Williams Says He'll Be Ready by Training Camp

Will the Bucs grant a contract extension to 2007 leading rusher Earnest Graham? Does free-agent signee Warrick Dunn still have any juice left in his 33-year-old legs? What role will Michael Bennett play with the team this year?

Carnell "Cadillac" Williams said Tuesday he intends to be in the mix.

Williams missed the final 13 games of the regular season and the playoffs in 2007 after suffering a torn patellar tendon in his knee which required season-ending surgery.

On Tuesday, Williams said he is pain free and intends to be ready for Tampa Bay's training camp in July.

"I'm in the process of getting everything firing back right and getting my quad strong," Williams said after an individual workout Tuesday. "Once all that goes down, I'll be ready to go.

"It's not a matter of if I'll be back, but when," he said. "I know I'm going to be playing on this field again, and I know I'm going to be productive."

In the end, it may not be Williams' decision. Tampa Bay has four other running backs under contract, and that doesn't include seventh-round draft choice Cory Boyd and rookie free-agent Clifton Smith.

Still, Williams is working hard to make it a tough decision for the Bucs.

"We're going to make a decision in July," Williams said of whether he will be cleared to practice or placed on the "physically unable to perform" list. "I'm not sure. I'm just going to keep working and see what happens.

"Me personally, once training camp starts, I'll be in training camp," he said. "I will be on the field to do some things. I feel by July, I definitely should be ready to play ball."

Bucs Re-Sign DT Haye

Defensive tackle Jovan Haye, who was a restricted free agent, re-signed with the Bucs on Tuesday. Haye was free to negotiate with any team but Tampa Bay had the right to match the offer or decline and get compensatory draft picks. Restricted free agents had until April 18 to sign with a new team. Haye re-signed by simply accepting the tender the Bucs offered in February.