Austin news on WR Roy Williams

[dbair1967]

Former Texas Longhorn Roy Williams seeks big contract. Are the Cowboys interested?
Monday, April 14, 2008

Roy Williams wants to get paid.

And why shouldn't he? He's a two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver who has led the league in receiving yards. His first three seasons were the most prolific in his team's history, and he has Hall of Fame potential.

Four seasons into his career, Williams isn't feeling any love from the Detroit Lions. And the reason is obviou$.

"They drafted (wide receiver) Calvin Johnson and gave him 30 million (dollars) guaranteed," Williams said. "What are they going to do with me?"

Legitimate question. The former University of Texas wideout is entering the final year of his contract, and when we spoke at Michael Huff's celebrity basketball game last week, he still had not been offered a contract extension by Lions president Matt Millen.

While Williams ponders his future, it just so happens the Dallas Cowboys are aging at wide receiver and could use an infusion of young talent. Terrell Owens is great, but he's 34. Terry Glenn has knee problems and will be 34 by the season opener. Williams is just entering his prime at 26.

And did we mention he wants to get paid?

So what about it, Roy? You grew up in Odessa loving the Cowboys. Could you picture a dream team with Tony Romo at quarterback, Marion Barber at running back, you and T.O. at wideout, and Jason Witten at tight end? Could this be the answer to all of your problems?

"Man, you know I can't answer that question," he said.

OK, understood. Williams is a team guy who maintains he wants to retire a Detroit Lion, though the Fort Worth Star-Telegram did quote an anonymous source as saying Williams would prefer to play for Dallas if he's not in Detroit.

Lions coach Rod Marinelli has insisted he's not interested in a trade and went as far as to call Williams last month and assure him the rumors of a deal were just rumors.

"He's not going anywhere,'' Marinelli told reporters at the NFL owners' meetings in Palm Beach, Fla. "There's no way. Like I've said, I want to see those two big trees playing together."

Yeah the tree thing works except that you gave one of those trees $27.2 million in guaranteed money while the other tree was left nervously swaying in the breeze, not knowing if his long limbs will be part of your long-term landscape.

But nothing should surprise us, since this is the Lions, a football wasteland that's gone eight straight years without a playoff appearance. Shoot, Isiah Thomas must be wondering how Millen continues to hold on to a job.

Williams is understandably frustrated. He caught 64 passes for 838 yards and five touchdowns last season but missed the last four games with a knee injury. Now healthy, he would love to put in a full season and put the financial stuff to rest so he can concentrate on football.

"Of course I want to stay in Detroit," he said. "Everybody wants to stay with the team that drafted them. They are telling me I am going to be a Lion for at least one more season. That's what I have on my mind."

The only explanation that carries any logic is that Detroit will place the exclusive franchise tag on Williams after this season, which would net him the average salary of the five highest paid receivers in the league for one year. Williams' $3.85 million base salary in 2007 ranked sixth among the league's wideouts — behind Owens, Indianapolis' Marvin Harrison, St. Louis' Torry Holt, and Cincinnati's Chad Johnson.

The franchise tag would earn get him about $9 million in 2009 but the downside is that franchise deals are not guaranteed, meaning if Williams suffered a career-threatening injury, Detroit could release him without owing him another penny.

Williams would love the six-year, $55 million contract former Javon Walker just signed with Oakland that will earn him a base salary of $1 million this season with an $11 million signing bonus attached. That will net him $12 million guaranteed this season.

Williams won't say it publicly, but a trade to Dallas makes sense for all parties involved.

Jones will open up the vault because he likes star power. If he is thinking about making it rain for the troubled Pacman Jones, he would definitely shell out a few more million to land an elite pass catcher.

Detroit could use the cap relief because Millen is paying $15.2 million of his $116.7 million salary cap to players who aren't even playing for him anymore. Dallas owns two first-round draft picks, and a trade for one of those may benefit the defense-starved Lions, even if Millen is making the picks.

And let's not forget that one other party that stands to benefit. Roy Williams.

Because he wants to get paid.

cgolden@statesman.com; 912-5944

 

[Hostile]

Maranelli has no authority on trades in Detroit, though I am sure they want his input.

 

[khiladi]

This article told us nothing...

 

[tyke1doe]

:laugh2:

 

[Eskimo]

The big problem I have with a RW trade for a first rounder is there is no big homtown discount involved here. Given the number of upper echelon players we have, so long as there is a cap we have to hit on low first round picks with high quality starters that will be relatively cheap for 4-5 years.

If RW was Randy Moss, then I'd give the pick but I don't believe he is truly amongst the eilte WRs in the NFL. He is a tier below them and has much to prove.

 

[Hostile]

The big problem I have with a RW trade for a first rounder is there is no big homtown discount involved here. Given the number of upper echelon players we have, so long as there is a cap we have to hit on low first round picks with high quality starters that will be relatively cheap for 4-5 years.

If RW was Randy Moss, then I'd give the pick but I don't believe he is truly amongst the eilte WRs in the NFL. He is a tier below them and has much to prove.

I think he could be elite in our offense. Especially when teams also have to account for TO and Witten, not to mention Barber.

 

[Eskimo]

I think he could be elite in our offense. Especially when teams also have to account for TO and Witten, not to mention Barber.

But what we really need is a true #1 elite WR to take over for TO - mother nature gets all of us in the end. I am not sure he is the guy. I'm sure he would put up big numbers when he is healthy and playing with our offensive talent.

But if he isn't going to be elite, I'd rather keep our pick for cap management purposes and hope we can get him in FA next year.

A Boldin trade from a cap perspective would be much better as he has 3 more years at a reasonable salary - he may choose to holdout though at some point.

