Last mission to repair the Hubble telescope Hubble space telescope discoveries have enriched our understanding of the cosmos. In this special report, you will see facts about the Hubble space telescope, discoveries it has made and what the last mission's goals are.
For their own good Fifty years ago, they were screwed-up kids sent to the Florida School for Boys to be straightened out. But now they are screwed-up men, scarred by the whippings they endured. Read the story and see a video and portrait gallery.
TAMPA - Michael Pittman sees room for two in the Bucs' backfield.
Pittman was the team's featured back last season, but does not see the addition of first-round draft pick Carnell "Cadillac" Williams as a one-way ticket to the bench.
"Just because we've got the Cadillac doesn't mean Michael Pittman's not going to play," said Pittman, who stopped by the locker room Saturday to pick up a pair of custom-fitted cleats.
"I'm going to play. I may still even start. But we're going to work together, regardless. It's an opportunity for both of us to get better."
Pittman, who was suspended for the first three games last season, is a versatile weapon. He led the team with a career-high 926 rushing yards, scored a team-high 10 touchdowns and was second to rookie sensation Michael Clayton with 41 catches.
But Pittman hurt the Bucs by losing six fumbles, including two that changed the complexion of games against the Rams and Saints, both losses in a disappointing 5-11 season.
Coach Jon Gruden likes to use two backs in his version of the West Coast offense. Williams and Pittman have the versatility to motion out of the backfield or line up in the slot. Regardless of his role, Pittman plans to help Williams.
"We're just looking forward to working together and that's why, when Cadillac gets here, I'm going to do my best to help him learn this offense," Pittman said. "If we're on the field at the same time it makes all the weapons that much better."
NOT SURPRISED: Cal quarterback Aaron Rodgers had been touted as a potential No. 1 pick entering the week, but fell all the way to Green Bay at No. 24.
"Teams see their needs at certain positions, and it can get to the point where it's hard for teams to come off their need position to take a quarterback," director of college scouting Ruston Webster said. "Especially if they have a good veteran they're happy with."
Was there ever a point where Rodgers had fallen enough that the Bucs considered trading up from the second round to get him?
"You consider that kind of thing, but you also have to figure out what you'd have to give up, and that comes into play, too," he said.
QUOTABLE: "I was hoping we could just mail our pick in last week. I'm kind of sick of looking at all of these players."
- Bucs coach Jon Gruden after picking Williams at No.5
PHONES RINGING: The Bucs hadn't drafted higher than No.12 since taking Trent Dilfer sixth in 1994, so sitting at No. 5 on Saturday and being an active player at the top tier of the draft was a novelty for their front office.
"It's fun. Everybody's in play for you, and in the past few years, there were a lot of guys who were completely out of play for us. You're at everybody else's mercy," Webster said. "Trades are funny, in that some drafts, you get a lot, some you don't. Not many this time around, which was fine. I thought we were pretty well homed-in on our guys."
DRAFT BITS: LB Barrett Ruud is the third Nebraska player taken by the Bucs in the past five drafts, joining guard Russ Hochstein in 2001 and tight end Tracey Wistrom in 2002. The only other colleges with more than one Bucs draft pick since 2001 are Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Yale, with two each. ... Before drafting Carnell Williams, the Bucs hadn't selected a player from Auburn since defensive end Robert Goff in the fourth round in '88. ... Ruud is a cousin of free-agent safety John Howell, who played for the Bucs the past four seasons but has not re-signed.
News
Fifty years ago, they were screwed-up kids sent to the Florida School for Boys to be straightened out. But now they are screwed-up men, scarred by the whippings they endured. Read the story and see a video and portrait gallery.
Print
Email story
Comment
Email editor
