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Roy Williams (safety)
Encyclopedia
Roy Lee Williams is a retired American football
safety. He played college football
at Oklahoma
before he was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys
eighth overall in the 2002 NFL Draft
. He spent seven seasons with the Cowboys and earned five straight Pro Bowl
selections from 2003–2007. He played for the Cincinnati Bengals
from 2009–2010 while with the team.
Williams is currently a sideline reporter for Oklahoma football games.
on the undefeated 2000 Oklahoma Sooners team
which won the National Championship, setting a school record for tackles for loss by a defensive back
with 12.
as the nation's top overall defensive player and also won the Jim Thorpe Award
as the nation's top defensive back, while leading the team to a 10-2 record and a win over Arkansas
in the Cotton Bowl Classic. He was a unanimous selection to both the All-America
and All-Big 12 teams, and was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. Williams decided to forgo his final year of eligibility to enter the NFL draft.
Nicknamed "Superman" while at OU, Williams is best known at OU for his actions in the 2001 Red River Shootout. The Sooners led 7–3 with only minutes remaining as the Longhorns
offense took the field, hoping to execute a game-winning drive. With Texas forced to begin their drive inside their own 5-yard line, the Sooners prepared to pressure UT quarterback Chris Simms
. Williams timed the snap perfectly. Simms barely had time to pull back from center when Williams came flying in from the blindside
– over the top of a Longhorn running back who barely had time to rise out of his stance.The jarring and unexpected hit knocked the ball loose and into the hands of linebacker Teddy Lehman
, who stepped into the endzone for a touchdown and sealed the game for Oklahoma.The low-angle camera work from the back of the endzone made this an unforgettable play for anyone who saw the game.
This play has been immortalized on a mural plaque at the Roy Williams Strength and Speed Complex at the University of Oklahoma. The complex is named for Williams both for his athletic achievements and for his donation of approximately $100,000 towards its construction.
Williams was selected by the Dallas Cowboys
with the eighth overall pick of the 2002 NFL Draft
after a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs
. He was known throughout the league for his hard hitting and his tackling skills during running plays. With the arrival of Ken Hamlin
from Seattle
, Williams had the luxury to move closer to the line of scrimmage to blitz and cover short passes during nickel or dime situations.
As a rookie in 2002, he was moved to free safety in order to play alongside strong safety Darren Woodson
. However, the Cowboys defensive scheme that year allowed both players to interchange positions as to allow confusion for the opposing offenses. Williams was also runner-up for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
In 2003, Williams with the mentoring of Woodson, enjoyed a stellar season and his first trip to the Pro Bowl
as he was part of the Cowboys' number one ranked defense and helped lead the team to its first playoff game since 1999.
In 2004, Woodson suffered a herniated disc in training camp and was forced to sit on the sidelines. Williams struggles were more apparent as he was forced to play more coverage due to the inexperience and inconsistency of the Dallas cornerback position. After the season, the horse-collar tackle
was banned. This action is now referred to as the "Roy Williams Rule", as the rule was introduced the 2004 season, during which Williams used the technique on plays that resulted in three significant injuries.
Williams is occasionally referred to by fans as "Biscuit", in reference to a statement in a 2004 press conference by former head coach
Bill Parcells
who, noting Williams' weight, said that he was "a biscuit short of a linebacker".
With the right cornerback
position stabilized by the free agent signing of Anthony Henry in 2005, Williams was once again able to play to his best strength by roaming closer to the line of scrimmage
. At the end of the 2005 NFL
regular season, Williams had 2.5 sacks
and three interceptions
. He earned his third Pro Bowl berth in 2005 and remained a dominant force for the Dallas defense.
In early August 2006 the Dallas Cowboys signed Williams to a four-year contract extension worth $25.2 million to keep him with the team through the 2010 season.
On December 17, 2007, Williams was issued a one-game suspension without pay from Commissioner Roger Goodell
. He received it for a repeat offense violating the league's horse-collar tackle rule.
During the season, Cowboys teammates Terrell Owens
and Patrick Crayton
criticized him for his continued use of the horse-collar tackle.
After the 2007 season, Williams was named to the Pro Bowl on January 3, 2008 for the fifth straight time, this time as a replacement for the late Sean Taylor
(who played for the Cowboys' heated rivals, the Washington Redskins
).
