The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

INDIANAPOLIS -- In an off-season of a little tweak here and a subtle improvement there, the Cowboys have contemplated releasing safety Roy Williams. But according to NFL sources, the more the concept is discussed, the same conclusion is reached: They can, but they can't.

There simply aren't realistic trade partners, and the idea of a team swallowing Williams' contract is too much. Williams signed a four-year, $25 million extension with an $11.1 million signing bonus in 2006. He's scheduled to make $3.7 million in 2008, $4.4 million in 2009 and $4 million in 2010.

Unless there is a dramatic shift in philosophy, the Cowboys will go with Williams as their strong safety in 2008... with some alterations.

"He's a good football player, maybe not as good as he wants or we want, but he's a good player," said new Cowboys secondary coach Dave Campo, who was head coach of the team when Williams was a rookie in 2002.

"He's got to buy into what we're doing. If he does that, he'll be fine. Remember, the guy made the Pro Bowl."

Since Campo's departure from Dallas after the 2002 season, Williams continues to be a Pro Bowler, but there have been other developments. Williams' coverage skills not only have been exploited, but last season the revamped Cowboys coaching staff took Williams off the field in certain passing situations. The team is prepared to take him out in nickel and dime passing situations next season.

He has become a bit of enigma in the locker room; the defense normally goes out to eat as a unit on Thursdays during game weeks, but Williams seldom attends. He has displayed a tendency to blame others for pass coverage breakdowns, something his teammates have noticed.

Coaches, former coaches, teammates and ex-teammates have tried to talk to Williams, but they often receive the same defiant and defensive posturing he takes with his "friends" in the media.

It would all be worth it if Williams was still the same play-crashing force near the line of scrimmage as he was his first few seasons in the NFL. Despite the addition of head coach Wade Phillips and his 3-4 scheme that promised to put Williams in more positions to make plays near or in the backfield, his production remained mostly flat.

The tackle totals remain high; he finished with 92 last season. But the "big" plays remain maddeningly scarce for a player who is considered a defensive leader, was a top-10 draft pick, and is one of the highest-paid safeties in the league.

Williams hasn't registered a sack since 2005. His interceptions dropped from five to two last season. He had two quarterback pressures, or three fewer than reserve defensive back Nate Jones. Williams had five passes defended, or one more than nose tackle Jay Ratliff.

In defense of Williams, the Cowboys say if he's supposedly so bad, why is he in the Pro Bowl?

Williams was not voted to the Pro Bowl this past season. He received the fourth-most votes among safeties behind the late Sean Taylor of Washington, Darren Sharper of Minnesota and teammate Ken Hamlin. Sharper was voted in as the starting strong safety, and Williams took Taylor's roster spot.

Williams is not bad, but he has not played like one of the best safeties in the league in recent years.

When asked if Williams made "impact" plays last season, Phillips said, "I look at it as a team. You know we played well on defense and we played really well against the run and played well against the pass and I think the stats reflect that, too. And he's a part of that."

Phillips believes most safeties will be exploited when they try to cover top tight ends such as New York's Jeremy Shockey or Washington's Chris ey.

"When he plays it right, he plays pretty good pass defense, too," Phillips said. "I don't think people realize that."

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Sunday he believes Williams will be better next season, "not to imply" that he wasn't good last season.

"All [first-round] draft picks are [criticized] to a great extent because everybody expects them to be all-world," Phillips said. "Everybody expects everything, then people are disappointed. But he's still in the Pro Bowl every year, so somebody thinks he does well and I think he does well."