Cary Williams made headlines when he shoved a referee during a skirmish between the Ravens and Niners in Super Bowl XLVII. He was kicked off his first college team. He was suspended back in 2010 for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
He has not, in other words, always walked the straight line.
The 28-year-old has also overcome his missteps to become a starting cornerback in the NFL, and most recently, a Super Bowl champion. He talked about his unique story with 97.5 The Fanatic Thursday.
“I describe myself as a human being, man, a guy that is trying to learn life and trying to change the way he is being perceived,” said Williams. “If you perceive me as a crazy wild man then I think your perception is off. When you get to know me as a person I think you’ll have a change of heart.”
Williams, a Miami native, said he went to three high schools in four years. The inconsistency scared off most college teams, leaving him just a couple offers. Fordham’s offer was the best, so he packed for New York. It did not work out.
“Scouts were saying that I had talent to play at the next level, but I just wasn’t playing at Fordham and I couldn’t understand that,” said Williams. “I got frustrated, I said some things and I got kicked off the team. Then Washburn stepped in, took me under their wing and it’s been an awesome story ever since.”
Washburn is Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. The NFL isn’t exactly filled with Ichabods, but the Titans took a shot on him in the seventh round of the 2008 draft. He appeared in just four games for Tennessee and was signed off their practice squad by the Ravens in ’09. He earned a starting role in 2011 and kept it for the next two seasons.
He is known for playing with an edge.
“That’s who I am, that’s what got me here and that’s not going to change,” he said. “I’m definitely going to tone things down as far as getting into fights and stuff like that –that’s not going to be part of my game. But me being physical, me being vocal on Sunday, that’s not going to change.”
Williams, who signed a three-year, $17 million deal with the Eagles Thursday, said that he is open to playing either on the left or right side.
“I definitely want to be a bump-and-run guy, and in-your-face type dude. I don’t shy away from challenges, I don’t shy away from those situations that sometimes can be a little risky,” said Williams. “I definitely feel confident in my ability, feel comfortable in who I am and what type of player I am, and I’m definitely going to go out there each and every week and compete.”
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