Karl Williams signs

[CatBoxBackFan]

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Return specialist and wide receiver Karl Williams, an eight-year veteran with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has agreed to the terms of a two-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals.

The 5–10, 177 pound Texas A&M-Kingsville product was signed by the Bucs as a college free agent in 1996. The Garland, Texas native has appeared in 115 games over the past eight seasons, including 13 appearances last season as the Bucs’ punt returner and back-up wide receiver. Williams had 15 punt returns for 110 yards
plus seven receptions for 114 yards in 2003.

In his tenure with the Buccaneers, Williams holds club records for most return yards in a single game (116 vs. Chicago, Dec. 21, 1997), best single-season punt-return average (21.1 in 1996), best single-season
kickoff-return average (27.4 in 1996), and most single season punt-return yards (597 in 1997). He boasts 137 career receptions for 1,700 yards and seven touchdowns. He also started 22 contests at wide receiver. His 115 appearances at wide receiver and five punt returns for touchdowns are Tampa Bay records.

 

[CardinalChris]

There is our punt returner..... this will hurt guys like Kasper, Gilmore and maybe poole. Gotta do more than play WR to make a quickly crowding roster.

 

[vikesfan]

Remember DG's Checklist:

1. DE Passrusher - check
2. CB - check
3. WR/Returner - check

what's left:

4. DIFFERENCE MAKER @ WR or RBs
(I guess the draft or late cuts or trade.)

 

[AZCB34]

This is not directed at you vikesfan...just used your template.

Remember DG's Checklist:

1. DE Passrusher - check I am not sold on Berry...
2. CB - check
3. WR/Returner - check

They could have done better... JMHO

 

[vikesfan]

Originally posted by AZCB34
This is not directed at you vikesfan...just used your template.

Remember DG's Checklist:

1. DE Passrusher - check I am not sold on Berry...
2. CB - check
3. WR/Returner - check

They could have done better... JMHO

NAME who they could have gotten (given the Bidwill income generation reality) who is better
be specific.

 

[DevonCardsFan]

DE- Berry best signing Cards could get at this need, Kearse would not have came here or we would have paid an arm and leg for someover priced guy.

CB- Macklin an up and comer teamed with a 2nd or 3rd round pick to go across from Starks and probably Hill at Nickle is fine with me.

KR/PR-Williams another great pick up,low price and does his job better then any Card on the roster

WR- Comes Round 1, we are watching the Cards metamorph in our eyes,Last year people in Carolina were not happy about Delhomme and Davis.


I'm so happy about having Green as coach,

 

[EnglishCardinal]

i am in agreement there, the pick ups so far have all been far better than we have on out roster and with the draft to come and not losing our best players in FA (as we usually do) this can only meen a better team - coupled with better coaching (i hope) this will make us a wholelot stronger than we have been for years.

lets hope for and imporvemnet in performances as well as results and it will really show we have turned the corner - and its only our first year like this and another few years in the same direction with crowds in the new stadium it could really be the start of something

or am i being way to opptemistic

ahh what the hell its the only time of the year us Cards fan can be !

 

[RedStorm]

Understanding that we play with 31 other teams and it is easy to compare because we will play 16 of them (at least) during the season. However, I think we need to look at the guys we picked up and compare them to what we have/had last season.

Berry, Macklin, King, etc may not be the best at their position as compared to the rosters of other teams. But, they are an improvement to ours.

If these guys are better than what we had then we have upgraded. If we have upgraded then we have closed the gap between ourselves and the rest of the league.

That is how I see it.

 

[az jam]

Forgot to mention Shawn King. A solid, experienced qb that will be a good backup to McCown and lead the team if needed. He also knows Denny system as Dungy ran it in Tampa Bay.

 

[AZCB34]

If you guys are happy with the thought Macklin could be starting, more power to you. Oh and by the way, you do realize that Hill can easily sign elsewhere right? Which means Macklin may HAVE to start across from Starks...you remember Starks, the guy coming off an ACL?

Williams may not even make the damn team. The only positive, as I see it, is if he does, the Cards can end this ******* thought process of having Boldin returning punts. Scobey EASILY out performed Williams on kick returns and Williams had...wait for it...a grand total of 15 punt returns last year. Oh and Williams had...wait for it again...1 kickoff return all last year. Yup...ONE Kickoff return all last year.

Berry is a tough one. He was really the Cards last grasp at a DE after Kearse and Wistrom signed. Wiley would have been a good upgrade but I don;t think the Cards bothered with the guy. I just believe Berry is over-hyped from one season's performance and I question if he will hit double digit sacks again. He does upgrade the line but it remains to be seen how much.