Williams announced that he will be wearing No. 38 at the start of the 2008 season
because that was the number he wore in college and also "8" in the Bible
signifies a new beginning. Fellow teammate Greg Ellis when speaking on Sirius NFL Radio
said that Williams told him he felt like he did not fit in head coach Wade Phillips
' defensive scheme. Ellis also said that he's bothered by the way Williams has been isolating himself from other Cowboys, and Williams "just doesn't fit what's going on here in Dallas right now." The Cowboys hired new DBs coach Dave Campo
. The team hoped this would help Williams create more turnovers, after Williams failed to achieve any sacks or forced fumbles since 2005.
Williams broke his forearm in the 2nd game of the year against Philadelphia Eagles
. He missed four games, then on his first game back against the St. Louis Rams
, he refractured the same forearm and was forced to miss the entire season on injured reserve.
On October 14, 2008, the Cowboys acquired wide receiver
Roy E. Williams
from the Detroit Lions
, making the two Pro Bowl
players with identical names teammates.
On March 5, 2009, the Cowboys released Williams, per his request.
on May 6, 2009.
He was placed on season-ending injured reserve
on November 13, 2009 due to a forearm fracture. On March 13, 2010, Williams signed a one-year contract to stay with the Bengals.
games.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
safety. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Oklahoma
Oklahoma Sooners football
The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
before he was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
eighth overall in the 2002 NFL Draft
2002 NFL Draft
The 2002 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft took place April 20–21, 2002 at the theater at...
. He spent seven seasons with the Cowboys and earned five straight Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
selections from 2003–2007. He played for the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
from 2009–2010 while with the team.
Williams is currently a sideline reporter for Oklahoma football games.
Sophomore season
Roy Williams was a starterStarting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
on the undefeated 2000 Oklahoma Sooners team
2000 Oklahoma Sooners football team
The 2000 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the college football season of 2000-2001. This season was Bob Stoops's second as head coach. The Sooners finished with a 13-0 record winning the Big 12 Conference and the national championship, the seventh national...
which won the National Championship, setting a school record for tackles for loss by a defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
with 12.
Junior season
In 2001, his junior season at OU, he won the Bronko Nagurski TrophyBronko Nagurski Trophy
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy has been awarded annually since 1993 to the collegiate American football player adjudged by the membership of the Football Writers Association of America to be the best defensively in the National Collegiate Athletic Association; the award is presented by the Charlotte...
as the nation's top overall defensive player and also won the Jim Thorpe Award
Jim Thorpe Award
The Jim Thorpe Award, named in memory of multi-sport legend Jim Thorpe, has been awarded to the top defensive back in college football since 1986...
as the nation's top defensive back, while leading the team to a 10-2 record and a win over Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
in the Cotton Bowl Classic. He was a unanimous selection to both the All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
and All-Big 12 teams, and was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. Williams decided to forgo his final year of eligibility to enter the NFL draft.
Nicknamed "Superman" while at OU, Williams is best known at OU for his actions in the 2001 Red River Shootout. The Sooners led 7–3 with only minutes remaining as the Longhorns
Texas Longhorns football
The Texas Longhorns football program is the intercollegiate football team representing The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas. The team currently competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big 12 Conference which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National...
offense took the field, hoping to execute a game-winning drive. With Texas forced to begin their drive inside their own 5-yard line, the Sooners prepared to pressure UT quarterback Chris Simms
Chris Simms
Christopher David Simms is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round of in the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas.Simms has also played for the Denver Broncos and Tampa Bay Buccaneers...
. Williams timed the snap perfectly. Simms barely had time to pull back from center when Williams came flying in from the blindside
Blindside
Blindside is a post-hardcore band from Tumba, Sweden. They formed in 1994 as Underfree and kept that name for two years before releasing their debut EP in 1996.-A Thought Crushed My Mind:...
– over the top of a Longhorn running back who barely had time to rise out of his stance.The jarring and unexpected hit knocked the ball loose and into the hands of linebacker Teddy Lehman
Teddy Lehman
Teddy Lehman is an American football linebacker for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
, who stepped into the endzone for a touchdown and sealed the game for Oklahoma.The low-angle camera work from the back of the endzone made this an unforgettable play for anyone who saw the game.
