Williams thrust into role of Lions head case

By Os Davis  |   Tuesday, September 19, 2006  |  Comments( 1 )

Detroit Lions
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The Detroit Lions may be leagues away from greatness, but at least one item on the Immortal Team Requirements list has been ticked off, now that wide receiver Roy Williams is determined to fill the role of team head case.

Consider how much more colorless NFL history would be without the lore and legends of ego and outrageousness. Would the 1985 Chicago Bears be as fun to talk about without weirdo Jim McMahon? Could we deny the Green Bay Packers the mythology of party animal Max McGee's antics before Super Bowl I? Even in Detroit, most have come to figure that the 11-3 Lions of 1962 were infinitely more hilarious due to bizarre Alex Karras.

Think about it: As the NFL comes to resemble the derisive "No Fun League" sobriquet while media coverage of the game balloons, we need our egomaniacs, megalomaniacs and just plain maniacs. Consider Terrell Owens' propping up of several hours' worth of ESPN programming; at this point, the Tennessee-Chattanooga Choo Choo must have a sizable effect on the entire sports media industry.

The enfants terrible: the myth needs 'em, the fans need 'em, the TV schedulers need 'em.

Thank the football gods for Roy Williams.

Naturally, Williams was the subject of much attention among all the destruction wreaked upon the silver-and-Honolulu blue in Chicago on Sunday. In a phrase a la Namath - and where the hell would we be, I ask you, without the story of Super Bowl III, the result of a brash young fur-clad madman known as Broadway Joe? - Williams had guaranteed the Lions' victory on Sunday. To make matters more delicious, Williams vogued after his first reception to stir up Bears backers further.

Afterward, Williams turned the most amazing performance in terms of denial since Lewinsky-gate. When asked by a Detroit Free-Press reporter why he'd posed while the Lions were down 10-0, Williams ultimately stated that "the score means nothing." Whoa. An incredibly silly answer, to be sure, but appropriate to the question nevertheless. The young receiver followed up this outrageousness with the media savvy of a veteran.

"We will win the next game," said Williams, "that's my comment for the week."

Exquisite stuff. Excellent. The 2006 Detroit Lions are one step closer to the annals of NFL history: They have their off-field media magnet, and it's far more easily written up in a family publication than the Lions' other headline grabber, Joe "Nude Racer" Cullen. Cleverly did Williams shift media scrutiny away from the problematic coach who may in fact have a serious problem to himself, a potential star that needs a little more attention.

Williams, a bit green to play the part of attention receiver, was thrust into the role after Coach Rod "Almighty" Marinelli's house cleaning program in camp. Trimming a number of over-drafted WRs like Charles Rogers from the roster while flat-out ignoring of Mike Williams, the Lions' 2004 first-round pick is left to pick up the sports news slack until Az-Zahir Hakim gets in a few weird quotes to bolster this Detroit offense. As of last Sunday, Roy Williams was leading a receiving corps that included Shaun Bodiford, Eddie Drummond, Mike Furrey and Scottie Vines - not one of them a pro-level trash talker.

Who among this crowd will incite opposing supporters once these Lions get around to scoring in, say, double figures? Who can deflect the glare of cameras from Jon Kitna as he attempts to answer questions about his team's stunning lack of effectiveness on third down?

A bit more seriously, Williams is a decent receiver who may in fact someday be a great player; he's the star of this Lions offense thus far. In the 34-7 debacle, he caught six passes for 71 yards, one of few non-posing highlights from the weak Detroit side. Williams may have come out with his latent outrageousness a bit too soon - Marinelli will no doubt be unamused and unimpressed by Williams' blithe indifference to the scoreboard - and many will simply find him silly.

Unless these Lions start winning. If Williams' prophecies actually come to pass. If his on-field play is enough to get noticed. No, make that "when," as in a guarantee. Williams wouldn't want it otherwise.

Ah, the NFL's head cases. Love 'em or love to hate 'em, you gotta love 'em. Can't wait to hear what Williams says on Sunday...

Watch Roy Williams' strange trip with the Detroit Lions progress on RealFootball365.com.
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About Os Davis

Os Davis has taken a twisted route to get to RealFootball365.com in his nearly 17 years in professional writing, working in any number of capacities in the sportswriting, news reporting and film criticism worlds. In print media, Os has served as editor at a few publications, including Albuquerque's...
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