Three weeks in and he's a brand name

By STEPHEN F. HOLDER and JOANNE KORTH
Published September 29, 2005

TAMPA - Caddy now has his Caddy.

As promised, Cadillac Williams had his new Cadillac XLR convertible delivered to his home Tuesday, but it soon won't be the showroom model he received in a promotional move by a local dealer group.

Putting extra touches on the car is "definitely in the process," Williams said Wednesday. Williams, who had purchased a Cadillac Escalade SUV months ago, called the convertible roadster "a change of pace."

A local Cadillac official said Williams will make appearances on behalf of the Ed Morse Automotive Group in exchange for the 2006 model, which retails for nearly $78,000. But really, did anyone think it would take long for Cadillac to strike a deal with Cadillac?

"We're excited," said Jimmy Snyder , vice president of the Morse Automotive Group. "It's a no-brainer but it's also pretty unique. Who knows how big something can be when it sticks?"

Teammates are taking notice of the perks of Williams' rapid rise to fame. Three games into his rookie season, he is becoming a bigger star than most of his veteran teammates.

"I did have a car deal, but it wasn't my rookie year," tight end Anthony Becht joked. "It was a few years after that."

Said linebacker Derrick Brooks : "That's part of some of the things he's going through that are well deserved. At the same time, (you can't) let those things be a distraction, and so far they haven't."

Williams was asked whether he would consider getting Cadillacs for his offensive linemen, who have a little something to do with his success.

"I wouldn't say I've got that kind of deal," Williams said. "I'm sure if these guys keep doing what they do and we keep being successful, I'm definitely going to do something for those guys."

They just had better not expect Cadillacs.

BIDWELL WINS HONOR: Punter Josh Bidwell was named NFC special teams player of the week for his performance in Sunday's 17-16 victory at Green Bay, his former team. Bidwell punted six times with a 47.3-yard average, including a long of 57 and one downed at the 12.

"I was really excited," said Bidwell, honored for the first time in his six-year career. "It was a shock. I didn't expect it at all. I feel like I've had times when I've had just as good of numbers and somebody else won the award."

Somebody else, meaning a placekicker.

Even in his own locker room, Bidwell's happy news was undercut by kicker Matt Bryant , who informed Bidwell he won the weekly award twice during his rookie season.

"For the punter to win the award is kind of hard because there are so many field goal kickers out there making huge kicks and doing things," Bidwell said.

ONE HAPPY PLACE: Williams is getting plenty of national attention, but the feeling at One Buc Place is that winning is a result of chemistry. Or is it the other way around?

"Being 3-0 is great, but the most important thing is that we're playing together and as a whole team," defensive end Greg Spires said. "Everybody is jelling and everybody likes each other. We don't have the guy who wants to stand out and play selfish. Everybody wants to win and when you're winning, everybody is happy."

INJURY REPORT: Williams, who injured his left foot Sept. 18 against Buffalo, was limited in practice Wednesday and is listed as probable against Detroit. Guard Matt Stinchcomb (lower back) and safety Dexter Jackson (hamstring) are questionable.

[Last modified September 29, 2005, 01:20:09]