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Chick Ludwig covers the Cincinnati Bengals. He also writes about his other passions: college football, basketball and golf.Home > Blogs > Chick Ludwig At Large > Archives > 2009 > May > 06 > Entry
Bengals welcome Roy Williams to the fray
SIX-TIME PRO BOWLER
KNOWS HOW TO HIT;
BUT CAN HE COVER?
WE’LL SOON FIND OUT
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis once said that with Roy Williams on your team, you could play defense with 10 guys.
The Bengals will line up with 11 against the Denver Broncos on Sept. 13, and his strong safety will be Williams.
The 6-foot, 225-pounder agreed to contract terms on Wednesday, May 6, two months after he received his release from Dallas. The move strengthens the Bengals’ secondary, giving it more physicality in the rugged AFC North Division.
“I believe Roy will bring veteran leadership and a headhunter’s mentality to the team,” agent Jordan Woy wrote in an E-mail to the Dayton Daily News.
Williams, who turns 29 on Aug. 14, is a six-time Pro Bowler credited with changing the game. One of the NFL’s most feared hitters, Williams became known for the “horse-collar” tackle, a technique banned by the league in 2005 and commonly referred to as “The Roy Williams Rule.”
His career statistics: 506 tackles (414 solos), 38 pass deflections, 19 interceptions for 307 yards, nine forced fumbles, 6.5 sacks and three defensive TDs.
“We gave up an unbelievable amount of third-down touchdowns last year,” Lewis said, “When you look back on our (4-11-1) season, if you could just cut those in half, what a difference you’d have.”
Williams’ job is to punish offensive skill players and help make the Bengals’ 12th-ranked defense a top-10 unit as he reunites with Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, who spent seven years (2000-06) as Dallas’ coordinator.
While the Bengals welcome their new enforcer, they say goodbye to left offensive tackle Levi Jones, whose contract was terminated.
Jones, the club’s No. 1 draft pick (No. 10 overall) in 2002, started 89 of 94 career games, but battled knee injuries in recent years and became expendable when the Bengals drafted Andre Smith.
“He’s going to stay in the Phoenix area, work out at Athletes’ Performance (in Tempe) and wait for the best opportunity to present itself,” agent Ken Zuckerman said. “He’s going to be ready to roll. We just don’t know what uniform he’ll be wearing.”
Check out Roy Williams’ Web site at:
The “Horse-Collar” Rule is “The Roy Williams Rule”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse-collar_tackle
How Roy Williams got his nickname “Superman.”
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment | Categories: Bengals
Comments
By Grypie
May 6, 2009 11:07 PM | Link to this
wELL ISN’T THAT SWEET NEWS FOR THE bUNGLES DID MARV KNOW ABOUT THIS OR IS M.r Browns make this all saving decision,thats y neither ohio teams will win,By Pharrell
May 6, 2009 11:16 PM | Link to this
Grypie, who types like that? Are you Gollum or something? Or perhaps Roy Williams on a three-day bender after getting signed by Cincy?By Doco
May 7, 2009 8:50 AM | Link to this
I like the direction the defense is going. Big hitters straight up the middle. Williams, Marvin White, Crocker, and Maualuga. Starting to look like true AFC North defense.By simon
May 7, 2009 9:45 AM | Link to this
Not a cheerful analysis on Williams ability to help the Bengals: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/169237-cincinnati-bengals-sign-former-dallas-cowboy-safety-roy-williamsBy Antwan Odom in your face
May 7, 2009 10:24 AM | Link to this
Bleacher Report is a VERY reliable website. Ochocinco did get traded to the Raiders, right?