The real story on Mike Williams: (3 Viewers)

[Da Guru]

Just heard this from Lion beat writer Tom Kowaski on his show. Tom said he had to get to the bottom on why Mike Williams is not playing. Rod Marinara would not divulge but through a group of players and coaches the story was told.

1. Mike Williams still does not know the playbook well enough to be thrown into the game in crucial situations. Plays are called in practice and Williams runs a totally different route that what was called. Leading to INTs.

2. Mike Williams had a body fat % done and through the study they said his ideal playing weight should be 222 LBs. Last season Williams had a high point of 251 LBs. The Lions told him before training camp to report at 230 or less, then work on getting down to 222. Willimas came in around 236, then got down to 228. Marinara then gave the Lions 2 days off and Williams came back at 233.

3. Mike is not in good enough shape to practice hard, or he won`t practice hard. Kowaski said Mike thinks he is working hard but looks like he is going through the motions, and has to sit out when gassed.

4. The other players seem to like Mike Willams alot, yet they said in private that he is immature and does not know what the work it takes to play in this league. (Charles Rogers??)

And you wonder why the NFL does extensive background and character checks.

 

[mt99808]

Killer is an idiot. He pretends like he is "in the know" but his story changes every week. The only thing worse than the Lions football team themselves are the self annointed "Lions Insiders" that write for Detroit papers and do spots on the 2 ####ty sports radio stations.

 

[Two Deep]

Just heard this from Lion beat writer Tom Kowaski on his show. Tom said he had to get to the bottom on why Mike Williams is not playing. Rod Marinara would not divulge but through a group of players and coaches the story was told.1. Mike Williams still does not know the playbook well enough to be thrown into the game in crucial situations. Plays are called in practice and Williams runs a totally different route that what was called. Leading to INTs.2. Mike Williams had a body fat % done and through the study they said his ideal playing weight should be 222 LBs. Last season Williams had a high point of 251 LBs. The Lions told him before training camp to report at 230 or less, then work on getting down to 222. Willimas came in around 236, then got down to 228. Marinara then gave the Lions 2 days off and Williams came back at 233.3. Mike is not in good enough shape to practice hard, or he won`t practice hard. Kowaski said Mike thinks he is working hard but looks like he is going through the motions, and has to sit out when gassed.4. The other players seem to like Mike Willams alot, yet they said in private that he is immature and does not know what the work it takes to play in this league. (Charles Rogers??)And you wonder why the NFL does extensive background and character checks.

This probably comes from the fact that until the NFL he probably was able to get away with playing 3/4 speed at all other levels (high school, college) and still dominate and his coaches probably condoned it. Poor work ethic like good work ethic is learned. Of course this is just my opinion and purely speculation.

 

[Da Guru]

I respect Rod Marinara more now. At his PC he was pressed by a number of writers about why Mike Willimas is not playing. Rod did not bad mouth him at all. Just said it is an inhouse matter.

 

[BoulderBob]

Anyone who looks at Williams and claims 220 is an ideal weight for the guy is a moron. The guy has a huge frame, and the Lions seem to think they can turn him into a Holt or Harrison. Idiots...

 

[Da Guru]

Anyone who looks at Williams and claims 220 is an ideal weight for the guy is a moron. The guy has a huge frame, and the Lions seem to think they can turn him into a Holt or Harrison. Idiots...

The Lions use a company that many NFL teams use to determine the % of body fat to muscle. Williams body fat is very high. If you were 230 ripped and running a 4.5..now that is a different story.

 

[hook014]

Anyone who looks at Williams and claims 220 is an ideal weight for the guy is a moron. The guy has a huge frame, and the Lions seem to think they can turn him into a Holt or Harrison. Idiots...

You have a bright future as a player agent. Just wanted to send my encouragement.

 

[Bizkiteer]

How can teams be soooo wrong about these sure fire WR's? BMW, C. Rogers, D. Terrell, D. Howard...to just list a few. If they are researching, why are WR's rated that high and performed so weel in college, but are not even average when they are in the NFL? I just find it odd...if they do have these great staff's and are doing their homework.

