New Bears wideout Williams bristles when drops brought up

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Chicago Bears brought in Roy Williams hoping he would rediscover his old Pro Bowl form in a familiar system.

It might happen. It hasn't yet.

Then again, the season doesn't start for a few weeks.

Williams played only a few snaps in the preseason opener against the Buffalo Bills and wasn't the target of any passes. He had three thrown his way without a catch Monday night in a 41-13 loss to the New York Giants, and two probably could have been completed.

Just don't tell him he had a drop. Williams didn't like that.

"I had a drop? I didn't have a drop," the receiver said Wednesday. "If you want to count it, you can. I think the DB (Aaron Ross) made a great play to knock it out as soon as it got into my hands, so I didn't drop the ball."

Williams was referring to a third-down bobble on Chicago's first possession that was initially ruled a 16-yard completion. The Giants challenged and the call got overturned.

On the Bears' next possession, a high short slant hit off Williams' fingers on third down.

About that, Williams said, "Yeah, I got to catch that ball, man. It's my fault. I'll catch it next time, Coach."

The Bears certainly hope so.

They gave the 6-foot-3 Williams a one-year deal and a chance to redeem himself after a disappointing run in Dallas, signing him late last month a day after the Cowboys released him, and made him their No. 1 receiver while dropping Johnny Knox to No. 2. The hope is he flashes some of the skills that made him a Pro Bowl receiver with Detroit when Mike Martz was his offensive coordinator and that a reunion with receivers coach Darryl Drake provides an extra kick. The two have strong ties dating back to when Drake was on the staff at Texas, and under Martz, Williams had 1,310 yards in 2006.

Drake made one thing clear, though. Williams needs to step up his play.

"He's not where he needs to be, and he knows that," Drake said. "He and I have talked about that, and the good thing about it is you've got Johnny Knox who's fighting and working hard. And believe you me, Roy understands that Johnny's there. Johnny's hungry, and Johnny wants his spot back. If things don't start changing, then Johnny's going to be in there. That's straight from the horse's mouth."

Drops have been a big issue for Williams the past few years, and every time a ball hits off his hands, eyebrows are raised. They were up again on Monday, and Drake wasn't giving any free passes.

He said the first one should have been caught "for sure." And while he praised Ross for knocking the ball out, he blamed Williams for letting him do that.

Drake initially said the slant was uncatchable and that there should have been a pass-interference call. Even so, he put some blame on Williams.

"You've got to beat that," Drake said. "What I told him, he's just got to be more physical with him, get him off your spot and get in there cleaner. Don't allow that guy to get his arm in there and rip you around."

That also has been one of the knocks on Williams -- that he's not physical, that he won't go up and get balls, that he plays small for a receiver who's 6-foot-3.

While he knows the system, he still is settling in.

Veteran free agents couldn't practice until Aug. 4, meaning Williams missed the first week, and he and Cutler are still adjusting to each other. He's also getting into shape -- football shape, that is.

When he made an off-hand remark recently about his conditioning, he was made out to be the next William Perry or a guy who was following The Fridge's regimen.

"My fault, media," Williams said. "I'm a sarcastic guy. I like to smile a lot. So I won't do that anymore."

Cutler said Williams simply needs time and that missing those first few weeks in training camp hurt. Now, he expects to see more from his receiver.

The Bears practiced at Halas Hall for the first time Wednesday after holding training camp at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Ill. They're back at home, back to a more typical routine, preparing for their third preseason game against Tennessee on Saturday.

"I think this week is going to be a good stepping stone for him with us really going through an actual game week -- Wednesday, Thursday, Friday -- and getting all of the details to him and exactly what we want to do out there on Saturday," Cutler said. "In past weeks, in training camp, you kind of just skim over some stuff and you go out there and play, and whatever happens, happens."

Notes: Coach Lovie Smith said LB Lance Briggs (bruised knee) and DT Anthony Adams (calf) will not play Saturday for precautionary reasons and might also miss the final preseason game against Cleveland. Briggs played in the preseason opener but sat out against New York. Adams missed both games. ... CB Zackary Bowman returned to practice Wednesday after sitting out a game because of a head injury.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Thomas injury has Ross back as Giants starter; Williams signed

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Veteran Brian Williams, 32, who has played with Minnesota, Jacksonville and Atlanta, was signed by the New York Giants Wednesday to address their urgent needs at the cornerback position.

"He is a veteran who knows how to play," coach Tom Coughlin said of Williams. "He has been a good physical blitzer, and we are in need of someone who can learn quick and go from there."

Williams has played in 128 regular-season games with 99 starts. He has 19 career interceptions. Last season, he played in all 16 games with one start for the Falcons.

To make room for Williams, the Giants waived linebacker Kenny Ingram.

