Sports Radio Interviews

Slimmer Mike Williams Attempts Comeback in Seattle

Is it too soon to say that Mike Williams is back? Or is it a little too early to even be thinking like that. And is that even the correct term?

You may remember Williams from before, if only from his collegiate days. The star wide receiver was the 10th overall pick by the Detroit Lions in the 2005 NFL Draft. There, he caught 37 passes for 449 yards in two years before he was traded to Oakland. But Williams didn’t last long there, either, and eventually signed with the Tennessee Titans at a point in which he reportedly weighed in upwards of 270 pounds.

After two seasons away from football, Williams is back, this time in a Seattle Seahawks uniform. On his first preseason catch, he bolted 51 yards for a touchdown. Does it officially announce that he’s back? Maybe not. After all, it is the preseason. But he certainly looks and sounds like he was worth taking a flier on.

Mike Williams joined KJR in Seattle with Ian Furness after the Seahawks beat the Tennessee Titans in the teams’ first preseason games on Saturday. Williams discussed what it felt like to be back on the football field after two years being away from it, whether there was a sense of relief when he scored a long touchdown, whether the time away is making him appreciate football more and what it’s like to be playing for his college coach, Pete Carroll, again.

On getting back on the field after missing two seasons:

“It was exciting to get out there and to have an opportunity. But, I think it’s hard to say. It really is. I’m at a loss for words. To be out of football for two years and then have my first catch turn out in that fashion. But it’s already in the past. … It doesn’t count because it’s only preseason. I’m just going to continue to get back to work this week and try to carry over to next week.”

On whether there was a sense of relief in scoring in his first game back:

“Things happen so fast and for me I’ve never been in that position. … In the NFL, I don’t have a play like that where I caught the ball and go down the sideline for that of distance. It was new to me. It was a new experience for me and I was just fortunate to put us on the board and get the crowd back into it. … With the chance that the organization took on me, bringing me here. It’s only preseason, so it doesn’t really count, but just to come out and have a decent showing [was great].”

On whether the time away has helped him appreciate the moments more:

“It’s hard to say. I almost feel like I do get paid to work. That’s kind of what I’m supposed to do. To finally have the opportunity to put it on display is a blessing, but I don’t really want to put too much into it because it’s so early. For all I know, I could comeback and not have an assignment on a lineman and have a bad week next week. I’m not going to get too high about the situation, but enjoy the moment with my family and everybody who supported me through this long journey. Maybe I’ll get the negative people off me for a few days.”

On playing for Pete Carroll, who appeared to be giddy after the win:

“He came into our meeting room two days ago and was like, ‘You know what it is? It’s the day before the day before!’ … Thursday, he was ready to go … and it’s just carried over to the minions and last night, when we met, we just talked about how important it was to just go out and do what we do and carry over how we practice. He challenged us to see what kind of carryover we would have from the practice to the game. I’m happy to be a part of it.”

Listen to the interview with Mike Williams on KJR in Seattle here

Tags: Carroll reunited with Mike Williams, Detroit Lions, Mike Williams, NFL, NFL Preseason, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans, USC Trojans