bucshots.blogs.heraldtribune.com/10076/three-ex-chiefs- -
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Last Visited: 7/22/2009
Ryan Sims, Michael Bennett and Jimmy Wilkerson are all backup players for the Buccaneers who realize that even though they get limited playing time and in Bennett's case, hardly any, that their NFL lives could be much worse.
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Two of them, Bennett, a running back, and Wilkerson, a defensive end, were Chiefs as recently as last season.
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Bennett arrived in a 2007 mid-season trade.
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Bennett, a first-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2001, spent the 2006 season and the first six games of the 2007 season as a backup running back for the Chiefs behind Larry Johnson.
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Head coach Jon Gruden said it's "possible" that Bennett will be active Sunday.
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"I cross my fingers and say, 'I hope so,' " Bennett said, about his prospects of playing Sunday.
"It's been tough for me.
You always want to be out there.
You just have to be patient.
Hopefully I'll get a chance to go out and show the Buccaneers fans and the rest of the NFL that I still have it."
Bennett has 11 yards rushing on five carries, all of them in the home win over Carolina.
His only pass reception, for two yards, came against Denver.
As for why he hasn't gotten more playing time, Bennett is baffled.
"I search for answers every day," he said.
"You have to ask the powers that be, that make the decisions."
Bennett has not been able to fight his way onto the special teams.
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Rather than use Bennett, their speed back, as a return specialist.