Buccaneers win at a heavy price!

Sunday, on the heels of a huge win, the Buccaneers suffered a huge lost as both Carnell “Cadillac” Williams, and left tackle Luke Petitgout are gone for the season, both with season ending and for Cadillac, career threatening, injuries. Williams was the first to leave the game after breaking a 16 yard run at which he was hit by Carolina Safety, Chris Harris, as he went down, his cleats, (which as we all know, seem to always cause him to slip on the field) gave way and his leg bent awkwardly underneath him. He immediately hit the ground, letting the ball go and clutching at his knee.

What happened next was something I’ve never seen before, the sports bar I was at, grew quiet as the entire Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ bench emptied and the players walked across the field to were Williams was down. I’ve watched a lot of football and have never seen anything like this. Williams was carted off the field and received an very loud applause from the Carolina crowd. Luke Petitgout would join him in the third quarter in the locker room. Petitgout messed up his knee when defensive tackle Kris Jenkins fell into him during a third quarter play. Petitgout was able to get to his feet and limp of the field but after x-rays he is done for the season.

Williams may not just be done for the season but could very well not be the same the rest of his career as he suffered a torn patella tendon. The patella tendon helps hold the kneecap in place. An injury to the tendon can have significant impact on an athlete’s ability to jump or accelerate, even after it heals following surgery. Williams is expected to see renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., on Monday, according to a member of Williams’ family.

Even with surgery Williams is looking at a very long and painful rehabilitation and wouldn’t be able to return to the team until at least the third week of training camp in 2008. When and if Williams does return, there is no telling how his knee will respond to running and accelerating. ACL tears ended Terrell Davis’ career early and they are no wear severe as a Patella tendon tear.

Besides those injuries, The Buccaneers took the NFC South lead with their 20-7 win over the Panthers Sunday. The game should have really been a shut out, but you know Tampa, when they have a big lead in the fourth quarter they like to play a prevent defense. Which should be called the “lets let them get a cheap score” defense. The Prevent defense only prevents shutouts.

This week Tampa Bay faces their first true test of the season when they head to Indianapolis to take on the 4-0 Indianapolis Colts. Many people aren’t giving them a snowball’s chance in hell, but I am. For the mere fact that Marvin Harrison and Bob Sanders could very well not be playing in this game right now Indy is reporting Harrison “bruised” his knee and that Sanders “hurt” his ribs. You would think that’s nothing but Sanders missed the second half with those “hurt” ribs and Harrison missed the last two and a half quarters with that “bruised” knee.

This means that Tampa Bay can breathe a sigh of relief if neither Harrison or Sanders suit up this weekend. With Harrison out, they can focus all of their attention on Clark and Wayne. Sanders being out will go in their favor as the Colts D just don’t seem the same when he’s not in the game. Look for a very heavy dose of Michael Pittman Sunday afternoon and then for a change of pace, Earnest Graham.

One more factor is that Joseph Addai may be out two with that “bruised” shoulder of his.

Tampa 17, Colts 10