 

[TheFanatic]

Killer is an idiot. He pretends like he is "in the know" but his story changes every week. The only thing worse than the Lions football team themselves are the self annointed "Lions Insiders" that write for Detroit papers and do spots on the 2 ####ty sports radio stations.

I never really heard of the guy till this year but everything he's said has been spot on. Said that KJ would be much more involved in the passing game. Check. Said that Rogers was going to be cut. Check. Said that it's not KJ, it's the O-Line. Check....Then again I've only heard a few things and he's been pretty good on those....

 

[mt99808]

Killer is an idiot. He pretends like he is "in the know" but his story changes every week. The only thing worse than the Lions football team themselves are the self annointed "Lions Insiders" that write for Detroit papers and do spots on the 2 ####ty sports radio stations.

I never really heard of the guy till this year but everything he's said has been spot on. Said that KJ would be much more involved in the passing game. Check. Said that Rogers was going to be cut. Check. Said that it's not KJ, it's the O-Line. Check....Then again I've only heard a few things and he's been pretty good on those....

Thats because you only listened to him once. He changes his story every week. How about his prediction of the shootout in week 1. Spouting off about how the Over was easy money. Good call Killer. "Rogers has an 80% chance of being cut", "Rogers looks like he's gonna make this team, 20% chance of being cut", "Rogers looks like he's going to be cut again" .....He's like a tout. He changes his story so much he's bound to be right sometimes.

 

[Da Guru]

Killer is an idiot. He pretends like he is "in the know" but his story changes every week. The only thing worse than the Lions football team themselves are the self annointed "Lions Insiders" that write for Detroit papers and do spots on the 2 ####ty sports radio stations.

I never really heard of the guy till this year but everything he's said has been spot on. Said that KJ would be much more involved in the passing game. Check. Said that Rogers was going to be cut. Check. Said that it's not KJ, it's the O-Line. Check....Then again I've only heard a few things and he's been pretty good on those....

Thats because you only listened to him once. He changes his story every week. How about his prediction of the shootout in week 1. Spouting off about how the Over was easy money. Good call Killer. "Rogers has an 80% chance of being cut", "Rogers looks like he's gonna make this team, 20% chance of being cut", "Rogers looks like he's going to be cut again" .....He's like a tout. He changes his story so much he's bound to be right sometimes.

The thing is this is not the Killer talking, it is the players and coaches he interviewed.

 

[Judge Smails]

I watched every game Mike Williams played at USC. I've never been more wrong about a player's future success in the NFL in my life..

 

[lions327]

Mike Williams needs to quit being lazy, stop eating so many hamburgers, and grow up. Then he will get his chance to play.

 

[Gandalf]

I watched every game Mike Williams played at USC. I've never been more wrong about a player's future success in the NFL in my life..

It's not your fault. It's because succeeding in the NFL takes something that no one can "see." Work ethic. It is easy for the uber talented college athletes to dominate against weaker competition. When they get to the pro's they are handed more money than they can spend in a life time and face competition that is 10 fold better than the best players they faced in college. Unless they are prepared to work harder than they imagined possible, they will be average at best. In Mike Williams case, he isn't trying at all, so he's way below average right now, which is kind of tragic. It's tragic for the Lions, himself, the fans, and worst of all Mike Williams fantasy football owners of which I am thankfully not one.

 

[TwinTurbo]

Killer is an idiot. He pretends like he is "in the know" but his story changes every week. The only thing worse than the Lions football team themselves are the self annointed "Lions Insiders" that write for Detroit papers and do spots on the 2 ####ty sports radio stations.

I never really heard of the guy till this year but everything he's said has been spot on. Said that KJ would be much more involved in the passing game. Check. Said that Rogers was going to be cut. Check. Said that it's not KJ, it's the O-Line. Check....Then again I've only heard a few things and he's been pretty good on those....

