09:27 PM
this team needs to seriously address the oline before they start worrying about the backfield….luke to me is a bigger lost…i wish the best for caddie on a speedy and successful recovery….but i think graham and pitt can carry the load and seeing darby back would be nice as well…were playing a banged up colts team so it should be a interesting game….we bring our A game we will beat the colts….GO BUCS
Posted by J Vand, Tampa transplant in Nashville on 10/02 at 09:06 PM
I agree with Mitch, and I am a doctor (although I am not his doctor). I would love to be optimistic and would wish for Cadilac to be full go again one day. I love the kid’s passion. But I am realistic, I don’t see a running back coming back from this injury.
Posted by Gregory Donoghue, Bradenton on 10/02 at 06:57 PM
Tough call for Caddilac. I wish him the best in recovering from this injury. Looking at the odds of recovery and playing again, he should begin seriously planning his future at something other than football. I wish it were not so.
Posted by Shawn Golan, Los Angeles, CA on 10/02 at 05:29 PM
Don…while I appreciate your statements, and even agree with you as far as the “depth” thing - I’m sick and tired of hearing about Earnest Graham. HE IS NOT THE BETTER BACK - NEVER WILL BE! I like the kid, he plays hard and even shows a good burst a the point of attack. BUT, I do recall him being unable to punch it in for a TD with 4 attempts from inside the 5. Caddy would have made it because he would have seen the blocking collapse and cut it outside. EG lacks vision and is not nearly as powerful as we wish he was. Lets face it, Caddy has some of the best vision I’ve ever seen - what he lacks in speed and power he makes up for with vision. Emmitt Smith made a career out of great vision.
Posted by Rob Berube, NAPLES on 10/02 at 05:05 PM
To all of you bafoons that had nothing but criticism for Mr.Carnell “Cadillac” Williams I am disgusted with the buntch of ya.Cadillac always gave a 100% effort to make our team better and a winner. But yet wall to wall critics.We did not give him the respect he deserved.This guy was a humble man trying to play football and no doubht live a childhood dream .I hope he heals and gets a second chance to live his dream. I can assure you that if his dream had come true our dreams whould have become reality too.
Posted by don donelson, englewood florida on 10/02 at 04:29 PM
Alot has been said about Cadillac’s injury. Some say its for the best and it allows Ernest Graham to truly shine who has more heart and could be the better running back. Regardless .... Cadillac had heart, had determination and its a sad day for him and his family to have this happen. My heart goes out to a class individual. Luckily we do seem to be deep at running back. Loosing Petitgout will impact our offense more in my opinion
Posted by david birch, san mateo on 10/02 at 04:02 PM
i hope he(williams) can be the exception to the rule, but the odds of him playing again are remote…the prudent thing for the bucs to do is plan for a future that doesn’t include #24…rehab is a slow, painful, tedious process that can test the fortitude of even the most dedicated athlete…if anyone knows where messages(cards, ect.) can be sent to him please let me know…words of inspiration can get one through this most difficult of time…thanks…
Posted by Shawn Golan, Los Angeles, CA on 10/02 at 03:55 PM
Thank you Dr. Mitch! I appreciate the medical testimony…
However…lets not assume the worst. RBs come back from torn knee ligaments all the time. Guys like Priest Holmes and Garrison Hurst not only came back, but had career seasons. Yes, this is a tough injury to come back from. Yes, there is a chance that he never makes it back, or does and just isn’t the same back. We all accept that as a possibility. But, Caddy is still a young back, in the prime of his career. That bodes well for a good shot at recovery.
For now, lets just hope we get the guy back.
Posted by Mitch R, NYC on 10/02 at 02:58 PM
Caddy’s done, period. RB’s don’t come back from this injury. Very sad indeed.
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Posted by rusty fox, memphis on 10/03 at 09:55 PM
What is all of this talk about Cadillac being so great. Enthusiasm doesn’t make you a great player. I know the blocking hasn’t been great for years, but it’s definitely better this year than in the past. The result: Cadillac still doesn’t play well while Graham and Pittman have played much better (at least combined). I would much rather our opponents have to worry about Pittman, Graham, and Darby than being able to concentrate on Cadillac. As long as we can continue to play with this new-found intensity and avoid an injury to Garcia or Galloway, we will be fine.