Pick tickles Caddy dealers

By GREG AUMAN
Published April 26, 2005

TAMPA - It may be the easiest endorsement deal in NFL history.

When the Bucs drafted Auburn running back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams fifth overall Saturday, some of the biggest smiles in Tampa Bay were on the lots of Cadillac dealerships.

"Any time you have the name mentioned so often in a positive light, it can't hurt," said Jimmy Snyder, a vice president with the Ed Morse Automotive Group, which has Cadillac dealerships in Tampa and Brandon.

Williams drives a Cadillac Escalade, bought last month as an early celebration of the eight-figure windfall he expects with his rookie NFL contract. He has had the nickname sincehigh school, when a reporter wrote that he ran smooth, like a Cadillac. Now, the moniker could lead to a more lucrative relationship.

"We've had conversations with a couple of people at Cadillac, both in Tampa and on the national level," said Mark Heligman, Williams' marketing representative. "It's unusual to have such a natural fit. I'd think at some point in the next few days we'll have more discussions with them about it."

Snyder said he noticed a buzz on his lots about the prospect of Williams coming to the Bucs in the draft.

"We had a lot of customers and associates telling us that it'd be great if he could come to Tampa Bay," he said.

"Now that he's here, it's definitely something we'll be exploring."

[Last modified April 26, 2005, 01:05:18]