Thats because you only listened to him once. He changes his story every week. How about his prediction of the shootout in week 1. Spouting off about how the Over was easy money. Good call Killer. "Rogers has an 80% chance of being cut", "Rogers looks like he's gonna make this team, 20% chance of being cut", "Rogers looks like he's going to be cut again" .....He's like a tout. He changes his story so much he's bound to be right sometimes.

Killer's "facts" change faster than the weather in Michigan. But I think sometimes players and coaches just play with him and feed him bad info. They probably laugh when they see him coming. From what I hear, most of the team does not like him. He'll throw on guy under the bus on the radio or in his column, but then kiss his ### in an interview. He likes to present himself as a Lions insider, but his eye for talent and football knowledge is probably on par with Millen.

 

[Armando]

I watched every game Mike Williams played at USC. I've never been more wrong about a player's future success in the NFL in my life..

Just goes to show what 2 years away from the game & millions handed to you can do. IMO If Williams remains at USC, then declares, I really don't believe we're having this conversation.

 

[Spartans Rule]

Anyone who looks at Williams and claims 220 is an ideal weight for the guy is a moron. The guy has a huge frame, and the Lions seem to think they can turn him into a Holt or Harrison. Idiots...

Why do you keep saying this? The Lions don't think Mike Williams is good enough to be on the team at all, much less become a Holt or Harrison. In training camp he was running behind players like Glenn Martinez and Scottie Vines that ended up getting cut. They'd have cut BMW too if not for the cap hit.The Lions plan for Mike Williams is not to have him lose a ton of weight so he can produce. It's to have him sit on the inactive list and then get cut at the end of the season. I'm sure if he works his ### off and begins dominating in practice they'll change their mind, but that's the idea right now. Maybe that's stupid, but that's what by all accounts they seem to be doing.

 

[cstu]

I watched every game Mike Williams played at USC. I've never been more wrong about a player's future success in the NFL in my life..

It's not your fault. It's because succeeding in the NFL takes something that no one can "see." Work ethic. It is easy for the uber talented college athletes to dominate against weaker competition. When they get to the pro's they are handed more money than they can spend in a life time and face competition that is 10 fold better than the best players they faced in college. Unless they are prepared to work harder than they imagined possible, they will be average at best. In Mike Williams case, he isn't trying at all, so he's way below average right now, which is kind of tragic. It's tragic for the Lions, himself, the fans, and worst of all Mike Williams fantasy football owners of which I am thankfully not one.

He has time to turn it around though since he's still only 22 (23 in Jan.). If a guy like Antonio Bryant (who I thought was headed out of the league after his attitude problems in Dallas) can turn it around then I don't see why Mike Williams can't. I'll admit that work ethic might even be worse than drug use and attitude for a football player though. Unless he decides that he wants to be an NFL player he'll be out in a couple years.

 

[Wally Cleaver]

How can teams be soooo wrong about these sure fire WR's? BMW, C. Rogers, D. Terrell, D. Howard...to just list a few. If they are researching, why are WR's rated that high and performed so weel in college, but are not even average when they are in the NFL? I just find it odd...if they do have these great staff's and are doing their homework.

IMO the year off that he didnt play just killed this guy! I cant pinpoint exactly what the problem was as I am not in the know, but whether he got lazy, had money and lost his edge or whatever the case may be, he was NOT the same player once he finally got on the field... He had lost a step and did not look like he was the physical specimen that he was after he left USC.

 

[Wally Cleaver]

I watched every game Mike Williams played at USC. I've never been more wrong about a player's future success in the NFL in my life..

Just goes to show what 2 years away from the game & millions handed to you can do. IMO If Williams remains at USC, then declares, I really don't believe we're having this conversation.

This is my point exactly.... I should have read down furthur as I would have not posted had I seen this...

 

[thatguy]

I watched every game Mike Williams played at USC. I've never been more wrong about a player's future success in the NFL in my life..

Just goes to show what 2 years away from the game & millions handed to you can do. IMO If Williams remains at USC, then declares, I really don't believe we're having this conversation.

