Saturday, March 04, 2000
Free safety Williams returns to Bengals
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
This time, Jim Lippincott made sure the Bengals didn't let Darryl Williams get away.
After a four-year hiatus, Williams returned to the Bengals secondary as the starting free safety Friday night when he agreed to a three-year, $4 million deal two days after Seattle released him.
Not only did the Bengals add their third defensive starter in the past 17 days via free agency, but Lippincott felt they rectified a major mistake.
The Bengals, who drafted Williams in the first round in 1992, let him go the Seahawks on the second day of free agency after the 1995 season.
“He's a good guy who didn't want to leave,” said Lippincott, the Bengals director of college/pro personnel.
“There were people here who had reservations about his tackling, but he's not going to be asked to play a lot of eight-man fronts. He'll play some, but he's here to cover the forward pass. He's smart and brings leadership.”
Those people who had reservations — the staff of former defensive coordinator Larry Peccatiello — are no longer here.
Finally, the inexperienced Bengals secondary has a 30-year-old. Before they picked up 27-year-old Tom Carter off waivers with two weeks left in last season, the most seasoned player was strong safety Myron Bell, in his first full-time season as a starter during six years in the league.
Now with second-year player Cory Hall moving from free to strong safety, Williams brings his 120 starts in 125
games. Not to mention his 29 career interceptions for a defense that gave up the fourth most passing yards in the NFL last season while coming up with the third fewest interceptions with 10.
Plus, Williams brings a 1997 Pro Bowl berth and last season's playoff stint.
“It's good to be back,” said Williams, who didn't have 3-year-old Darryl and 1-year-old Mark when he left. “I guess I've got the kids and more experience.
“The idea is to get to the playoffs. Once you get there, it's contagious. You want to get back. I think I bring some of that experience, some leadership. I think that's why Mike Brown brought me back.”
Brown, the club president, has always liked Williams' smarts and good guy demeanor. The Seahawks
thought he had slowed down and became too expensive with a $3.8 million salary cap hit in 2000.
But Williams thinks playing defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau's zone-blitz scheme may bring back memories of 1993, when he had a career-high 123 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions (one a 97-yard return) and 12 passes defensed.
Williams may have played here, but he'll still need a program when he starts calling out signals. Right end John Copeland is the only starter from that 1995 defense still on the team.
The Bengals were giddy Friday because in the midst of the complaints from Carl Pickens and Corey Dillon, a former player chose to return.
David Levine, Williams' Miami-based agent, spent Friday night listening to the talk shows bash the Dolphins for getting beat by the Bengals in signing the hometown Williams.
“He was on a plane to Chicago Sunday night,” Levine said. “Would the Bears have offered more? I don't know. Maybe. But when he heard the Bengals' offer, he said, "Get it done for that kind of money.' That should show he has no reservations about coming back.”
Williams is scheduled to make $1.610 million this season: $1 million to sign, $600,000 salary and $10,000 for airline tickets and club seats for his parents and Levine at Paul Brown Stadium.
Brown has indicated the signing of Williams means the Bengals won't sign a free-agent cornerback. With the signing of end Vaughn Booker and tackle Tom Barndt, their three new defensive starters account for about $4.3 million against the 2000 salary cap.
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