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BY IRA KAUFMAN
In honor of a half-century of Buccaneer football, I’m counting down the Top 50 players in franchise history, based solely on their accomplishments with the franchise. This week, we continue at No. 40.
No. 50 – Mark Cotney
No. 49 – Mike Washington
No. 48 – Richard “Batman” Wood
No. 47 – Aqib Talib
No. 46 – Ricky Reynolds
No. 45 – Keyshawn Johnson
No. 44 – Ricky Bell
No. 43 – Vincent Jackson
No. 42 – Mark Carrier
No. 41 – Donnie Abraham
40. Cadillac Williams
Few Buc rookies have made the immediate impact of the fifth overall pick in the 2005 draft. Williams ran for 434 yards in his first three NFL games, the most prolific start in NFL history for a first-year back. He went on to win Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, receiving 47 of the 50 votes cast. The Pro Football Hall of Fame asked for the shoes and gloves Williams wore during those first three weeks. His career was marred by torn patellar tendons in each knee, but he remains fifth all-time in rushing yards and sixth in rushing touchdowns for the Buccaneers. In 2009, Williams rushed for 823 yards and finished second to Tom Brady in voting for Comeback Player of the Year.
39. Joey Galloway
When Keyshawn Johnson wore out his welcome in Tampa Bay, he was shipped to Dallas for Galloway, who is now a college football analyst for ESPN. In 2007, the speedy Galloway became the first receiver in Buc history to post three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. He still ranks seventh in career receiving yards and sixth in receiving touchdowns for Tampa Bay.
38. Kevin House
Selected in the second round of the 1980 draft out of Southern Illinois, where he excelled in football and baseball, House averaged 22.1 yards per catch as a rookie. He averaged 21.0 yards per reception the following season and topped 1,000 yards twice for Tampa Bay. He ranks eighth in career receptions, fourth in receiving yards and fifth in receiving touchdowns as a Buccaneer.
37. Davin Joseph
The 23rd overall pick in the 2006 draft out of Oklahoma, Joseph earned two Pro Bowl berths and made 99 career starts for Tampa Bay. Despite suffering a torn patellar tendon in a preseason game against New England in 2012, he returned to his usual right guard spot the following year and played all 16 games.
36. Shelton Quarles
The Bucs signed Quarles as a free agent in 1997 and Monte Kiffin eventually realized that Quarles had the physical traits and smarts to handle the middle linebacker responsibilities in the Tampa 2. He ranks No. 5 in career tackles for the Bucs and in 2001, Quarles returned an interception 98 yards against the Packers, still the longest defensive score in franchise history. Quarles was a starting LB in each of his final eight seasons with the Bucs and was credited with 22 tackles during the 2002 team’s championship postseason. Three years later, Quarles made a team-high 11 stops in a playoff loss to Washington. He is currently Tampa Bay’s Senior Director of Football Operations.