New Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Derrick Ward took long path to four-year deal

TAMPA

Derrick Ward's story is the stuff of Hollywood scripts, and the newest Buccaneer should know all about such things. His life once detoured so dramatically from the game it's a wonder he made it back from a path that took him to Tinseltown. Not to mention the many times he and his sister hit the floor to avoid flying bullets in their gang-infested South Central Los Angeles neighborhood. "My path to the NFL was long," said Ward, officially signed Tuesday by Tampa Bay to a four-year, $17-million contract. "I'm thinking about writing a book afterward." Perhaps he'll make it a screenplay. Ward, 28, had first-hand exposure to the film industry when he spent 2002 out of football after dropping out of school and working as a production assistant at a Hollywood studio.

Having left Fresno State, working in the epicenter of the movie business seemed like a decent option. Injuries and academic difficulties had taken their toll on Ward, and this certainly was an interesting diversion.

He once worked on the set of the sitcom Friends. He also worked with screenwriter Dan Fogelman, whose credits include the animated movie Cars. Perhaps most people could have grown accustomed to it all. But Ward missed football.

"Once I was out of (football) for months at a time, I started to get that itch back," Ward said. "I knew when I was a kid that my goal was to play in the NFL. Then when I took that year off, I thought to myself, 'Why would I want to give this up? Why would I want to do something else that I never really planned on doing?'

"It made me realize that if I set a goal I'm going to try my hardest to achieve that goal. And, I'm here now."

His foray back into football came at little-known Ottawa University in Kansas. He set an NAIA single-season record with 2,061 yards and 28 touchdowns. The next spring, 2004, the Jets drafted him in the seventh round. The Giants plucked him off the practice squad the next September.

Ward became a budding star last season when he rushed for 1,025 yards and had a league-best 5.6 yards per carry.

He has much in common with fellow running back Earnest Graham, an undrafted prospect who rose to prominence with the Bucs after being cut three times.

"They both have somewhat of a great past that has sort of gotten them to where they are today," general manager Mark Dominik said. "They both had to earn everything. I'm, personally, a big fan of that. I think that shows a lot of passion toward the game. That's why we thought, in discussions, they would work very well together."

It's possible neither will be the featured back. And Ward said that's fine. He envisions the Bucs, like the Giants, having their version of "Earth, Wind and Fire," (Ward was Wind) a group he hopes will eventually include himself, Graham and the injured Cadillac Williams.

"It was a long journey from not playing to the injuries to making a name for myself," he said. "I just took advantage of my opportunities. It's been a whirlwind affair for me. I'm just embracing it right now."

Stephen F. Holder can be reached at sholder@sptimes.com.