I don't know enough about Tom Lewand or Martin Mayhew to comment on whether Lions owner William Clay Ford was wise to promote from within the organization, but history suggests that no one would've complained if Ford blew up the whole operation and started over.
The franchise has just 40 wins this decade, which is slightly more impressive when you consider that the total includes the recently completed 0-for-'08 run. (Not really; it works out to 5 wins a season versus 4.4 wins a season. In the salary-cap era, that blows.) Perhaps predictably, Clay decided to, as they say, stay the course and give current team employees Lewand and Mayhew shiny new titles.
Not surprisingly, the 2009 Lions look very similar to the versions that preceded it. Which is to say: unimpressive and out of sorts. Via PFT, the first post-Rod Marinelli press conference provided plenty of unintentional hilarity. Because after all, laughter -- even if accidental -- is the best medicine. Or something.
For only the fifth time in Tampa Bay's past 28 games, Cadillac Williams will be in uniform and an active member of the Buccaneers offense, when they take on the winless Detroit Lions. Jon Gruden has been waiting for this moment for weeks, it seems, and it couldn't have come at a better time.
Earlier this week, Tampa Bay learned that its leading rusher, Earnest Graham, is going to miss the remainder of the season. Combine that with the release of Michael Bennett a few weeks ago -- when Williams was removed from the PUP list -- and the Buccaneers were down to only 33-year old Warrick Dunn, the recently signed Noah Herron, and fumble-prone Clifton Smith in their backfield.
Williams was listed as questionable this week with a hamstring injury.
It remains to be seen how effective he'll actually be, seeing as how he's hardly played the past two years, so it's nice that his first game back is against the worst rushing defense in the National Football League. So, at least he'll get to ease his way back into the grind.
If Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden thinks the return of Cadillac Williams is like an early Christmas gift, I have to imagine the news of Earnest Graham's season-ending ankle injury ranks somewhere between root canal and watching somebody kick his dog.
According to Anwar S. Richardon of the Tampa Tribune, Gruden informed the media today that Graham is likely done for the season, after a Vikings defender landed on his ankle in the Buccaneers 19-13 win on Sunday. I suppose this means it's time to warm up the Cadillac.
The injury comes the same week Tampa Bay released Michael Bennett so it could active Williams from the PUP list.
It's a huge blow for the Buccaneers, as Graham was leading their ground attack with 563 yards rushing on 132 attempts, while scoring four touchdowns. He also caught 23 passes for 174 yards.
With Graham out, Tampa Bay's backfield will now be limited to 33-year old Warrick Dunn, and Williams, who as we've mentioned before, has been a sideline observer for 23 of the Buccaneers past 27 games.
Earlier this week we told you about the possibility of the Buccaneers getting former first-round pick Cadillac Williams back into the mix for the team's stretch run. Coach Jon Gruden, naturally, was pumped up about the news as he said today, Wednesday, would be like Christmas.
I don't know, if I woke up on Christmas morning and found a gift-wrapped package that featured a running back that has missed 23 of the past 27 games, and was averaging about three-and-a-half yards per carry when he was on the field, I'd be begging for a new package of socks. But, hey, to each his own.
Anyway, the move became official today as the Buccaneers activated Williams from the PUP list, as reported by Anwar S. Richardson of the Tampa Tribune.
Raise your hand if you thought Selvin Young was going to break free from the litter of the recycled Denver backfield and become a Fantasy Stud? Relax, you're welcome to a free membership in the "Fantasy Owners that hate Mike Shanahan" support group. OK, am I really jumping ship this quickly on the Selvin Young experience? Yes, it might be a bit premature. However, if last night was any indication, optimism ain't sitting shotgun for Selvin Young owners this morning.
Look, it was only one game, but Mike Shanahan decided he'd lay his cards right out in the open for us. The result appears to be a mixed bag of various RB's who will all assuredly get their fair share of cracks at Fantasy stardom. And if you think Shanahan won't also page Mike or Tatum Bell at some point this season you're far too naïve.
For years Shanahan has tortured various Fantasy owners into believing they had the sure thing in the Denver backfield. It's been a constant state of flux in Denver ever since they dealt Clinton Portis. The names certainly don't jump off the page at you from Olandis Gary, Mike Anderson, Reuben Droughns, Garrison Hearst, Ron Dayne, Damien Nash, Cecil Sapp, Tatum Bell, and Mike Bell and so on and so on.
During Friday's spring practice, tempers flared, and helmets went flying when Texas A&M senior defensive Michael Bennett tangled with some offensive linemen. It is certainly not uncommon for small tussles to breakout during a football practice, especially among linemen who battle it out play after play. What's a bit unusual in this case, however, was new head coach Mike Sherman's strong reaction to what was actually the second fight of the day.
"We don't need that bull crap..."
As the Aggie players ran 50-yard sprints up and down the field, Sherman told them that intrasquad fights wouldn't be tolerated.
"We've got soft players," he said. "If you want to be average, then transfer."