The Giants secondary has been in a state of upheaval during the preseason. Starter Terrell Thomas, last year's leading tackler on the team, was lost for the season with a knee injury suffered during last weekend's preseason game against the Bears. And first-round pick Prince Amukamara is sidelined with a broken foot.

Aaron Ross is another player who will be counted on to fill the gap in New York's secondary.

Ross came to training camp as the somewhat forgotten man among the cornerbacks.

Corey Webster and Thomas were the returning starters and general manager Jerry Reese didn't hesitate to take Amukamara in the first round when the Nebraska cornerback was available with the 19th pick overall.

It left Ross in no man's land. The Giants' first-round pick in 2007 was down on the depth chart and fighting the stigma of being injury-prone the past two seasons. He missed a good part of 2009 with hamstring issues and battled a painful foot injury most of last season.

Three weeks into training camp, though, Ross is no longer an afterthought. With Amukamara and Thomas sidelined, Ross is back in a starting role and anxious to show people what he can do.

"Being out there on the outside and being able to make plays and show the coaches I can make plays, and the fans, the media, it is exciting," said Ross, who has the added motivation of being in the final year of his contract.

Ross said his biggest concern this season is staying healthy. If he does, he has no doubt about his ability to play.

"I am really confident in myself to tell you the truth," Ross said. "I know what I can do. As long as I stay healthy I know that I am fine. Coaches haven't seen me healthy in two years, the fans or you guys. Of course, y'all forget.

"But I know what I can do."

Ross had three interceptions in each of his first two seasons, but has not had one since 2008.

"I think I am a decent player," Ross, 28, said. "They drafted me here for a reason. So, as long as I am healthy, I believe I can be a positive impact on the field."

Ross, who is married to track star and Olympic gold medalist Sanya Richards, is taking added precautions to stay healthy. He used to keep stretching to a minimum. His approach is totally different now.

"I have a guy coming in that stretches me, gets the knots out, pretty much everything," Ross said. "I put everything in the basket and am letting it go."

The injury to Thomas also has given opportunities to players like Michael Coe, rookie Darnell Burks and first-year pro Joe Burnett, who had little chance of making the roster at the start of camp.

"My mindset has always been to prepare to play and try to get comfortable doing everything and when you get the opportunity, be ready," said Coe, a former Arkansas Razorback, who is now No. 3 on the depth chart after spending part of last season with the Giants. "You never know the circumstances. You have to have the mindset of trying to absorb as much as you can.

"I am a lot more comfortable in this defense. It's similar to the one I had in college."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Veteran RB Williams adopts new look, new mentality as Raven

Ricky Williams didn't really look like the Ricky Williams the football world has come to know.

There were no dreadlocks, no beard in his Baltimore debut. And not only did a Ravens jersey appear strange on him, but it also was without his customary 34. Williams showed up Tuesday for his first practice clean-shaven with a tight haircut and wearing a No. 38 purple jersey.

Breer: High expectations for Ravens

After agreeing to a two-year deal with the Ravens on Monday, Williams passed his physical Tuesday and practiced with his new teammates. It might be the lone session in which he wears No. 38, because he struck a deal with running back Jalen Parmele to get back the number he has worn throughout his career.

Maybe it was appropriate that Williams wore an unfamiliar number, because the running back who joined the Ravens to be the backup to Ray Rice is quite different than the star who broke into the NFL with the New Orleans Saints in 1999.

The Heisman Trophy winner's career has featured failed drug tests, suspensions and a heralded, premature retirement. He also has accounted for 9,565 rushing yards, caught 329 passes for 2,523 yards and scored 72 touchdowns. But he has never played in the Super Bowl, and that's one reason why Williams picked the Ravens over the Lions, who told the Detroit Free Press that a conversation between the running back and offensive coordinator Scott Linehan after a game last year didn't constitute tampering.

"The opportunity in Detroit opened up, and it would have been a chance for me to play a lot and be able to contribute a lot," Williams said. "But Baltimore is an established organization with a lot of vets, and ... I thought I would fit in well in this situation and be able to enjoy myself and possibly win a Super Bowl."

Now 34, Williams no longer is the free spirit who wore dreads and made no secret of his love for marijuana. Thus, the new, conservative look.

"It's just a mirror of my maturity," he said. "I think we all go through phases. I think at my heart I'm a rebel, and I think I've found more productive and mature ways to express my rebellion."

Williams ran for 673 yards and two touchdowns with the Miami Dolphins last season while splitting time with Ronnie Brown. Williams' role with the Ravens will be to spell Rice, who last season was backed up by Willis McGahee.

Williams has no desire to press for playing time. His days of being the featured back are behind him, at least as long as Rice stays healthy.

