The NFL is a business in which business moves are made by coaches, players, and executives all the time. Sometimes, these choices are not so popular based on fans and sometimes even the teams. Very rarely are there ever players who stick to one team in their career. Unless it’s a quarterback, most of the other position players take their talents to a new team atleast one or twice in their career.
Now, there are some cases where loyalty plays a role within a player. Or they make the choice to stay on a team because they feel they can bring pride and a hopeful feeling to the team and their city. Defensive tackle Kyle Williams falls under this category for the Buffalo Bills.
Playing for the Bills for 12 seasons, numerous amounts of head coaches, defensive coordinators and teammates, the former fifth round draft pick in 2006 has made his impact on the team, the fans and the city of Buffalo. In recent years, there have been speculation of when Williams could hang up the Bills jersey for good and enjoy life after football. He has signed contract extension after extension for the Bills. Who knew a fifth round pick could become a team captain as well as become a leader on and off the field for Buffalo?
For Bills fans, it’s hard to think about the thought that this could be Williams’ last season with the Bills with everything he’s done for the organization. The last player to be released by the Bills recently that caused an empty feeling for Bills fans was running back Fred Jackson. But that move was simply a business move.
With the culture that Sean McDermott is trying to build, he understands that a business makes moves that not everyone is going to like. Him and the front office decided to keep the veteran, Williams for atleast one more season, extending a one year deal worth $6 million. It was a very classy move by the organization considering that he is currently the heart and soul of the Bills and is the leader of the defense.
In his career with the Bills, Williams has 366 tackles, 43.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 5 fumble recoveries, 1 interception and a rushing touchdown that he scored last season against the Miami Dolphins in Week 17.
With Williams going into his potential last season with the Bills, and the team finding their hopeful replacement for Williams for the future in Harrison Phillips, Bills fans should expect one final last push from Williams, playoff appearance or not. With McDermott beefing up the defensive line, Williams will be in great position to make impactful plays this year that can get the Bills in the win column.
Brandon Ray is a Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage and covers the NFL and the Buffalo Bills. Follow him on Twitter at @brandon_ray79 and @FPC_Bills for Bills coverage.