It sounds like Sherman is really attempting to balance instilling discipline in his troops, while at the same time questioning their manhood. That seems like a really difficult proposition. I was also immediately reminded of my own time spent in youth football. The punishment our coach handed down for fighting with a teammate was five laps around the field while holding the hand of the player you had scuffled with. I can't remember if that increased discipline or team unity, but in this case fans in College Station seem to trust Sherman's leadership.
"I like what I'm seeing," said one fan. "I know who is running this program."
Yeah, and this time you didn't even have to subscribe to an ultra-secret newsletter to find that out.
I'll admit to being more than a little surprised that Michael Bennett signed a three-year deal to remain with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bennett struggled mightily in Jon Gruden's offense after the Bucs acquired him from Kansas City, and with a large number of teams in the market for running backs, I expected Bennett to test the free agency waters.
Bennett clearly sees a chance to contribute in this offense, however, and he's told reporters that he vows to spend the entire offseason learning Gruden's playbook.
"I plan to come in there and even sit down and take a class with the quarterbacks. I'll do whatever I have to do so that when I get on the field I'm comfortable and everything is second nature to me."
That's a very good sign for the Bucs. Cadillac Williams' future is uncertain and Michael Pittman's departure is a bit more certain, so having Bennett, Earnest Graham and practice-squader Kenneth Darby under contract should allow the Bucs to focus on upgrading other parts of the offense -- like the backup quarterback position, because Jon Gruden never has enough of them, does he?
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 9-5 (NFC South Champions) San Francisco 49ers: 4-10 (3rd in NFC West)
Last Week:
Bucs 37, Falcons 3 49ers 20, Bengals 13
Why We Care: Years after he was jettisoned from San Francisco, The Jeff Garcia Reclamation Project returns to where it all began. There's probably not much in the way of interesting football here, but it will be interesting to see how inspired Garcia plays in attempting to show the 49ers what they're missing out on. On the other side of the field, there's another interesting quarterback to keep an eye on. Shaun Hill is the 49ers' starter for the rest of the season and will further his attempts to get a big payday this offseason.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers traded for Michael Bennett after they lost two running backs for the rest of the season. It was thought that Bennett and Earnest Graham would split carries, but since Bennett's arrival, Graham has gotten the bulk of the carries, while Bennett has gotten only 10 carries in 5 games and zero carries in the Bucs' last two. As you might expect, he's a little frustrated.
"At least where I was in Kansas City, I was getting about 15 to 20 plays a game, which is OK. I come here and expect just to play. I didn't expect to come in, start and take over, because Earnest Graham does a great job. ... I'm still learning, but my thing is, I feel like I have learned enough to at least get on the field for a few plays."
I suspect the main reason Bennett is frustrated is that he's looking back at Kansas City and thinking he could be starting right about now, what with Larry Johnson injured and Priest Holmes finished. However, as long as Graham is running well -- 4.1 yards a carry and 6 touchdowns -- Bennett won't see much time, because Graham is Jon Gruden's guy, and Bennett is not. That's just how Chucky rolls.
Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden is known for having one of the most complex playbooks in football. It might not be as thick as the 700-pager that Al Saunders makes the Redskins memorize, but the Gruden system is so complicated in its verbiage that quarterbacks can get tongue-tied calling plays.
Running back Michael Bennett, who's new to Tampa Bay after getting traded there from Kansas City, tells the St. Petersburg Times he's struggling to learn the Gruden offense:
"Every other offense was words to numbers," said Bennett, 29, a former first-round pick by the Vikings in 2001. "This one, you have to deal with numbers, colors, go back to your ABCs again. It's like going from one-plus-one-is-two to pi-equals-this. It's challenging. It makes you study. It makes you learn. You need to know the offense to be out on the field."
Bennett isn't complaining, just explaining why the system is difficult to learn. But at what point does it become too much? Last season no less an authority than Redskins Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs seemed to think Saunders' offense was too complicated. Is it possible that Gruden could simplify his offense and simultaneously make it more effective? I suspect it is, but I also suspect Gruden will never try to find out.
For only the fifth time in Tampa Bay's past 28 games, 
If Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach 
Earlier this week we told you about the possibility of the Buccaneers getting former first-round pick 
Raise your hand if you thought 
During Friday's spring practice, tempers flared, and helmets went flying when Texas A&M senior defensive Michael Bennett tangled with some offensive linemen. It is certainly not uncommon for small tussles to breakout during a football practice, especially among linemen who battle it out play after play. What's a bit unusual in this case, however, was new head coach Mike Sherman's 
I'll admit to being more than a little surprised that Michael Bennett 
To get you ready for Week 16, 
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers traded for Michael Bennett after they lost two running backs for the rest of the season. It was thought that Bennett and Earnest Graham would split carries, but since Bennett's arrival, Graham has gotten the bulk of the carries, while Bennett has gotten only 10 carries in 5 games and zero carries in the Bucs' last two. As you might expect, 
Buccaneers coach 