Asked to guess the amount of carries he will receive on a given Sunday, Williams replied, "You never know. Some games, the defense is taking the run away and we have to pass. Other games, we're going to have to pound the ball to win the game, so it just depends. My guess is it will vary anywhere from eight and 12."

Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he won't play Williams in the preseason opener Thursday night in Philadelphia, but he expects to get plenty of mileage out of the running back once the season begins.

"I think adding Ricky into the mix makes us a better team, no doubt about it," Harbaugh said. "We started talking about him a day or two ago. To me, he looks as good as ever. I'm talking about last year. He ran the ball well. He's very good in pass protection. He understands pass protection. That's the key. So, it's a big addition for us."

Williams said "football is how I put food on the table," but insisted his passion for the game hasn't waned.

"It's different. I think I respect the game more and I appreciate the game more than I did, but I'm not 20 years old anymore, so my priorities are a little bit different," he said. "But I appreciate the game, and I love to compete. I use my mind more than I use my body, but still, my body's strong and I enjoy playing this game."

Williams signed a two-year deal because that's precisely how long he intends to keep playing football.

"I'll be 36 when my contract's up," Williams said. "I think I'll be ready to do something else at that point."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Former Cowboys WR Williams appears headed to the Bears

One day after being cut by the Dallas Cowboys, wide receiver Roy Williams has agreed to terms with the Chicago Bears, NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora reported Friday, citing a source with knowledge of the situation.

Williams, who had a disappointing stint with the Cowboys after Dallas traded four draft picks to the Detroit Lions to get him, caught 37 passes for 530 yards and five touchdowns with the Cowboys last season. In his two-and-a-half seasons with Dallas, he had 94 catches for 1,324 yards and 13 touchdowns in 40 games.

In Chicago, Williams will be reunited with offensive coordinator Mike Martz, who was the Lions coordinator when Williams enjoyed his best years in Detroit. A first-round pick of the Lions in 2004, Williams joins a Bears receiving corps that featured only two receivers with more than 40 catches last season, Johnny Knox (51) and Earl Bennett (46).

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Williams agrees to five-year, $43M deal to stay with Panthers

The Carolina Panthers promised they'd be aggressive in free agency, and they stayed true to their word Wednesday.

In perhaps the wildest day of transactions in franchise history, running back DeAngelo Williams agreed to a five-year, $43 million contract, NFL Network insider Michael Lombardi reported, and linebackers James Anderson and Thomas Davis also agreed to five-year deals, people familiar with the deals told The Associated Press.

Williams, who's guaranteed $21 million in his new deal, also drew serious interest from the New York Giants and Denver Broncos, Lombardi reported, but the Panthers were able to keep their all-time leading rusher.

Fantasy: Panthers RBs' stock down The reality of DeAngelo Williams re-signing with Carolina is that neither he nor RB Jonathan Stewart will be overly reliable in stats, Michael Fabiano writes. More ...

The Panthers also agreed to terms with seven free agents, including kicker Olindo Mare, defensive tackle Ron Edwards, tight end Ben Hartsock, fullback Rick Brockel, defensive backs Cletis Gordan, Devon Hall and Kevin Payne. Free agents can't officially sign until Friday.

The addition of Mare signals the end of the John Kasay era in Panthers history. Carolina is expected on Thursday to release the only player remaining from the 1995 expansion roster.

Going after Mare over Kasay was due in part to the NFL's new rule that moved kickoffs up 5 yards to the 35-yard line. Mare has more leg strength than Kasay, who ranks eighth on the career NFL scoring list with 1,823 points.

Mare, who'll receive a four-year, $12 million contract, is just three years younger than Kasay, 41, but still has good leg strength and converted 73 of 83 field-goal attempts the last three years with the Seattle Seahawks.

But keeping the 28-year-old Williams was the big news. A Pro Bowl selection in 2009, Williams decided to stay in Carolina to play alongside best friend and fellow running back Jonathan Stewart. Williams said Monday night during an online chat that his goal was to retire as a Panther.

Williams posted back-to-back seasons of more than 1,100 rushing yards in 2008 and '09 before sustaining a season-ending foot sprain during Week 7 of the 2010 campaign. The Panthers held out hope that Williams would recover before the end of the season, but they eventually placed him on injured reserve in mid-November.

The flurry of moves came one day after defensive end Charles Johnson agreed to a six-year, $72 million contact with the Panthers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Williams says he understands Cowboys' decision to cut him

Roy Williams has heard the verdict from Jerry Jones, and he understands the decision.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported Tuesday that Williams was at home when he received word from Jones, the Dallas Cowboys' owner, that he would be released. Teams officially can cut their own players Thursday.

The wide receiver told the newspaper that Jones said the move was being made for salary-cap reasons.