This play has been immortalized on a mural plaque at the Roy Williams Strength and Speed Complex at the University of Oklahoma. The complex is named for Williams both for his athletic achievements and for his donation of approximately $100,000 towards its construction.
Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
with the eighth overall pick of the 2002 NFL Draft
2002 NFL Draft
The 2002 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft took place April 20–21, 2002 at the theater at...
after a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
. He was known throughout the league for his hard hitting and his tackling skills during running plays. With the arrival of Ken Hamlin
Ken Hamlin
Ken Hamlin an American football safety, who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Arkansas....
from Seattle
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
, Williams had the luxury to move closer to the line of scrimmage to blitz and cover short passes during nickel or dime situations.
As a rookie in 2002, he was moved to free safety in order to play alongside strong safety Darren Woodson
Darren Woodson
Darren Ray Woodson is a former American football safety in the National Football League. He played his entire career for the Dallas Cowboys from 1992 to 2004...
. However, the Cowboys defensive scheme that year allowed both players to interchange positions as to allow confusion for the opposing offenses. Williams was also runner-up for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
In 2003, Williams with the mentoring of Woodson, enjoyed a stellar season and his first trip to the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
as he was part of the Cowboys' number one ranked defense and helped lead the team to its first playoff game since 1999.
In 2004, Woodson suffered a herniated disc in training camp and was forced to sit on the sidelines. Williams struggles were more apparent as he was forced to play more coverage due to the inexperience and inconsistency of the Dallas cornerback position. After the season, the horse-collar tackle
Horse-collar tackle
The horse-collar tackle is an American football or Canadian football maneuver in which a defender tackles another player by grabbing the back-inside of an opponent's shoulder pads. The technique is most closely associated with Pro Bowl safety Roy Williams...
was banned. This action is now referred to as the "Roy Williams Rule", as the rule was introduced the 2004 season, during which Williams used the technique on plays that resulted in three significant injuries.
Williams is occasionally referred to by fans as "Biscuit", in reference to a statement in a 2004 press conference by former head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Bill Parcells
Bill Parcells
Duane Charles "Bill" Parcells is a former American football head coach, most recently with the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 to 2006...
who, noting Williams' weight, said that he was "a biscuit short of a linebacker".
With the right cornerback
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
position stabilized by the free agent signing of Anthony Henry in 2005, Williams was once again able to play to his best strength by roaming closer to the line of scrimmage
Line of scrimmage
In American and Canadian football a line of scrimmage is an imaginary transverse line beyond which a team cannot cross until the next play has begun...
. At the end of the 2005 NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
regular season, Williams had 2.5 sacks
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
and three interceptions
Interception (football)
An interception, intercept or pick is a move in many forms of football, including Canadian and American football, as well as rugby league, rugby union, Australian rules football and Gaelic football, which involves a pass, either by foot or hand, being caught by an opposition player, who usually...
. He earned his third Pro Bowl berth in 2005 and remained a dominant force for the Dallas defense.
In early August 2006 the Dallas Cowboys signed Williams to a four-year contract extension worth $25.2 million to keep him with the team through the 2010 season.
On December 17, 2007, Williams was issued a one-game suspension without pay from Commissioner Roger Goodell
Roger Goodell
Roger S. Goodell is the Commissioner of the National Football League , having been chosen to succeed the retiring Paul Tagliabue on August 8, 2006. He was chosen over four finalists for the position, winning a close vote on the fifth ballot before being unanimously approved by acclamation of the...
. He received it for a repeat offense violating the league's horse-collar tackle rule.
During the season, Cowboys teammates Terrell Owens
Terrell Owens
Terrell Owens is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Owens has been one of the dominant receivers of his era...
and Patrick Crayton
Patrick Crayton
Patrick Jamel Crayton is an American football wide receiver for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was a originally drafted in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys...
criticized him for his continued use of the horse-collar tackle.
After the 2007 season, Williams was named to the Pro Bowl on January 3, 2008 for the fifth straight time, this time as a replacement for the late Sean Taylor
Sean Taylor
Sean Michael Maurice Taylor was an American football free safety who played for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. Taylor was drafted in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft by the Redskins...