 

[vikesfan]

Originally posted by AZCB34
If you guys are happy with the thought Macklin could be starting, more power to you. Oh and by the way, you do realize that Hill can easily sign elsewhere right? Which means Macklin may HAVE to start across from Starks...you remember Starks, the guy coming off an ACL?

Williams may not even make the damn team. The only positive, as I see it, is if he does, the Cards can end this ******* thought process of having Boldin returning punts. Scobey EASILY out performed Williams on kick returns and Williams had...wait for it...a grand total of 15 punt returns last year. Oh and Williams had...wait for it again...1 kickoff return all last year. Yup...ONE Kickoff return all last year.

Berry is a tough one. He was really the Cards last grasp at a DE after Kearse and Wistrom signed. Wiley would have been a good upgrade but I don;t think the Cards bothered with the guy. I just believe Berry is over-hyped from one season's performance and I question if he will hit double digit sacks again. He does upgrade the line but it remains to be seen how much.

Wiley LOL talk about overhyped when was the last time he got double digit sacks. Berry last grasp better numbers then Kearse or Wistrom? Berry = First Choice WHO DAL TRIED TO SIGN BEFORE THEY SETTLED FOR Wiley. The Cards beat out two playoff teams with 2 great coaches for Berry.

Macklin name a better younger CB we could have had (another then Winefield and no way do you outbid a team with the money the Vikes had anyway).


DG saw Williams play in his division for years. He knows about him from Dungy. DG knows what he is doing. He isn't just making dumb moves. He knows how to build a team that can compete for years.

 

[AZCB34]

If the BIdwills put their mind to it, they could have gotten Winfield...but I doubt the Cards were even on Winfield's radar. Younger doesn't equal better when it comes to Macklin. Taylor and Vincent are hands down better than Macklin...but again the Cards chose to go another route. Funny, even with Taylor saying he would love to play for your beloved DG...think he may have been willing to deal lower if the Cards had actually brought him in and he was sincere about his desire to play for DG???

Sorry but Williams is a joke. The Cards have better on the team right now.

But hey:

DG is omnipotent...DG is a genius.

Bidwill's have no money.

These three players were awesome pickups. I am so happy they are Cardinals. I can feel the playoffs.

 

[ajcardfan]

Originally posted by AZCB34
Funny, even with Taylor saying he would love to play for your beloved DG...think he may have been willing to deal lower if the Cards had actually brought him in and he was sincere about his desire to play for DG???

I don't. That was free agent ******** which every guy says about every team.

We could've had much sexier names signed, yes. But, I got to tell you AZCB (and I've never, ever been an apologist for the Cards front office, this is as close as it'll get), every single guy you mentioned, I WOULD NOT want at the price they signed for. In fact, I think Kearse's, Wistrom's, Winfield's, Spring's, etc, will all be too much for what they get out of them. I would've hated signing any of those guys for THOSE contracts.

You can bitch about the Cards signings, but I can't see how they are dumb. They went for guys in Berry and Macklin who might be on the rise. What if they aren't? Well, they can be cut as soon as next offseason, clearing cap space. What if Kearse, Springs, Wistrom don't play well, get injured? Well, their teams are stuck with them for a few years because of the absurd cap hit they'd get from cutting them.

Now, when the Cards draft, they can select exactly who they want, they do not have to reach to fill a need. It's the first time in a long, long time we've been in that position.

Besides, the key to winning is not the free agents and draft picks we get this year, it's all of the holdovers from McGinnis' team. Green has to get those guys to play better, period. That's what will make or break the squad this year.

 

[vikesfan]

QUOTE: If the BIdwills put their mind to it, they could have gotten Winfield...but I doubt the Cards were even on Winfield's radar. Younger doesn't equal better when it comes to Macklin. Taylor and Vincent are hands down better than Macklin...but again the Cards chose to go another route. Funny, even with Taylor saying he would love to play for your beloved DG...think he may have been willing to deal lower if the Cards had actually brought him in and he was sincere about his desire to play for DG???

RESPONSE: Yes lets sign 33 year old CBs with injury histories that is the way to build a team.

QUOTE: Sorry but Williams is a joke. The Cards have better on the team right now.

RESPONSE: Well NOW they will have to prove it won't they. That is the point! The free ride is over. Even Josh is not safe.

But hey:

DG is omnipotent...DG is a genius.
Bidwill's have no money.

RESPONSE:
Check out DG's record. He is as close to genius as there is but he is not omnipotent. He makes mistakes.

Bidwill's have no income outside the Cards like Allen, Red, Snyder do. That means they cannot offer big player bonuses upfront. In Red's case his cheapness led to a huge cap which he then used to give Winefield the bonus.