"It is a business. It is what it is," Williams said. "It's a business. I would have done the same thing."

The decision will end Williams' disappointing 2½-season Cowboys tenure that began in the middle of 2008, when Dallas traded away four draft picks -- including a 2009 first-rounder -- to acquire the receiver. Williams signed a five-year extension worth $45 million, including more than $20 million guaranteed, on the day of the trade, but he never quite lived up to expectations. He hauled in 94 catches for 1,324 yards and 13 touchdowns in 40 games with the team.

The Star-Telegram reported that Williams was scheduled to make $5.1 million in base salary and would have counted $9.5 million against the cap.

Williams expressed regret for the way his time in Dallas turned out.

"It wasn't even close to what I thought it was going to be," Williams said. "I appreciated the opportunity Mr. Jones gave me. I just got a chance to play with three of the best players I have ever seen in Jason Witten, Jay Ratliff and DeMarcus Ware. It was a great opportunity. But it's over."

The tenures for several other Cowboys also appears to be over.

Right guard Leonard Davis was told he will be released once teams are allowed to do so, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team hadn't made an announcement. Right tackle Marc Colombo said he was told that he, too, could be gone.

Running back Marion Barber came and went from team headquarters within an hour, and he likely also received a farewell from Jones. Barber honked twice as he left in his car, but he didn't stop to speak with reporters.

Jones arrived at team headquarters about 40 minutes before the official start of the post-lockout flurry of activity and proclaimed that he would clear enough space under the salary cap to sign anyone he wants. He added that, "Before the day is over, we will have contact with any player we have an interest in."

Part of the money being cleared is to re-sign left tackle Doug Free. A four-year veteran, Free went from a restricted free agent to unrestricted under the terms of the lockout.

Dallas also spent its top draft pick on Tyron Smith. He was expected to replace Colombo at right tackle but could be forced to the left side if Free gets away.

Free was among the first players at team headquarters, perhaps so Jones could tell him he's the team's top priority.

Colombo said he expected to find out whether or not he's sticking around "in the next day or so."

"My goal is to play here," said Colombo, who was among the veterans who helped run offseason practices. "If it doesn't (happen), it's been a great six years here with the Dallas Cowboys and I appreciate it."

These cuts could be an indication that the Cowboys are, in fact, players in the Nnamdi Asomugha sweepstakes, as has been rumored all offseason.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Woman arrested after allegedly asking Titans' Williams for bribe

Titans wide receiver Damian Williams was the target of an extortion attempt, according to police who arrested and charged an Antioch, Tenn., woman Monday, The Tennessean reported.

Shelley Anne David, who filed a domestic assault complaint against Williams earlier this month, was charged with one count of extortion and held on bond. Police say David, 22, tried to take $5,000 from Williams, the Titans' second-round pick in last year's draft.

Lockout leaves Locker on sideline

The arrest came when Williams met David in an area parking lot, where she was to receive a $5,000 cashier's check from the receiver. After the handoff was made, David was taken into custody by undercover officers. She's currently being held on bond.

"Damian Williams, in the presence of detectives, placed a phone call to Shelley David this morning and arranged for a meeting," Nashville police spokesman Don Aaron told The Tennessean. "David received a $5,000 cashier's check from Williams and gave him a signed note saying she would not appear in any court proceedings against him. At that point, she was taken into custody."

David had called police to her Antioch apartment June 4, claiming Williams had grabbed her by the arms and bruised her during an argument following an evening out. Police responded and took David to the department's domestic violence division. David initially was unsure about pressing charges, but per department policy, a misdemeanor assault warrant was issued on her behalf.

Williams denied the allegations, and police later found out about text messages David had sent the receiver asking for money that would make any charges stemming from the domestic incident disappear. That set in motion the police operation that led to the woman's arrest, according to the report.

The assault warrant against Williams was dropped Monday, "given the totality of the circumstances and taking into account Ms. David credibility issues," Aaron said.

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Williams says 'Boys 'losing our key time to jell' during lockout

For wideout Roy Williams, the NFL lockout has provided the eight-year veteran with ample time to rest a battered body, but he sees how it's stolen from the growth of the Dallas Cowboys.

"We're losing our key time to jell as a team," Williams said. "That’s when you come together, in offseason, OTAs, minicamps. We try to make it up with our own workouts, but it’s not the same as it is when the coaches are pushing you."

Still, Williams sees a silver lining to the extended break. 

"I talked to a player who was contemplating retirement, but the lockout has gotten his body back to where it needs to be," Williams told the Odessa American over the weekend. "For us older players, it’s good."

Williams told the American he is focused on helping the Cowboys get back to winning after last year's bitterly disappointing campaign.

