Emotional Raymond Calais Video
April 29th, 2020
Strong stuff here from the ABC-TV affiliate in Lafayette, Louisiana, the 123rd biggest media market in the country.
The Buccaneers’ final pick of Saturday’s seventh round, running back Raymond Calais, is from the area and played running back for the University of Louisiana-Lafayette. The TV station had a camera in his living room during Day 3 of the draft.
They captured the glory and the agony, including when Calais’ phone rang during Round 6 from a team that said we want to draft you but we’re not sure. Ouch!
Then more teams called to sell Calais on being an undrafted free agent. In fact, per the station’s written report, Calais committed to another team as he lost hope of being drafted.
And then came the call from Bucco Bruce Arians.
Here’s the TV report below: Joe loves this kind of reality stuff.
Arians says Calais is a smaller, faster version of David Johnson with Tarik Cohen-like quickness. We shall see.
April 29th, 2020 at 1:09 pm
Love It!
April 29th, 2020 at 1:11 pm
Reminds me of Warrick Dunn.. But Dunn was 178 lbs when he came out . IIRC
April 29th, 2020 at 1:24 pm
Just come with it – bring it
April 29th, 2020 at 1:25 pm
That’s cool stuff… hopefully he helps out run game
April 29th, 2020 at 1:50 pm
Definitely rooting for good buddy. I love seeing late round picks succeed and having great careers.
April 29th, 2020 at 1:54 pm
Love that story. Hope the kid makes it.
April 29th, 2020 at 1:56 pm
Is he old enough to drink?
I kid
April 29th, 2020 at 2:01 pm
Who is he going to replace? Dare or Logan?
April 29th, 2020 at 2:06 pm
Love it
April 29th, 2020 at 2:06 pm
I have a feeling he’s going to out play Vaughn.
April 29th, 2020 at 2:08 pm
I also think he’s going to be our kick returner.
April 29th, 2020 at 2:08 pm
Love it!!!!!
April 29th, 2020 at 2:09 pm
Great vid. Good luck kiddo.
April 29th, 2020 at 2:09 pm
Cool story. @Altbuc I was upset when we drafted Dunn high. I was a Rhett fan. I got over it pretty fast.
April 29th, 2020 at 2:12 pm
You can’t coach Speed !
April 29th, 2020 at 2:16 pm
This is awesome we are all passionate fans and can be skeptics but once they are a Buc you root for them to make it and produce. He has earned his opportunity now I hope he makes the most of it.
April 29th, 2020 at 2:20 pm
I am really pulling for the kid to make the team. I think with Wirfs and Gronk that our run game is going to be a very pleasant surprise with the guys on the roster and just the affect playing alongside the GOAT will have as well.
April 29th, 2020 at 2:21 pm
Wow great video. There’s a training camp underdog every year that captures my heart, a guy you just can’t help but root for. Looks like RC (and his family) have gotten off to an early start. Congratulations and good luck kid. Welcome to Tampa (Tampa Bay is a body of water, not a city) and btw have fun meeting and playing with Tom Brady.
April 29th, 2020 at 2:30 pm
Good luck. It is a chance to prove yourself. Hope it works out well.
April 29th, 2020 at 2:38 pm
No question this kid has the juice to do some damage on kick off and punt return. The 2 major areas of concern whe. It comes to that would be…
Does he have reliable enough hands to be trusted with punt return duties?
And does he have a good sense for when to take the fair catch or take the ball out of the endzone on kick returns?
If the answer to both questions is yes then he’ll be a weapon for us.
April 29th, 2020 at 2:47 pm
Wow thanks for sharing, what an emotional day. Pulling for that kid!
April 29th, 2020 at 2:52 pm
Good luck buddy welcome to the team. Just take what these clowns in here say with a grain of salt…
April 29th, 2020 at 2:55 pm
I suspect a major reason he was drafted was to compete for the PR/KR job too. One thing that needs to be beat into whoever wins that role is, DO NOT TAKE THE BALL OUT OF THE ENDZONE. Unless there are only a couple seconds left in the half the returner should kneel down and take the damn ball at the 25. To many times last year we had horrible field position because our returner thought they could do something.
There were only like 6/7 KOs returned for TDs last year and only one or two players with over a 25 yard average. TAKE THE BALL AT THE 25
April 29th, 2020 at 2:55 pm
Let’s hope he doesn’t become one of Joe’s UPS Drivers, Mattress Movers, Insurance Claims Adjusters…..
His return ability helps him make the team.
April 29th, 2020 at 2:56 pm
Welcome to the Bucs Ray!!!!
April 29th, 2020 at 2:57 pm
Trust me, he’s making the final 53!! Taking TJ Logans spot!
April 29th, 2020 at 3:00 pm
Calais was drafted in 7th round.
April 29th, 2020 at 3:05 pm
Good find Joe(s)!
Besides winning the ultimate prize, the Super Bowl, this is what it’s all ultimately about.
April 29th, 2020 at 3:06 pm
I love these stories. I wonder who he was signing to be an UDFA with before Bruce called.
April 29th, 2020 at 3:14 pm
welcome to the bucs
GO BUCS!!!!
April 29th, 2020 at 3:40 pm
I’m hoping he can work himself into a Darren Sproles type player. He’s got the physical ability to succeed, he’s just got to master the playbook, show he can pass block, and catch. That’s a lot to ask as even Sproles barely played his first season. Hopefully, Calais can separate himself as a returner.
April 29th, 2020 at 3:49 pm
Why would you call a player just to say we might draft you? Talk about messing with someone’s head.
April 29th, 2020 at 4:23 pm
good luck to the kid, great story. IMO jp09 had a great comment btw about not returning kicks.
April 29th, 2020 at 4:37 pm
Rooting for the kid for sure. Good find Joe.
April 29th, 2020 at 4:44 pm
@Lee:
Adam Humphries wasn’t drafted at all. So what he’s a 7th round pick. He still got drafted. A great life moment for him and his family and more than a lot of other guys can say. And maybe a great motivation too.
April 29th, 2020 at 4:53 pm
Awesome story. Good luck RC!
April 29th, 2020 at 5:07 pm
This kid could be the star of this draft. Great speed, Brady will know how to use him.
April 29th, 2020 at 7:05 pm
He agreed to sign with the Jags before we drafted him. Also it’s nice to see some positivity amongst the JBFers for once.
April 29th, 2020 at 7:22 pm
Just bring it man. The Bucs need your best. All the fans are behind you.
April 29th, 2020 at 7:54 pm
Awesome video, thanks Joe’s.
April 29th, 2020 at 7:56 pm
We gots a return game now!
April 29th, 2020 at 8:26 pm
I love these stories
April 29th, 2020 at 9:39 pm
we haven’t seen speed at that position since Dunn hopefully he dedicates himself to the craft.
April 29th, 2020 at 9:50 pm
Hell yeah. I love this stuff.
April 30th, 2020 at 11:52 am
Happy for the kid!!! … Seems like a real boom or bust kind of player!!! … Nice to see something different than the old “he comes from the streets, had no Mom and Dad in fact he was raised by a pack of viscous dire wolves having to fight the alpha male just to get the scraps of a raw koala they hunted the night before!!!!” Lol …. So tired of that narrative!! In this country if you are not at least making enough to get by on then you have some kind of disability, broke the law, or just stupid and don’t want or are too lazy to succeed… Now after all this covid stuff not sure what our country will look like!! Since we destroyed it in a science experiment built from fear and panic!!!
April 30th, 2020 at 12:26 pm
I love rooting for the underdog. Hope he makes the team.