(who played for the Cowboys' heated rivals, the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
).
Williams announced that he will be wearing No. 38 at the start of the 2008 season
2008 Dallas Cowboys season
The 2008 Dallas Cowboys season was the 49th season for the team in the National Football League. The season was most noted for week 17, when the Cowboys were blown out by the Philadelphia Eagles 44–6, their worst loss since the 1985 Chicago Bears came to Texas Stadium and beat the Cowboys 44–0...
because that was the number he wore in college and also "8" in the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
signifies a new beginning. Fellow teammate Greg Ellis when speaking on Sirius NFL Radio
Sirius NFL Radio
Sirius XM NFL Radio is a Sirius XM Radio channel on 88 completely dedicated to the National Football League. Its personalities include Marty Schottenheimer, Shannon Sharpe, Pat Kirwan, Adam Schein, Peter King, Randy Cross and Bob Papa....
said that Williams told him he felt like he did not fit in head coach Wade Phillips
Wade Phillips
Wade Allen Phillips is the defensive coordinator for the Houston Texans and former head coach for the National Football League's Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, and Buffalo Bills. He was also an interim head coach for the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons...
' defensive scheme. Ellis also said that he's bothered by the way Williams has been isolating himself from other Cowboys, and Williams "just doesn't fit what's going on here in Dallas right now." The Cowboys hired new DBs coach Dave Campo
Dave Campo
Dave Campo is an American football coach, a former head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, and currently secondary coach with the Cowboys.-High school years:...
. The team hoped this would help Williams create more turnovers, after Williams failed to achieve any sacks or forced fumbles since 2005.
Williams broke his forearm in the 2nd game of the year against Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He missed four games, then on his first game back against the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
, he refractured the same forearm and was forced to miss the entire season on injured reserve.
On October 14, 2008, the Cowboys acquired wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
Roy E. Williams
Roy Williams (wide receiver)
Roy Eugene Williams, Jr. is an American football wide receiver who is currently a member of the Chicago Bears. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions seventh overall in the 2004 NFL Draft...
from the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
, making the two Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
players with identical names teammates.
On March 5, 2009, the Cowboys released Williams, per his request.
Cincinnati Bengals
Williams signed with the Cincinnati BengalsCincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
on May 6, 2009.
He was placed on season-ending injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
on November 13, 2009 due to a forearm fracture. On March 13, 2010, Williams signed a one-year contract to stay with the Bengals.
Retirement
On August 24, 2011, Williams announced his retirement, taking a job as a sideline reporter for Oklahoma Sooners footballOklahoma Sooners football
The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
games.
Statistics
- 534 Tackles (433 Solo, 101 Assist)
- 6.5 Sacks
- 57 Pass Deflections
- 19 Interceptions
- 307 Int. Yards (Longest 85 Yards)
- 3 Defensive Touchdowns
- 9 Forced Fumbles
Personal
- Williams played quarterbackQuarterbackQuarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
, wide receiverWide receiverA wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
and defensive backDefensive backIn American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
at James Logan High SchoolJames Logan High SchoolJames Logan High School is a public secondary school in Union City, California, United States. The school is administrated by the New Haven Unified School District and has an enrollment of more than 4000 students.-Demographics:...
in Union City, CaliforniaUnion City, CaliforniaUnion City is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It was incorporated in 1959, combining the communities of Alvarado and Decoto. Alvarado was the original county seat of Alameda County, and the site of the first county courthouse is a California Historical Landmark . The city...
.
- In July 2004, Williams started the Roy Williams Safety Net Foundation which was inspired by his sister Alecia, a single mother raising a young son. The Foundation's purpose is to help ensure low-income single mothers receive support, guidance, and assistance to enhance their quality of life.
- In 2006, he was briefly engaged to R&B singer Kelly RowlandKelly RowlandKelendria Trene "Kelly" Rowland is an American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, and television personality. She rose to fame as one of the founding members of the American girl group Destiny's Child...
of Destiny's ChildDestiny's ChildDestiny's Child was an American R&B girl group whose final line-up comprised lead singer Beyoncé Knowles alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name Girl's Tyme...
fame
External links
- Official website
- Dallas Cowboys bio
- Roy Williams Safety Net Foundation
- Fresh Start by Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com, August 12, 2009