"We looked like paper champs. We had the team, we had the talent, but when we played, it didn’t pan out for us. We have to be better next year," Williams said.

Williams, who notched 21 receptions for 306 yards and five touchdowns in his first five games in 2010, had just 16 catches for 224 yards with no scores down the stretch.

With a salary-cap hit close to $9.4 million, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, there is speculation Williams could be done in Dallas shortly after a headline-grabbing trade brought him over from the Detroit Lions in 2008 for first-, third- and sixth-round picks in the 2009 draft.

"When I first got to Dallas and saw all the media -- in Detroit we only had like four or five guys -- in Dallas, it's like 25, 26. It’s 'America's Team,' the most-viewed organization in any sport.

"It’s been tough, because everybody's expecting me to do all these things that I'm very capable of doing when given the opportunity," Williams said. "I'm a role player, and I just try to make the plays whenever they come my way."

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Williams hopes he figures in Bucs' plans next season

Running back Cadillac Williams will be free to sign with any team he wishes once the lockout ends, but if the seventh-year veteran has his way he'll be back with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"Tampa is a very special place for me," Williams said via The Tampa Tribune on Tuesday. "This is the team that drafted me. It's a team that has been through the good times and bad times with me. At the lowest point of my career, the organization was definitely behind me.

"The fan base in and out the community, dealing with different people, it's a very special place to me. I've grown accustomed to the area and living here. Tampa is a great city, great place and most of all, a really great place to play. It's definitely a place I would love to play and finish out my career, but only time will tell."

A first-round draft pick in 2005, Williams overcame severe knee injuries in 2007 and 2008 to play in all 16 games in 2009. He has rushed for 3,677 yards and 20 touchdowns during his career.

Bucs coach Raheem Morris has made it clear he would like Williams, 29, and fellow free agent Barrett Ruud back.

"First of all, you mentioned two guys with great character," Morris said. "Two leaders in our community and two guys that gave us great service throughout their time and hopefully it can continue.

"We'll get a chance to sit down when all the collective bargaining agreement stuff is solved. We'll get a chance to find out if we can have both of those guys back on our football team, the two guys that we know we'll have in free agency right now. We'll just have to wait and see."

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Pat Williams says Frazier told him Vikings want him to return

The Minnesota Vikings might have their vaunted Williams Wall for one more season after all.

Pat Williams, who'll be a free agent once the NFL lockout ends, now pegs his chances of returning to the Vikings as 50-50, he told The Star Tribune on Friday night, just before teammate Ray Edwards' boxing debut in Hinckley, Minn.

Williams, 38, said he talked to Vikings coach Leslie Frazier last month during the short time that the lockout was lifted by a Minnesota court, and the defensive tackle received assurances that the team wants him to return. Williams previously said he didn't trust the Vikings, with whom he has spent six seasons after eight years with the Buffalo Bills.

"It's just guys up in the office, man," Williams said when The Star Tribune asked him whom he didn't trust. "You know how the front office is. It's just certain guys up in the office. I don't have a problem with Coach Frazier. Me and Coach Frazier talked. We talked a lot of times. It's just people up in the office, man. With a lockout going on now, it's all the same. Business."

Williams also said he was cleared to lift weights last week, after he recovered from offseason surgery to fix a torn left triceps. And when he does return, there's the whole matter of a four-game NFL-imposed suspension. In March, the Minnesota Court of Appeals upheld the league's right to ban Williams and his linemate, Kevin Williams, after they tested positive for a banned direutic in 2008.

Kevin Williams, 30, decided not to appeal that decision, but Pat Williams isn't giving up.

"We're hoping everything gets solved ... so we don't get suspended, but if we do, we do," Pat Williams told The Star Tribune on Friday.

Kevin Williams jokingly added: "With all this (lockout stuff) going on, maybe they'll forget about it and we can go on with our regular work. If it happens, it happens. I found a great place to work out in Little Rock. I'll be there getting ready and see you in Week 5 if that's the case."

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Williams: Decision on my Panthers future depends on QBs

Running back DeAngelo Williams told a Miami radio station Saturday that his decision to remain with Carolina or seek a new NFL home could hinge on what direction the Panthers take at quarterback.

"It's all going to boil down to quarterbacks," Williams said on WQAM-AM. "In this league, the running game is all predicated on if you have a quarterback or not. If you don't have a quarterback, teams stack the box and they force you to do what you do best."

The Herald in Rock Hill, S.C., reported that Williams was in Miami to participate in the celebrity portion of Sunday's Nautica South Beach Triathlon, in which he'll bike 19 miles.

With Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown both scheduled to become free agents once a collective bargaining agreement is reached, the Dolphins are in the market for a potential workhorse back, and Williams, also a free-agent-to-be, has heard his name mentioned.

