Roy Williams (wide receiver)
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| Roy Williams | |
|---|---|
 Roy Williams warms up for a game against Tulane in 2003. |
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| Date of birth | December 20, 1981 (age 25) |
| Place of birth |  Odessa, Texas |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Weight | 212 lb (96 kg) |
| Position(s) | WR |
| College | Texas |
| NFL Draft | 2004 / Round 1 / Pick 7 |
| Career Highlights | |
| Pro Bowls | 2007 |
| Awards | 2003 Cotton Bowl MVP |
| Stats | |
| Statistics | |
| Team(s) | |
| 2004-present | Detroit Lions |
Roy Eugene Williams, Jr. (born December 20, 1981 in Odessa, Texas) is a football player who currently plays wide receiver for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was selected 7th in the 2004 NFL Draft out of the University of Texas.
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[edit] Early life
A versatile and acclaimed athlete, Williams earned the nickname "The Legend" while in high school at Permian High School.
Arriving at Austin, Williams and fellow freshmen receivers BJ Johnson and Sloan Thomas were touted as the most talented group of receivers in school history, but Johnson and Thomas spent their careers trying to live up to expectations.
[edit] Professional career
During the 2004 NFL Draft, Williams was picked by the Lions with the 7th overall selection, which many draft experts considered a bold move since they had drafted Charles Rogers with the 2nd overall pick just a year earlier. While the pick was bold, it was also widely hailed by draft gurus and fans, as Williams was widely considered to be a top-3 talent, giving the Lions top value. The two receivers, along with rookie running back Kevin Jones, were supposed to provide the foundation of an explosive Lions offense. When Rogers was hurt on the third play of the 2004 season, however, Williams was left to carry the offense, and he performed admirably, catching 54 passes for 817 yards and 8 touchdowns, despite suffering an ankle injury midway through the season that limited his effectiveness. The team performed terribly and spent their first round draft pick (10th overall) on yet another receiver, this time USC star Mike Williams. Roy Williams had a productive year for the 2006 Lions, having 1,310 yards and 7 touchdowns. Roy Williams and Mike Furrey caught more passes than any other duo in the NFC.
Williams will be traveling to the 2007 Pro Bowl after Torry Holt withdrew through injury. He is the first Detroit wide receiver to make the Pro Bowl since 1998.
[edit] Film career
Roy Williams also played a small role in the 2004 sports film Friday Night Lights, playing the role of an assistant coach for the rival football team at Lee High School. His one spoken line in the film is "He ain’t going to play." [1] [2]
[edit] Media comments
On September 12, 2006, Williams declared that "We will win this game. Y’all can take that as a guarantee or whatnot, but we will win this game" regarding an upcoming game between the Lions and the Chicago Bears, who had shut out the Green Bay Packers in a 26-0 victory the previous week.
Williams' comments were widely mocked by the skeptical media, with NFL Network presenter Rich Eisen commenting that the Chicago Bears defense was "the last unit that you need to wind up before a match." Brian Urlacher, the Bears' Pro Bowl linebacker, responded to Williams' remarks by pointing out the fact that the Lions had the opportunity to score forty points during their home opener, but only scored six. The Lions lost the game against the Bears 34-7, with Williams contributing six receptions for 71 yards and no touchdowns.