I'm not sure staying at USC would have made things any different... I assume that Williams has always been lazy. As others have said, his talent is such that it just didn't matter at the lower levels. However, I believe you're spot on with your first statement. It just seems like a lot of high draft picks don't really want to play in the NFL, and don't care about the criticism that comes with the territory. Once they see that first paycheck, they're on easy street. Both Rogers and Williams seem to fit this billing.

 

[Sonny Lubick Blowup Doll]

I watched every game Mike Williams played at USC. I've never been more wrong about a player's future success in the NFL in my life..

Likewise, along with Ryan Leaf.

 

[Da Guru]

I watched every game Mike Williams played at USC. I've never been more wrong about a player's future success in the NFL in my life..

Just goes to show what 2 years away from the game & millions handed to you can do. IMO If Williams remains at USC, then declares, I really don't believe we're having this conversation.

I'm not sure staying at USC would have made things any different... I assume that Williams has always been lazy. As others have said, his talent is such that it just didn't matter at the lower levels. However, I believe you're spot on with your first statement. It just seems like a lot of high draft picks don't really want to play in the NFL, and don't care about the criticism that comes with the territory. Once they see that first paycheck, they're on easy street. Both Rogers and Williams seem to fit this billing.

I could not agree more. I just read something that said Rogers is not even working out and trying to stay in shape in case someone calls. I don`t think he even wants to play football anymore. That is the problem with high first rd picks.Why give all that money up front to people who have not proved themselves?

 

[lionsroar]

Mike Williams was the #1 rated player of Mel Kiper's big board in the draft that year. There seems to be alot of experts out there that don't know what they're talking about... The Lions stole BMW at #10 that year, right???

 

[Blitzkrieg914]

Everyone was crying the same "bust" comments about Reggie Williams prior to this season too......

Granted, he hasn't had the weight issues, but playbook understanding was a complaint early in his NFL career. Then he got busted for having pot in his car. Couple of speeding tickets. Look where he is at now.

Just saying.....turnarounds CAN happen.

All of this negativity around BMW and I STILL wouldn't cut him in a dynasty league.

 

[lod2005]

Everyone was crying the same "bust" comments about Reggie Williams prior to this season too...... Granted, he hasn't had the weight issues, but playbook understanding was a complaint early in his NFL career. Then he got busted for having pot in his car. Couple of speeding tickets. Look where he is at now.Just saying.....turnarounds CAN happen. All of this negativity around BMW and I STILL wouldn't cut him in a dynasty league.

As a Reggie owner from day one and a BMW owner, I say 'what he said'.

 

[Bri]

I'm not finding anything especially negative or surprising from this Kowalski spot. He does that all the time. His sensationalistic attitude about a WR running with the first team this spring/summer was naive. Everyone (in theory) gets a shot to run with the first unit in practice. It never means that guy is the starter but that the coaches wanted to see+evaluate. He ran with it like it was a new starter every week.

As was mentioned, Williams has a big frame that weight is too low. All this "fat" talk, I've never seen him have a belly on TV. Granted I never looked for it but I just figure that would have stood out. In my experience, when someone(not 300+lbs) can gain a few pounds at that young of an age w/ high metabolism and all....it's too low. This is not some older vet or the average american but a young athlete.

The guy struggled to pickup the playbook last year and now he has Martz's to grasp. Martz who anytime you watched a Rams game you heard how complex his playbook was? I wonder if any Ram fans can chime in here, because this is soooo not the first time a player had trouble with the playbook.

I remember missing meetings, showing up late on gameday(not to game but time to report) and other stuff that was ridiculous last year. This doesn't seem like anything to me, last year did.

I think, lost amongst this is that the Lions have held onto him. Marinelli was not shy discussing Rogers this summer and he's not acting the same way about Williams, being "guarded" and calling it an in-house matter. The Lions just might feel he's worth the trouble, that's different. Harrington is gone, Rogers is gone, this one they're keeping.