QUOTE: These three players were awesome pickups. I am so happy they are Cardinals. I can feel the playoffs.
RESPONSE: I don't feel the playoffs I feel a professionally run team.

 

[Renz]

Originally posted by ajcardfan
I don't. That was free agent ******** which every guy says about every team.

We could've had much sexier names signed, yes. But, I got to tell you AZCB (and I've never, ever been an apologist for the Cards front office, this is as close as it'll get), every single guy you mentioned, I WOULD NOT want at the price they signed for. In fact, I think Kearse's, Wistrom's, Winfield's, Spring's, etc, will all be too much for what they get out of them. I would've hated signing any of those guys for THOSE contracts.

You can bitch about the Cards signings, but I can't see how they are dumb. They went for guys in Berry and Macklin who might be on the rise. What if they aren't? Well, they can be cut as soon as next offseason, clearing cap space. What if Kearse, Springs, Wistrom don't play well, get injured? Well, their teams are stuck with them for a few years because of the absurd cap hit they'd get from cutting them.

Now, when the Cards draft, they can select exactly who they want, they do not have to reach to fill a need. It's the first time in a long, long time we've been in that position.

Besides, the key to winning is not the free agents and draft picks we get this year, it's all of the holdovers from McGinnis' team. Green has to get those guys to play better, period. That's what will make or break the squad this year.

Word. Just look at Macklin's contract compared to Barrett's. Barrett and Macklin have nearly identical stats as NFL players.

IMO there is no way that Wistrom is worth a $14 million signing bonus. The same goes for Springs and his $10 million signing bonus. Those contracts would have hamstrung the team.

A also like what I've seen so far. We still need some more playmakers, but with our draft position I think we can address those needs then.

 

[Mr.Dibbs]

Originally posted by AZCB34
Oh and by the way, you do realize that Hill can easily sign elsewhere right?
I just believe Berry is over-hyped from one season's performance and I question if he will hit double digit sacks again. He does upgrade the line but it remains to be seen how much.

Hill can't "easily" sign with someone else. He's ours, and we can match any offer he gets. If someone offers him the type of money Barrett got, then see ya Hill, but as of right now nobody has offered anything to him.

Berry might be over-glorified, but he is still young and there is only one way to find out and that's by playing him. Even if he is a one-year wonder, the Cards HAD to get a DE and they did, that's the important thing to remember.

AZCB34, cheer up and kill the negativity. If we do suck you'll have 17 weeks to say "I told you so." As of now, our free agency could have been much, much worse. So far this year is light years better than last year! We are actually addressing our needs.

 

[40yearfan]

Originally posted by ajcardfan
I don't. That was free agent ******** which every guy says about every team.

We could've had much sexier names signed, yes. But, I got to tell you AZCB (and I've never, ever been an apologist for the Cards front office, this is as close as it'll get), every single guy you mentioned, I WOULD NOT want at the price they signed for. In fact, I think Kearse's, Wistrom's, Winfield's, Spring's, etc, will all be too much for what they get out of them. I would've hated signing any of those guys for THOSE contracts.

You can bitch about the Cards signings, but I can't see how they are dumb. They went for guys in Berry and Macklin who might be on the rise. What if they aren't? Well, they can be cut as soon as next offseason, clearing cap space. What if Kearse, Springs, Wistrom don't play well, get injured? Well, their teams are stuck with them for a few years because of the absurd cap hit they'd get from cutting them.

Now, when the Cards draft, they can select exactly who they want, they do not have to reach to fill a need. It's the first time in a long, long time we've been in that position.

Besides, the key to winning is not the free agents and draft picks we get this year, it's all of the holdovers from McGinnis' team. Green has to get those guys to play better, period. That's what will make or break the squad this year.

 

[vikesfan]

Originally posted by Renz
Word. Just look at Macklin's contract compared to Barrett's. Barrett and Macklin have nearly identical stats as NFL players.

IMO there is no way that Wistrom is worth a $14 million signing bonus. The same goes for Springs and his $10 million signing bonus. Those contracts would have hamstrung the team.

A also like what I've seen so far. We still need some more playmakers, but with our draft position I think we can address those needs then.

Hugh Douglas 5 sacks.

There is another difference between Macklin and Barrett. He was kicking @$$ at the end of last season won his job back and played great in the playoffs. He doesn't come free if INDI is not money pressured. And look at the kid's attitude he says he doesn't expect a job and expects to fight for it.

No more carrying players on this team. You want to compete against other teams you first compete against your own team. Everyone is expected to carry their own water.