"It's kind of ironic that I'm here in Miami, because I've heard rumors that I may be at the top of their board this year," Williams said. "I love it here. ... This is a place that I'd love to live.

"I know they've had a lot of talk about the quarterback situation here in Miami," Williams added. "We've had a lot of quarterback talks in Charlotte, too."

Williams clarified that a return to the Panthers isn't out of the question, but he expressed hope that the Dolphins would court him.

"I hope I'm at the top of their list and that they come after me and make a conscious effort to come after me, because it shows that they want me," he said.

The Panthers ranked last in the NFL in total offense (258.4 yards per game) and scoring (12.2 points per game), toiling behind starting quarterbacks Jimmy Clausen, Matt Moore and Brian St. Pierre. Williams topped the list of Carolina running backs who suffered under the team's one-dimensional attack, following his 1,117-yard showing in 13 games in 2009 with 361 yards in six games in 2010.

Panthers coach Ron Rivera said Friday in an interview with WFNZ-AM in Charlotte, N.C., that the team will choose the player in this month's draft who best fills its primary need. Rivera also said he disagreed with the sentiment that there isn't a quarterback worthy of the No. 1 pick, and the team appears open to selecting either Auburn's Cam Newton and Missouri's Blaine Gabbert.

Clausen, the Panthers' 2010 second-round pick, was compromised by nine losses and mostly poor showings in 10 starts last season, but Rivera went out of his way to defend the quarterback while speaking with reporters at the NFL Annual Meeting last month.

"I think he got too much of the blame," Rivera said. "I think he shouldered too much of the responsibility."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Titans add Fewell, Mularkey to head-coach hunt; Williams out

The Tennessee Titans expanded their head-coaching search to include New York Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell and Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey, league sources said Wednesday.

New York Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell, a candidate for the Tennessee Titans' head-coaching position, interviewed for three other top jobs this offseason. (Evan Pinkus/Associated Press)

New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams also was expected to interview for the job, but he withdrew from consideration, according to a league source. He also pulled out of the Denver Broncos' head-coaching hunt earlier this offseason.

Williams was seen as a top candidate for the Titans' defensive coordinator vacancy in 2009. But he wanted to bring his son, Blake, with him, and Titans owner Bud Adams has a team policy against nepotism.

The Titans previously had stayed in-house in their quest to replace longtime coach Jeff Fisher, who left the organization last week. The team interviewed offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger on Tuesday and offensive line coach Mike Munchak on Monday.

Munchak, who has worked for Adams since the then-Houston Oilers made him the eighth overall draft pick in 1982 out of Penn State, is considered the favorite to land the job.

However, Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt has said he believes prior head-coaching experience would be good in a candidate, and both Mularkey and Williams have that, each with the Buffalo Bills. Even Fewell was interim head coach in Buffalo in 2009, going 3-4.

Williams spent 11 seasons with the Oilers/Titans franchise, starting as a defensive quality-control assistant and working his way up to defensive coordinator before the Bills hired him as head coach after the 2000 season. He coached the team through 2003, going 17-31, before joining the Washington Redskins as defensive coordinator. He spent 2008 with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the past two seasons with the Saints, winning a Super bowl title.

Mularkey went 14-18 with the Bills between 2004 and 2005 before resigning in 2006 over philosophical differences with the front office. He was 9-7 in 2004, the Bills' first winning season in five years. He interviewed for the Cleveland Browns' head-coaching job this offseason before Pat Shurmur was hired and also canceled an interview with the Broncos.

Mularkey has groomed quarterback Matt Ryan in his past three seasons in Atlanta. Mularkey also spent eight seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers under Bill Cowher, including three years as offensive coordinator.

Fewell started his coaching career in college, including a stint at Vanderbilt in Nashville. He went to the NFL with the Jaguars, working for current Giants coach Tom Coughlin, and he also has coached at St. Louis, Chicago and was defensive coordinator at Buffalo. Coughlin hired him as the Giants' defensive coordinator in January 2010.

By interviewing Fewell, who's African-American, the Titans would satisfy the NFL's "Rooney Rule," which requires teams to consider minority candidates for top jobs.

Fewell has interviewed for three head-coaching jobs this offseason, but other people were hired for each. The Carolina Panthers brought in Ron Rivera, the Browns picked Shurmur and the Broncos went with John Fox. Fewell also received interest from the San Francisco 49ers, who landed their top pick, Jim Harbaugh.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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NFL fines Packers' Collins $50K despite Williams' objections

Green Bay Packers safety Nick Collins was fined $50,000 Monday for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Roy Williams, according to NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora.

In a statement, league officials said Collins "violently and unnecessarily struck a defenseless receiver" in the neck and head area with his helmet during Sunday night's game at Lambeau Field and called it a "flagrant violation of player safety rules."

