Bucs get one-year tender for the Cadillac

Sports betting experts will react differently to various NFL transactions during the sleepy months of Spring. One of the events that might generate at least a little buzz is Tampa Bay’s signing of running back Cadillac Williams to a one-year tender. This happened on Wednesday, May 12. Williams is a rugged and insistent runner. He’s not a breakaway back or a home-run threat, but he runs with tenacity and toughness every time he gets the ball. Yes, it’s true that the Buccaneers are in dire need of a steady and reliable passing game, but the thought of keeping Cadillac around in the backfield is a generally pleasant one for the flagging NFC South franchise. The Auburn product gives Tampa Bay at least one problem for opposing defenses to solve.

Bills sign running back Mendenhall

Another running back firmed up his place on an NFL roster on May 12. Former Pittsburgh Steeler Walter Mendenhall signed with the Buffalo Bills last Wednesday. He walks into a situation where point production has been hard to come by. The Bills sputtered on offense in 2009, particularly in the fourth quarters of games and even against some of the other bad teams in the National Football League. It’s the hope of the new coaching staff, led by freshly-minted head coach Chan Gailey, that Mendenhall - given a change of scenery and a chance to start fresh - will be able to make a positive impact for this AFC East outfit. With the ball-hawking New York Jets lingering in the Bills’ division, it will be important for Buffalo to establish the ground game. There’s no way any AFC East team will want to challenge the Jets’ secondary on a regular basis.

Saints sign wide receiver Billings

NFL betting gurus won’t be drastically altering their Super Bowl odds based on this move, but for what it’s worth, the New Orleans Saints are trying to give even more targets to superstar quarterback Drew Brees. On May 12, the world champions of professional football signed receiver Montez Billings. The Auburn grad impressed coach Sean Payton in tryouts… enough, at any rate, to earn a shot as an undrafted free agent. Billings had academic issues during his senior year at Auburn, which led to a rocky an uneven season plus an expectedly rough time with NFL Draft evaluators. Perhaps, however, this pass catcher will find a way onto an NFL roster. If he can make it in New Orleans, Billings will have a very good situation on his hands. He’ll also have some accurate Drew Brees passes on his hands as well.