 

[Southpaw]

Forget Karl Williams, draft 2nd day Derek Abney U of K.

 

[AZCB34]

How would everybody feel with these free agent pickups if Mac was still here? Or if the Cards HC was Barry Switzer or Dennis Erickson? My guess is everyone would be livid and that is because by taking off the Green ciolored glasses, these players aren't nearly want everyone thinks they are.

BTW, I have never been the "I told you so" type so it won't happen.

But I will stop posting about the Cards for now. Don't want any negativity to ruin the love fest.

 

[Southpaw]

Originally posted by AZCB34
How would everybody feel with these free agent pickups if Mac was still here? Or if the Cards HC was Barry Switzer or Dennis Erickson? My guess is everyone would be livid and that is because by taking off the Green ciolored glasses, these players aren't nearly want everyone thinks they are.

BTW, I have never been the "I told you so" type so it won't happen.

But I will stop posting about the Cards for now. Don't want any negativity to ruin the love fest.

Uh Oh !!!!!

You may have opened up a can of worms. Get ready. Here he comes. You've got mail.

 

[ajcardfan]

Originally posted by AZCB34

But I will stop posting about the Cards for now. Don't want any negativity to ruin the love fest.

What a crock of crap.

A) There is no "love fest". No one has claimed anyone we signed will be a Pro Bowler or that we're playoff bound now. Hell, I gave the Cards a C+ for free agency on a thread a few days ago because they tried to bring in 3 G's and whiffed on all of them.

B) Get over yourself. Your opinions don't ruin anything for anybody.

 

[AZCB34]

Originally posted by ajcardfan
What a crock of crap.

A) There is no "love fest". No one has claimed anyone we signed will be a Pro Bowler or that we're playoff bound now. Hell, I gave the Cards a C+ for free agency on a thread a few days ago because they tried to bring in 3 G's and whiffed on all of them.

B) Get over yourself. Your opinions don't ruin anything for anybody.

Whatever AJ. There is a love fest going on for these players and DG...besides I was responding to what Oran said to me: "AZCB34, cheer up and kill the negativity." Basically, I should either accept the company line without complaining or shut up right? Since there isn't alot more to talk about right now, I will just shut up until the draft.

What crawled up your ass today?

 

[LVCARDFREAK]

Why the hell is everyone so conserned about a Karl Williams sigining? You'd have thought the Cards just signed Peyton Manning or something.

Relax.

It is Karl "the truth hurts' Williams. He will be fine, the numbers were probably right, and cost the team very little. If for nothing else you should thank Karl for coming aboard just so Quan doesnt have to run back punts again this year. (not to mention he sucked at it) That in itself is worth the money paid to him.

Green told all of you that this team will win with its current players. I dont know why everyone expected the Cards to sign, Sapp, Manning, Winfield, Portis, Bailey etc etc. It was never gonna happen!!!

 

[kerouac9]

Originally posted by AZCB34
How would everybody feel with these free agent pickups if Mac was still here? Or if the Cards HC was Barry Switzer or Dennis Erickson? My guess is everyone would be livid and that is because by taking off the Green ciolored glasses, these players aren't nearly want everyone thinks they are.

Cubby, I can speak for myself in saying that I give neither credit or blame to Dennis Green for the free-agent acquisitions or lack thereof. It seems to me that sink or swim, this team in Rod Graves'. That's what Skkorp said, and I don't see that changing unless this team is HORRIBLE again in 2004.

For what it's worth, it's not like Graves has whiffed on FAs like the ones you mentioned. This isn't the 2003 offseason where good players left and signed with other teams for less money or whatever. For the most part, we seem to be getting the players that we're targeting. If you hate the players we're targeting, that's fine.

When I look at this free agent market, I don't see the kind of playmakers that would allow this defense to make The Leap. I see a bunch of role-players for the most part (Even Winfield is a role player; he's just really, really good at his role. No one is going to confuse him with Chris McAllister, who's a true playmaker at his position.). Rod Graves, as I can see it, has chosen to fill out the roster with solid players, and then will use the draft to acquire playmakers. It's not different from what the Panthers started two years ago when they drafted Julius Peppers and DeShaun Foster.

Graves has positioned this team to be able to pick the best players available in the first two rounds of the draft, and then draft some "boom or bust" prospects later on, especially on the second day. I don't have a problem with that. Did he light up free agency like a pinball machine? Hell, no. But this is better than overpaying for Dexter Jackson, James Hodgins, and a bunch of other scrubs while trying to downplay getting corn-holed by Rossevelt Colvin and Vonnie Holliday, the players we really wanted.