The NFL is cracking down on illegal hits, and players who violate the rules are subject to increased fines or even suspensions.

Collins went helmet-to-helmet with Williams after an incompletion in the third quarter of the Packers' 45-7 victory over the Cowboys Sunday night. Collins was flagged for unnecessary roughness.

Williams said after the game that he didn't think NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell should punish Collins for the hit.

"Commissioner Goodell, don't fine the guy," Williams said. "It wasn't that bad of a deal, he shouldn't get fined. It was a football play, a football player making a football play. No injury, no harm."

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said he spoke to side judge Rick Patterson immediately after the play.

"It was a bang-bang play and I felt that really when I saw the replay on the Jumbotron, it looked like Nick hit Roy in the back and came up to the helmet," McCarthy said Monday. "I understand why Rick threw the flag and we actually talked about the mechanics of it. That's a tough call.

"I think the referees are doing a very good job with the awareness of player safety, but I was standing right there and I can see what Nick Collins saw, too. The ball was in the air and he was trying to run through the proper target line and I think he hit Roy in the top of the pads and went up into the helmet."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Williams misses practice again, further hurting Panthers' offense

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A year ago, Carolina Panthers running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart had a catchy nickname and a new website, and they became the first teammates in NFL history each to rush for more than 1,100 yards.

This year, there's little to celebrate. The Panthers are 1-5, both backs are struggling, and now Williams is hurt, too.

Double Trouble has become troubled.

Williams, who missed practice for the second consecutive day Thursday because of a sore foot, has managed just 361 yards on 87 carries with one touchdown. Stewart has fared even worse with just 148 yards on 50 carries and one score.

Last season, they each averaged more than 5 yards per carry, combining for 2,250 yards and 17 touchdowns for the league's third-best rushing attack.

This year, there has been little talk of website subscriptions and Double Trouble T-shirts.

"Instead of building up frustration, you've got to believe in the guys in front of us, that eventually things will start opening up the way they are supposed to," Stewart said.

There are plenty of reasons why neither player has looked explosive.

The Panthers' running game has been bogged down by eight-man fronts, a struggling and banged-up offensive line, a new fullback learning on the job and a passing game that has featured horrible quarterback play and failed to earn the respect of opponents.

Now the Panthers face the prospect of not having Williams, a 2009 Pro Bowl selection, for Sunday's game at St. Louis. Williams hasn't talked to reporters this week.

That would leave Stewart and Mike Goodson in the backfield against the Rams.

"Eventually, if you keep pounding, keep pounding, it will open," Stewart insisted. "Keep knocking on the door and eventually it will open up."

Even in the Panthers' first victory of the season last Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, the running game played a minimal role. Williams had 44 yards on 19 carries and lost a fumble before hobbling off in the final minute. Stewart had 29 yards on 14 carries.

It has left the Panthers with the NFL's 23rd-ranked rushing offense, and neither Williams nor Stewart has a 100-yard game.

"This game is a lot easier when the opponent is one dimensional," coach John Fox said.

That had been the Panthers' plight in the first five games. Quarterbacks Matt Moore and Jimmy Clausen combined for nine interceptions and four lost fumbles, and no receiver stepped into the No. 2 role behind Steve Smith. It allowed teams to stack the line of scrimmage with eight or nine defenders to stop the run.

"We've seen eight-man boxes before, and we've been able to run against them," center Ryan Kalil said.

Not this year. A revamped offensive line has struggled to open holes after right guard Keydrick Vincent wasn't re-signed, and right tackle Jeff Otah has been sidelined all season because of a knee injury.

The Panthers benched right guard Mackenzy Bernadeau last week, moving Geoff Schwartz there and putting Garry Williams in Schwartz's old spot at right tackle. They will keep that lineup against the Rams.

Carolina also lost stalwart fullback Brad Hoover, who was released during the offseason youth movement. Second-year pro Tony Fiammetta has taken over, but he's still learning to be a lead blocker in the NFL.

There have been key mistakes by the backs, too.

Williams' longest run was a 39-yard touchdown on a cutback against New Orleans. He tried the same thing again as the Panthers were driving late against the Saints, but he was brought down for a 4-yard loss, helping to knock Carolina out of field-goal range in a 16-14 loss.

Stewart, who barely practiced the past two years because of an Achilles' tendon problem, hasn't taken advantage of being healthy after offseason surgery.

Stewart, who said he feels well physically, is "hopeful" last Sunday's success in the passing game will unclog the line of scrimmage. Moore threw for a career-high 308 yards in his return as a starter, and rookie David Gettis caught eight passes for 125 yards and his first two NFL touchdowns.