 

[Hostile]

But what we really need is a true #1 elite WR to take over for TO - mother nature gets all of us in the end. I am not sure he is the guy. I'm sure he would put up big numbers when he is healthy and playing with our offensive talent.

But if he isn't going to be elite, I'd rather keep our pick for cap management purposes and hope we can get him in FA next year.

A Boldin trade from a cap perspective would be much better as he has 3 more years at a reasonable salary - he may choose to holdout though at some point.

Replacements for TO don't fall in your lap. You have to develop them. He could be that guy with TO to learn from along with Ray Sherman.

I'd love to have Bolden. I've said so many times. But I would rather have a vet WR opposite To than to draft another WR this year. I like several of the WR options, but not as much as the 2 vet options above. Not even close. If Detroit is stupid, make a run at Bolden. I have no problem with that at all. Never have.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

The big problem I have with a RW trade for a first rounder is there is no big homtown discount involved here. Given the number of upper echelon players we have, so long as there is a cap we have to hit on low first round picks with high quality starters that will be relatively cheap for 4-5 years.

If RW was Randy Moss, then I'd give the pick but I don't believe he is truly amongst the eilte WRs in the NFL. He is a tier below them and has much to prove.

We are going to have to do that anyway, if we are winning. I say go get him.

 

[Kangaroo]

I thought once the Franchise tender is signed it is guaranteed

Hey Adam can you clarify this

 

[Eskimo]

I thought once the Franchise tender is signed it is guaranteed

Hey Adam can you clarify this

I think it is guarantted but the amount of money guaranteed is only for the franchise tender. I think they are referring to missing out on a large signing bonus as part of a long-term contract which will often give a larger amount of guaranteed money altogether.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Interesting......I like Roy with a star on his helmet best.

 

[Big Dakota]

The big problem I have with a RW trade for a first rounder is there is no big homtown discount involved here. Given the number of upper echelon players we have, so long as there is a cap we have to hit on low first round picks with high quality starters that will be relatively cheap for 4-5 years.

If RW was Randy Moss, then I'd give the pick but I don't believe he is truly amongst the eilte WRs in the NFL. He is a tier below them and has much to prove.

Sorry pal, there is no such thing.

 

[DCBoysfan]

Makes perfect sense to me, why can't Millen see that

 

[TheSkaven]

I love the idea of putting together the dream team, but someone needs to tell me how Jerry will be able to pay Roy Williams, DeMarcus Ware, Marion Barber, Terrence Newman.. and how about Terrell Owens, who is sure to start his antics by mid-season since he's in the last year of his contract?

If someone can tell me how that gets done, then it sounds good to me.

 

[StanleySpadowski]

Sorry pal, there is no such thing.

There most certainly is.


Every year some players take less money than they could get to play for a specific team. Flozell Adams signed a lucrative deal but it was less than he probably could have made in free agency and he stated that uprooting his family was a significant factor.

Dallas ended up signing Marco Rivera because the more coveted player, Mike Wahle took less than he was offered elsewhere to sign with his "hometown" team.

 

[Tobal]

Detroit is going to try and get more than the 28th, they'll push for 22, if Dallas doesn't do that they'll ask for 28 and our 3rd... it's whoever blinks first... but there will be more competition for Williams,,, A deal would have to be in place before anyone will trade for him though.

 

[Redball Express]

This to me is a pipe-dream.

I don't see the motivation involved for them. Because they went ahead and paid the going rate for their other WR, all of a sudden RW is a luxury they can't afford..?

Ridiculous.

Once they dump that $15 mil dead cap after 2008, they will be in much better shape to re-sign him. And depending on 2009, whether it is or is not a capped year..they should be in even better position to keep him.

What we need to do is draft a young WR and let's commit to getting him involved in the offense right away..period. We have been putting this off eversince the Joey Galloway trade where we overpaid for a needed WR.

I don't want to see us throw away the opportunity to AGAIN finally draft a quality WR and get him on this team. This is our year.

Just like we have done with Ware and Spears and Canty and others we drafted and started, let him have the #3 spot immediately and let him challenge Crayton over the course of the season to be #2.

We are in no better shape ourselves to be trading for a Roy Williams and then destroy OUR cap trying to fit him in.

Just draft one at #28 and let's get younger at the WR position and build this team somemore.

People seem to think that now we HAVE to win a SB this season and therefore a huge trade for a vet WR is manditory to get to the next level.

I don't. What we need is more depth that should be lining up to be a starter in a year or two to keep this train rolling to the top at WR, RB and CB.

Let's stick with the draft, keep the costs within reason as opposed to going to the trade or FA market and paying out the wazoo and keep ourselves moving forward like what has got us there so far and stay cap friendly for the future.

If we trade for and re-do RW's contract, I think the coming deals for Tnew, Ware, MBIII and several others that we will not want hitting the FA market will DEFINITELY be in jeopardy next year and the next.

Avoid this at all costs and draft the right guys and get them going.

:starspin ReDBaLL ExPreSS:starspin

 

[CATCH17]

Unless you strike gold its back to the Joey Galloways and other solid #1 receivers of the world.

If you can get Roy Williams you get him.

Plus I cant imagine him in our offense with a Quarterback who can make plays like Romo.

 

[TNCowboy]

I love the idea of putting together the dream team, but someone needs to tell me how Jerry will be able to pay Roy Williams, DeMarcus Ware, Marion Barber, Terrence Newman.. and how about Terrell Owens, who is sure to start his antics by mid-season since he's in the last year of his contract?

If someone can tell me how that gets done, then it sounds good to me.

Under this scenario, I'd imagine they wouldn't resign Newman, and they can't pay TO big $ for more than a year or two at his age.