IIRC Draft "experts" said he wasn't the brightest bulb. So again, is it a surprise he hasn't picked up the Martz offense? I, for one, like that they're not babying him and are forcing him to learn it and grasp it. I hate when NFL teams simplify things for a player. He's not playing, but given chances to make mistakes and learn from them in practice and ....ya know what? Marinelli might just be handling Williams the right way.

If he doesn't play til he grasps the playbook, obviously I'm not saying he's worth anything now for FF but just think of all the failed draft picks over the years and tell me you don't think Marinelli is acting like a veteran coach that has coached for a llllong time and isn't in his first year as a HC.

 

[wannabee]

Lions | M. Williams to be given fresh start

Published Fri Sep 22 11:36:00 a.m. ET 2006

(KFFL) Nicholas J. Cotsonika, of the Detroit Free Press, reports Detroit Lions WR Mike Williams, who has expressed frustration for being inactive for this season's first two games, has been told by the club he will be given a fresh start and he needs to earn a spot on the game-day roster in practice. Williams' agent, Tony Fleming, flew from Los Angeles to Detroit to meet with the Lions' brass earlier this week to discuss his client's status. "It was a positive meeting. I think we're headed in the right direction," Fleming said. The Lions are still fining Williams for being overweight and the former first-round pick is working with a nutritionist to adjust his diet again.

 

[Bri]

Lions | M. Williams to be given fresh start Published Fri Sep 22 11:36:00 a.m. ET 2006 (KFFL) Nicholas J. Cotsonika, of the Detroit Free Press, reports Detroit Lions WR Mike Williams, who has expressed frustration for being inactive for this season's first two games, has been told by the club he will be given a fresh start and he needs to earn a spot on the game-day roster in practice. Williams' agent, Tony Fleming, flew from Los Angeles to Detroit to meet with the Lions' brass earlier this week to discuss his client's status. "It was a positive meeting. I think we're headed in the right direction," Fleming said. The Lions are still fining Williams for being overweight and the former first-round pick is working with a nutritionist to adjust his diet again.

Meeting with agent, not a player complaining thru the press.He got a nutritionist to meet the team's weight needs.He's acting responsibly. Again, this is different

 

[cracKer]

Mike Williams was the #1 rated player of Mel Kiper's big board in the draft that year. There seems to be alot of experts out there that don't know what they're talking about... The Lions stole BMW at #10 that year, right???

crystal ball down?

 

[Delusions Of Adequacy]

I watched every game Mike Williams played at USC. I've never been more wrong about a player's future success in the NFL in my life..

Likewise, along with Ryan Leaf.

Did you HAVE to remind me of Ryan Leaf? I had him ahead of P Manning [but behind R Moss] in the draft.

 

[Righetti]

September 22, 2006, 18:21

Lions :: WR

GM Millen Wanted To Cut WR M. Williams

Rob Parker, DetroitNews.com - [Full Article]

Sources close to the Detroit Lions organization are saying that GM Matt Millen wanted to cut the underacheiving and overweight WR Mike Williams just before the beginning of the season. Apparently, HC Rod Marinelli and OC Mike Martz convinced Millen that they could get the best out of Williams if he were to stay with the team.

 

[BigRed]

It's tragic for the Lions, himself, the fans,

Delete "himself" and I'm with you. How is it "tragic" for an immature brain-dead POS to dog it yet still be a multi-millionaire ? boo hoo. And yes it does suck that these punks get all that $ w/o proving themselves, but such is the system...Speaking of which, if Millen wanted to cut Wms this year, he really is as stupid as the bandwagoners say. The cap hit would be obscene and they must be already taking plenty of that from cutting Rogers. It sucks to hold onto him, but they have little to gain by cutting him and possibly something to gain and so have to hold out a faint hope of better days, at least for now.

 

[tombonneau]

I watched every game Mike Williams played at USC. I've never been more wrong about a player's future success in the NFL in my life..

You and me both, Judge. The fact that this is the same guy who made the most amazing one-handed catch vs. Org. St., literally plucking the ball out of mid-air, disgusts me to no end. What a waste of talent.