"Everyone knows we have two great running backs, really three including Mike Goodson," Gettis said. "Everybody is going to focus on the run. It's our jobs as receivers and quarterbacks and linemen blocking to make plays downfield and kind of loosen up the box.

"Give them a chance to make plays, because that is our strength in the offense."

Notes: LB Thomas Davis, who remains on the physically unable to perform list, is still hoping to return this season after his second major knee surgery in a year. "I'm still trying to make the Tampa game (Nov. 14)," Davis said. "That's my goal." ... DE Tyler Brayton returned to practice Thursday, one day after his wife gave birth to a baby girl. ... WR Devin Thomas (groin) was limited in practice.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Panthers RB Williams has sprained foot, considered day to day

Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams sprained a foot during the victory over the San Francisco 49ers and is considered day to day, coach John Fox said Monday.

Williams was injured Sunday during the second half of the Panthers' 23-20 win, their first of the season. He finished the game with season highs in carries (19) and receptions (four).

Williams has 361 rushing yards in six games this season. He ran for 1,117 and 1,515 yards, respectively, last season and in 2008.

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Bills DT Williams skips practice with ankle injury

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Buffalo Bills starting defensive tackle Kyle Williams missed Thursday's practice because of an ankle injury sustained in practice Wednesday.

Williams' status for Sunday's game at Pittsburgh is unclear, but Bills coach Chan Gailey said the lineman has "a legitimate chance" to play.

The Bills have been gashed by opposing rushing attacks, ranking last in the NFL against the run. They converted to a 3-4 scheme this offseason but appear to be moving back to a four-man front that Williams helps anchor.

Williams has been one of Buffalo's most dependable and versatile lineman since being drafted in 2006 in the fifth round, starting all but five of the 67 games in which he played.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Bears mull switching Chris Williams from tackle to guard

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Poised to return from a hamstring injury, Chris Williams might not have his old job waiting for him.

There's a good chance he will be at left guard rather than left tackle when the Chicago Bears play the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. It would be another switch for a line plagued by injuries and poor play so far this season.

The Bears already have gone with three different starting lineups, and they will have a fourth this week with Williams back and Roberto Garza sidelined.

Offensive coordinator Mike Martz said the Bears were still trying to figure out what to do with Williams now that he's back after missing three games. But with Garza nursing a knee injury that will require surgery, there's an opening at left guard. Putting Williams there would allow the Bears to keep Frank Omiyale at left tackle.

"That's the age-old question," Martz said. "Do you put him in there and affect one position or do you move somebody and affect two? Coaches are always reluctant to do that. We know that he can play anywhere, and we like him and know how effective he is."

The Bears drafted Williams in the first round in 2008 with the idea that he would be their left tackle for years to come.

Although moving Williams inside doesn't necessarily mean the Bears are giving up on him after just seven starts at left tackle, it also would be his third position since last season began. Williams started the first 11 games at right tackle a year ago before moving to his more natural spot on the left.

Williams declined comment Thursday.

Plenty of linemen have thrived after moving from tackle to guard. Teams see it at times as a way to boost a struggling player, but this would seem to be more about finding the right mix than propping up one man. Moving Williams means the Bears can keep Omiyale in place, with J'Marcus Webb at tackle and Edwin Williams at guard on the right.

The idea of moving Chris Williams to guard is raising some eyebrows, even if offensive line coach Mike Tice sees potential there for him.

"If, say hypothetically, he was to go inside, he's a great knee bender," Tice said. "I really think at this stage of his career, he probably wouldn't agree, but at this stage of his career, I think he's probably a better run blocker than anything. I know he doesn't want to do that. But I just evaluate the job he's done and make a determination that way. I can't do it any other way."

The irony is that pass protection was considered Williams' strength coming out of Vanderbilt. He was seen as more of a finesse blocker, not necessarily as someone to plow the way for running backs.

Tice and Martz said they simply want to put the five best linemen on the field with the least amount of disruption and finally settle on a rotation.

Tice hopes they now have one.

"Sunday this week. That's the time," he said. "We're not going to look back. Hopefully, we'll make the right decisions and get the right five guys in there and have the right seven guys suited up so we can sustain injuries and move forward and gain some continuity with the group. We haven't been able to have that. So now, with Chris coming back, I think the chances of us having that are pretty good."

Notes: QB Jay Cutler said his concussion against the New York Giants two weeks ago was his first. But The Tennessean reported in November 2004, when Cutler was a junior at Vanderbilt, that he had suffered three. As a rookie with the Denver Broncos in 2006, Cutler also was knocked dizzy and briefly sidelined during the season finale against the San Francisco 49ers. ... Lance Briggs (ankle) missed his second consecutive practice. CB Charles Tillman was back after sitting out Wednesday with a calf problem.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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