Roy Williams: As I See It 
By LuckyLou
Staff Writer, Commentator-Cowboyspride.net
I found the following career notes on
www.dallascowboys.com
Since being selected 8th overall in the 2002 NFL draft, Williams has…
***been named to at least 4 Pro Bowls. He joins Cliff Harris, Mel Renfro and Darren Woodson as the only safeties in Cowboys history to do so.
***Has 82 straight starts (including playoffs) which is the longest active streak on the team.
***Earned All-Rookie recognition in 2002 while tying for the NFL INTERCEPTION lead among rookies with 5.
***He is one of just 5 defensive backs (Ronde Barber, Brian Dawkins, Rodney Harrison and Deshea Townsend) to have posted 2 or more sacks and INTERCEPTIONS in the same season three times in the 5 years, 2002-2006. He has lead the club in interceptions twice (2002 and 2006)
***Has returned 3 of his 17 career interceptions for touchdowns. (The record of 4 is held by Dennis Thurman and Dexter Coakley)
I checked the stats of safeties on at least 18 teams in the NFL and found only a few players with comparable years in the NFL who possessed the stats of Roy Williams as safety. And Williams shows a decline in stats over the last couple of years while the other safeties didn’t. And yet, if Roy performs at the same level he has for his first 5 years over the career years of Rodney Harrison, his stats would be better than Rodney Harrisons.
Now, what do the common fans think.
Bloggers around the Internet…
“…Roy Williams is NOT an all-around playmaker at Safety. He's a damn good SS when playing run-support (more like an additional linebacker), but his cover skills are suspect at best and at FS he's only pedestrian.”
“Roy Williams for the Cowboys. Most safeties specialize in one area such as covering or giving hard hits, but Williams does it all. He is so good! He is the most valuable defender in the NFL. Period “
According to YouTube video postings
There are at least 4 or 5 TOP NFL Safeties listings that have Roy Williams listed as the number 3 or 4 safety in the league.
I could go on and on, but in short, few safeties, in fact, maybe only Ed Reed, and Rodney Harrison could even match what Roy Williams did his first few years as a Cowboy. The man was a beast. Even with his recent troubles on the field and changes in his personal life, he is still widely considered a good if not great safety.
I think Roy is suffering from three things.
First, changes in his personal life. I think when he played his first few years, he played with a certain degree of anger. No doubt he unleashed Demons on receivers and running backs of other teams when he zeroed in on their numbers. We all know that since, he’s become engaged and a born-again Christian. Now, it may be pointed out that many NFL players are born again Christian who manage to play just as well as not-so spirit-led players. I think we all saw Reggie White “christening” many unblessed running backs and misled qbs during his career. But I believe the vast majority of NFL players are devout Christians before their careers. Not as many make that change during their careers. Usually, a change on that level is preceded by a major event in someone’s life. Something “opened” Roy Williams eyes or something happened to him that caused him to make a change. Whatever it is, it may be affecting how he plays. Theories range from physical injury to the calling off of his wedding with Kelly Rowlands.
Second, I think the standard and level of his play when he entered the NFL only set him up for an eventual fall. How many of us can maintain that level, year in and year out? And if a person becomes human, can he ever rise above that again?
Third, is the Cowboys fans. Based on what I’m seeing on the internet at least, most people still respect Roy Williams, even if some offensive coordinators and quarterbacks don’t. Maybe the guy feeds off the high of his fans loving him and doesn’t respond well when the fans don’t.
I’m not defending Roy Williams now. I don’t think he needs it. I think his pride is enough where he’d be offended if someone offered it. All of this reminds me of a debate I got into with a fellow employee who was ready to hang Roy Williams by his toes. It was two or three years ago and I ended the debate with “tell me how many safeties in the NFL have 5 interceptions?
The guy was stumped of course because there weren’t very many. I think it was Roy Williams and maybe 1 or 2 other safeties at the time.
The point I was trying to make was, even on a bad day, Roy Williams is better than most. And if the Cowboys were to offer him up in a trade or release him, there would be at least 12 teams who would push to snatch him up, including a couple of those teams with safeties considered better than Roy Williams.
I think the Ravens could imagine a backfield with Ed Reed & Roy Williams. Of course, Roy Williams would still have to get back to his old playing form.
No matter who you are, I think you’d agree with me that in this upcoming season, Roy has to give some serious and consistent indications that he will return to the level of play that the Cowboys fans hope for. Especially since he has admitted he doesn’t fit the defensive schemes here in Dallas well.
Good players admit their shortcomings. Great players find a way to overcome them.
We don’t know yet if he will or will not.
Right now, I’d rather he did it for the Cowboys.
And that's how I see it.
Roy Williams: As I See It 
too bad he doesn't only cover TE's. 
Linear Mode
