Mike Williams (offensive lineman)
{{Short description|American football player (born 1980)}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Mike Williams
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| number = 68, 71
| position = Offensive tackle / guard
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1980|01|11|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Dallas, Texas, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 6
| weight_lbs = 337
| high_school = The Colony (TX)
| college = Texas
| draftyear = 2002
| draftround = 1
| draftpick = 4
| pastteams =
- Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|2002}}–{{NFL Year|2005}})
- Jacksonville Jaguars ({{NFL Year|2006}})
- Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|2009}}–{{NFL Year|2010}})
| highlights =
- PFWA All-Rookie Team (2002)
- Consensus All-American (2001)
- First-team All-Big 12 (2001)
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 59
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 = 56
| pfr = WillMi22
}}
Michael Deshaun Williams (born January 11, 1980) is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle and guard in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Texas, and was recognized as a consensus All-American. The Buffalo Bills chose him with the fourth overall pick in the 2002 NFL draft, and he played professionally for the Bills and Washington Redskins.
Early life
Williams was born in Dallas, Texas. He graduated from The Colony High School in The Colony, Texas, where he played for The Colony Cougars high school football team. When Williams was in high school, he was so big they didn't have shoulder pads that could fit him, they tried getting pads from Erik Williams and Leon Lett of the Cowboys, and their pads still didn't fit Williams.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}}
College career
While attending the University of Texas in Austin, he played for coach Mack Brown's Texas Longhorns football team from 1998 to 2001. He played right tackle for the Longhorns, while protecting quarterbacks Major Applewhite and Chris Simms. Following his senior season in 2001, he was a first-team All-Big-12 selection and was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American.2011 NCAA Football Records Book, [http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2011/Awards.pdf Award Winners], National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, Indiana, p. 11 (2011). Retrieved June 24, 2012.
Professional career
=Pre-draft=
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 5 5/8
| weight = 375
| vertical = 30.0
| broad ft = 8
| broad in = 6
| bench = 29
| arm span = 33 1/2
| hand span = 9 1/4
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=2043&DraftYear=2002 |title=2002 NFL Draft Scout Mike Williams College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=May 25, 2024}}
}}
Because Chris Simms was left-handed, Williams was projected as a top prospect for left tackle, widely considered the most important position on the offensive line. He was considered one of the two top prospects in the 2002 NFL draft, alongside Bryant McKinnie, a natural left tackle from the University of Miami.
=Buffalo Bills=
Williams was selected by the Buffalo Bills with the fourth overall pick in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft, three picks ahead of McKinnie.{{Cite web |title=2002 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2002/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} After starting several games at right tackle, he was eventually moved to left tackle, but largely disappointed. He was widely seen as a draft bust and eventually lost the starting job to undrafted free agent Jason Peters. After a failed attempt to convert Williams to guard, and spending some spot duty at defensive tackle in goal-line situation, he was released in the 2006 offseason.
=Jacksonville Jaguars=
Williams was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars on March 14, 2006,{{cite news |title=Jags sign former Bills offensive tackle Mike Williams |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=nfl&id=2368142 |work=ESPN.com |date=March 14, 2006 |access-date=July 12, 2010}} He was placed on injured reserve on August 29, 2006, and waived on December 29, 2006.{{Cite web |title=Mike Williams Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WillMi22.htm |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He never appeared in a regular season game for the Jaguars.
=Washington Redskins=
Williams spent two years out of football before he gave the NFL another shot and signed with the Washington Redskins on April 24, 2009.{{cite news |title=REDSKINS SIGN OFFENSIVE TACKLE WILLIAMS, RELEASE JOHNSON |url=https://www.tsn.ca/nfl/story/?id=276334 |work=The Canadian Press |date=April 24, 2009 |access-date=July 12, 2010}} At the time he weighed close to 410 pounds and there was some doubt regarding his ability to handle playing tackle again. Williams eventually lost nearly 70 pounds in order to play the position, but struggled when doing so. Because of constant injuries to the Redskins' offensive line, Williams was moved to right guard, where he played well and started eight games at the position. Williams was rewarded for his efforts on March 6, 2010, with a new two-year contract after new head coach Mike Shanahan and his staff reviewed game film of him.{{cite news |author=Reid, Jason |title=Redskins lineman Mike Williams expected to miss season because of blood clots |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/offensive-line/redskins-lineman-mike-williams.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003200725/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/offensive-line/redskins-lineman-mike-williams.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 3, 2012 |work=The Washington Post |date=July 10, 2010 |access-date=July 12, 2010}}{{cite news |title=Redskins make splash with restraint |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=4968849 |work=ESPN.com |date=March 6, 2010 |access-date=July 12, 2010}}
On July 10, 2010, it was reported by The Washington Post that Williams would miss the entire 2010 season due to blood clots near his heart. Williams was later released by Washington on July 30, 2011.
Legacy
Notwithstanding that Williams was a four-season starter, some commentators consider him to be a "draft bust" due to his high draft pick and relative lack of long-term success. The Sporting News named Williams as the No. 4 biggest NFL draft bust from 1989 to 2008.[http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2009-03-29/10-pack-10-biggest-first-round-draft-busts-last-20-years 10-Pack: 10 biggest first-round draft busts of the last 20 years] In the game, NFL Street, Williams had the highest speed rating for an offensive lineman, comparable to that of some wide receivers.
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090429122707/http://www.redskins.com/gen/players/Mike_Williams.jsp Washington Redskins bio]
{{2001 NCAA Division I-A College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{2002 NFL Draft}}
{{BillsFirstPick}}
{{Bills2002DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Mike}}
Category:All-American college football players
Category:American football offensive guards
Category:American football offensive tackles
Category:Buffalo Bills players
Category:Jacksonville Jaguars players
Category:People from The Colony, Texas
Category:Players of American football from Denton County, Texas