PFT has the following "story", which I will just cut and paste here because it's short enough.
One of the rumors making the rounds in Mobile is that the career of Buccaneers running back Cadillac Williams could be over.
This is pretty loose, even for PFT. Apparently someone had a conversation about Cadillac at the Senior Bowl that was overheard and phoned in like it was news. I really don't think anyone knows for sure at this stage, but I guess now's as good a time as any to talk about it since it's already been brought up.
Everyone I talk to says that players are never the same after this kind of injury. Willis McGahee is running on half a patellar tendon now because the other half was used to repair other parts of his knee that he shredded in college. He seems to be doing all right. But Correll Buckhalter has never fully come back from a torn patellar tendon. Poor LeCharles Bentley can't seem to recover from it, either. Troy Brown started the season on the PUP list because of his patellar tear, but he's on the roster now (although inactive.) Time (lots of time) will tell, but there's no way he comes back like he was. The Bucs need to make plans as though Cadillac will never be back and then treat it like a bonus if he is able to play again.
If Williams can't return, it's another argument against using a high first-round pick on a running back. The financial investment is enormous, and the running back is always one play away from a serious, if not permanent, injury.
That's silly. Almost every player is one play away from a permanent injury. If teams were to draft players based on their ability to stay healthy, the first round would be nothing but kickers. Adrian Peterson, Jamal Lewis, Edgerrin James, LaDainian Tomlinson... they all did ok as high first rounders. Running back is a big concern for the Bucs this year, but the question is, is it their biggest need and worthy of their #1 pick? Earnest Graham did pretty well, all things considered. I think he's earned the chance to be a full-year feature back. If the Bucs can't get Michael Pittman or Michael Bennett to re-sign (or even if they can,) find a running back in the middle rounds.
Comments (2)
Maybe we should pick a guy with a tougher nick-name, like "Unbreakable" or "Iron Knees"?
Seriously, Florio isn't the greatest thinker (and for being a lawyer, he knows nothing about the law). He likes to spout off about the worst case scenario on everything and then suggest evil motives to boot. Soon he'll tell us how Tony Dungy hired someone to hurt Caddy just so that Gruden might get fired.
The truth is that injuries are largely random (excluding bad form) and there are running backs who are worth it and then there are others who aren't. I would take a first round pick on guy who can change the game on his own -- with or without a great O-line: guys like Barry Sanders, Walter Payton, and/or LT. I personally would not use a first round pick on somebody who is merely good at running through holes (like most of the guys coming out of college this year).
I still say we grab a wide out with our first pick.
Posted by Matt Price | January 23, 2008 5:14 PM
Well, injuries aren't something you want, but something you have to live with. I hope Cadillac can recuperate and come back and perform well. I don't want to see someone no matter how talented they are, attempt to come back with an injury that could lead to permanent damage that could effect their normal lives after football.
Lord knows I read up on all the horror stories of the guys who from the earlier harder hitting (what the hell is roughing the quarterback?) times, and how broken and messed up they are now.
With the price tags that the players and teams are moving towards, we might see rules change where we get Professional Flag Football soon.
Posted by LostInSeattle | January 26, 2008 1:30 AM