DaddyBoyAU 119 Posted January 4, 2006 Share Posted January 4, 2006 It wasn't even close, although Ronnie Brown received one vote. From SI.com: Well-tuned Cadillac NEW YORK (AP) -- Carnell Williams, appropriately enough, ran away with The Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award.The Tampa Bay running back nicknamed "Cadillac" was the sleek, fast and powerful model the Buccaneers needed to spark their offense. He became a starter immediately, rushed for 1,178 yards and six touchdowns, and was the catalyst in the Buccaneers' turnaround from also-ran to NFC South champion. Williams drew 47 votes Wednesday from a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL. His running mate at Auburn, Ronnie Brown of the Dolphins, received one vote, as did tight end Heath Miller of Pittsburgh and offensive lineman Logan Mankins of New England. "It's always been my dream to play on this level," said Williams, the fifth overall pick in last year's draft. "Ever since I was a kid, playing football in the backyard, middle school, high school, college, I was working to get to this level. To come out here and be named offensive rookie of the year is an amazing accomplishment. That's a great honor." He earned it by having a team-record six 100-yard games. His season high was 158 against Green Bay, and he had 150 vs. Atlanta. Williams piled up the yards despite a left foot injury that forced him to miss two games early in the season and part of a third. When he got healthy, the Bucs surged past Atlanta and Carolina to win the division title at 11-5. The Bucs host Washington on Saturday in the wild-card round. The Redskins will need to keep after Williams all game. He gained 449 of his yards in the fourth quarter, when he averaged 5.7 yards per carry -- far above his average for the first three periods. Four of Williams' six TDs came in the fourth quarter. Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden was thrilled Williams was available in the draft after Brown went No. 2 overall and Cedric Benson of Texas went to Chicago with the fourth pick. Now the entire league has seen why Gruden was so excited. "W really felt that he was a great, great running back, to be honest with you," Gruden said. "Tommy Tuberville [Auburn's coach] felt the same way. Everybody I talked to in Alabama said: 'This is the greatest running back in the history of high school football in Alabama.' Better than Bo Jackson, better than most of these guys have ever seen. I'm not saying he's better than Bo. But everybody I talked to said he's a hell of a back. 'Get him on your team, somehow, some way.' "I think he's proven to everybody what he's all about." Williams has no complaints about where he wound up in the NFL, either. "I'm dead happy the way the draft went, me landing in Tampa," he said. "This is where I wanted to play. But after everything was said and done, looking back on things, I was like: 'Man, I was the third back taken. I was the fifth pick, but I was the third back, so people still don't believe, or for some reason doubt me."' Not anymore. Williams is the second Tampa Bay player to win the award. Running back Warrick Dunn won it in 1997. Last year's winner was Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarTiger 3,910 Posted January 4, 2006 Share Posted January 4, 2006 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jared52 4,354 Posted January 4, 2006 Share Posted January 4, 2006 You know, we can compare RBs at AU to Caddy and Ronnie, but it will be along time before we see that type of special player again. Congrats to a deserving Caddy, who showed why he was the starter at AU and in spite of the projections that Ronnie would be a better pro, showed he was the best in the NFL too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoAU 1,600 Posted January 4, 2006 Share Posted January 4, 2006 I was very high on both CW and RB - they were very special players in Auburn history, and were epitomes of what a true Auburn Football player should be: team orientated, give 110%, etc. I am thrilled with Carnell winning this award, and wish him the best in his career. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigermike 3,041 Posted January 5, 2006 Share Posted January 5, 2006 Yahoooo for Carnell!!! I would say that in the long run, this would/could have a greater positive effect on recruiting than loosing the bowl game could hurt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quietfan 233 Posted January 5, 2006 Share Posted January 5, 2006 Congrats to Caddy !! Now, they play the Redskins? Will Carlos Rogers get in the game, and if so, will he have to try to stop Carnell for the first time since practice on the Plains? Carlos, Carnell, & Jason meeting in the playoffs...interesting reunion, hope they all get some playing time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vatz22au 142 Posted January 5, 2006 Share Posted January 5, 2006 Congrats to Caddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarTiger 3,910 Posted January 5, 2006 Share Posted January 5, 2006 Does my autographed AU football on the trophy case go up in value now??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigermike 3,041 Posted January 5, 2006 Share Posted January 5, 2006 Does my autographed AU football on the trophy case go up in value now??? 208909[/snapback] I would think yes. But wait 10 - 20 years when he goes into the NFL Hall of Fame (providing there are no injuries) and the value will really go up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draven 0 Posted January 5, 2006 Share Posted January 5, 2006 Does my autographed AU football on the trophy case go up in value now??? 208909[/snapback] No. . . no it doesn't but I will take it off your hands for a respectable price Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCWarEagle 0 Posted January 5, 2006 Share Posted January 5, 2006 Congrats to Caddy. I hope that he and the rest of that AU class have continued success in the NFL. Ronnie will be good and will get his chance when Ricky Williams self-destructs. Carlos has already become a starter and hopefully Jason will get his chance sometime soon.l Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarTiger 3,910 Posted January 5, 2006 Share Posted January 5, 2006 Does my autographed AU football on the trophy case go up in value now??? 208909[/snapback] No. . . no it doesn't but I will take it off your hands for a respectable price 208948[/snapback] you couldn't afford my price... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcgufcm 4,107 Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 cadillac was my boy at auburn, he was my fantasy sleeper, and he won me ten bucks on a cadillac versus the field for rookie of the year bet i made. he's the man. kenny's great, but he's no cadillac. he's just gonna keep on piling up the yards and wins. they were 10-2 in games he started and finished... 1-3 in games he didn't. think he's the difference maker? carlos might not be back yet for the skins. he got hurt a couple weeks ago and didn't play the last two games. and jason hasn't had a snap all year. saturday won't be his first. soooooo, GO BUCS! and GO CRAZY CADILLAC! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jumbo 0 Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 he is great and he still gives AUBURN great publicity yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiger 8,829 Posted January 7, 2006 Share Posted January 7, 2006 man i was just thinking about how electrifying some of his runs were...is there a caddy highlight film thats out there on the internet somebody cud put up here? that'd be awesome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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