Williams Battling Before Minicamp
June 27th, 2011
Plenty of Bucs fans probably forgot, or never knew, that wide receiver Mike Williams was courted to play basketball for Syracuse University.
Yes, before realizing he was 100 percent football star his freshman year at Syracuse, Williams thought he might be the next Louis Orr, Billy Owens, Rafael Addison, Carmelo Anthony, or another sharpshooter from Orangemen past.
It seems Williams still has his love of hoops in tact after playing in a major 3-on-3 tournament over the weekend in Buffalo.
Still, it was a shocking sight Saturday when Williams, the star wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, fired jumpers, battled for body position and accidentally bloodied another player with an elbow during a top men’s division game with the South Buffalo Celtics.
It wasn’t planned.
Williams was supposed to be coaching the team for a friend, but when his big man failed to show up — Williams pulled a Bill Russell.
“I couldn’t leave my team hanging so I went in there,” said Williams, who caught a team-leading 11 touchdowns and averaged 14.8 yards per catch on 65 receptions as an NFL rookie in 2010. “A lot of people were screaming Mike Williams on the sidelines so it feels good to be back home.”
This kind of stuff scares the crap out of Joe. To have a guy the Bucs need on the field for opening day (hopefully) in September banging on the basketball court with an NFL-player target on his back is risky. An ankle sprain at this time of year could plague him all season.
Joe will be much more at peace seeing Williams at Josh Freeman’s minicamp tomorrow running routes and lifting weights.
He’s one of the last guys the Bucs can afford to lose to injury.
June 27th, 2011 at 3:45 pm
Yeah, yeah, but I love it. Cudos to Mike for stepping in. This just shows the kind of team player he is. The same kind that dives on the ice in front of a puck being slapped at at 90 mph. Basketball injuries are usually minor and heal quickly. This kid is special and look for him to really light em up this year. I can’t wait for camp to start. Go Bucs!!!
June 27th, 2011 at 3:48 pm
When I lived in Tampa, I used to play basketball with the Bucs all the time. Sapp, Dunn, and a bunch of other guys would always come to the YMCA and play. These guys are athletes, so they are not going to stop playing other sports (in particular basketball).
June 27th, 2011 at 4:17 pm
Hawaiian Buc, I envy you.
Big Mac, basketball injuries are often times acl strains/tears, and we do not need any more knee injuries from our receivers.
I can’t blame the guy for going out there, i just hope luck is on his side in the injury department. Also wouldn’t mind a video of him dunking on some scrub.
June 27th, 2011 at 4:28 pm
He gets paid millions to play Football. Would you take this risk? One eye poke, one knee twist and poof all that money and talent down the drain.
He should stick to P-I-G if he wants to hoop.
June 27th, 2011 at 4:38 pm
Gotta do what you love. What is the point of life if you can’t play when you want?
June 27th, 2011 at 4:40 pm
calm down, for every Steve Smith playing flag football injury there are SEVERAL more injuries caused from INactivity. (think Derrelle Revis). A physical player keeps limber and strong by consistently balling not just the 4 months or so a year that is ‘in season’ maybe that’s why Steve smith has been such a consistent weapon (when someone can get the ball to him) and even with his injury he didn’t miss a game. I bet K2 and Barber are active somehow competitively year round as well…
though i admit, i would prefer it if it was swimming or something haha
June 27th, 2011 at 4:41 pm
Espo, I played organized Basketball from age 7 until age 22. I didn’t make it to the NBA. I know the game inside out, upside down and backwards. Thanks for that though.
June 27th, 2011 at 4:46 pm
…I said MILLION$!
June 27th, 2011 at 5:01 pm
@Espo,
Trust me, it was no fun to play with Sapp. He plays basketball about as aggressive as he plays football, and he runs his mouth probably as much too. I stayed the hell away from him on the court, as did everyone with a brain. It was cool to see him once, but after that, most people would hope he wouldn’t show up. It was pretty amazing as to how athletic he was.
I, like BigMac, have played organized (and unorganized) basketball my whole life (and even in my 30s I’m still trying). I have only seen a couple people ever get seriously hurt (one with a torn ACL, the other with a broken arm). It obviously can happen, but it could also happen just as easily in the weight room, or more likely it could happen on the football field (OTA’s, training camp, etc.). Like BigMac said, most injuries in basketball are relatively minor, and heal pretty quickly. You just can’t take the competitiveness away from these guys just because they are pro athletes. That competitiveness is what helped them get to the level they are at, so why would you want to? There’s a risk in everything they do, but I think it’s pretty silly to worry about Mike Williams playing pick up basketball in the offseason. I can absolutely guarantee you that he is not the only one, not even close.
June 27th, 2011 at 5:03 pm
@Chris FWC,
I totally get your point, but Mike Williams does not get paid millions. Joe can probably give you the exact figure, but it was definitely not a million.
June 27th, 2011 at 5:15 pm
I believe that he is only paid a few hundred thousand a year, but his next contract will make up for it, it will be tens of millions. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.
June 27th, 2011 at 5:25 pm
Oh yeah, stay off motorcycles, players. It’s not your driving, it’s the 90 year old blind guy 2 lanes over that cuts you off and stops, in a 50 mph zone.
I was most impressed with the Bo mike threw. My kinda guy all the way.
June 27th, 2011 at 5:30 pm
Me and some of the neighborhood guys used to play basketball all time with Vinny Testaverde back in the day. He did not seem to worry at all about getting hurt. He was a beast, with his size and strength, he dominated us any way. Mike is a big guy too, so I am sure he can hold his own out there. Wouldn’t want him to get hurt though. Go Bucs!!
June 27th, 2011 at 6:59 pm
I read that Donald Penn plays basketball on a regular basis too. That really worries the crap out of me!
June 27th, 2011 at 7:22 pm
Does it make me worry….yes, do I want him to stop…..no! If D Smith the hatchetman and facilitator of this henious lockout would keep his ego in check we wouldn’t be having this conversation. (my ode to Joe)
June 27th, 2011 at 7:36 pm
It’s funny because I pretty much have hated De Smith from the beginning, but I give him props for sticking to his guns. The Owners are the ones that appear to be caving for the most part. They can’t afford to lose any games and De knows it. The players as a whole can hardly afford to lose paychecks either, but when this deal gets signed in the next week or two, De Smith is going to come out smelling like a rose. He’ll end up giving just a little but gaining a whole lot. I think De Smith may just be Time Magazine’s Man of the Year.
June 27th, 2011 at 7:43 pm
My bad Big Mac. Its impressive you played basketball for so long. Most people around here don’t stick with it. I love it but was never good enough to play organized.
June 27th, 2011 at 10:18 pm
“I read that Donald Penn plays basketball on a regular basis too. That really worries the crap out of me!”
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I much prefer him playing basketball over sitting on his couch eating bon bons. Anything he can do to keep his weight down in this crappy offseason is great in my opinion.
June 27th, 2011 at 11:00 pm
Just let him hangout with Winslow about his fun time off the field.. He might think twice after that!
June 27th, 2011 at 11:04 pm
Competitor.
June 27th, 2011 at 11:08 pm
@Chris FWC – @Hawaiian Buc – @OB
Mike Williams signed a 4 year 3.15 million contract
http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/tampa-bay-buccaneers/mike-williams/
June 27th, 2011 at 11:12 pm
“Just let him hangout with Winslow about his fun time off the field.. He might think twice after that!”
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Don’t really see how you can compare playing 3 on 3 basketball to riding a motorcycle at high rates of speed???? Maybe you could elaborate on that point.
June 27th, 2011 at 11:55 pm
I agree, these guys are athletes who love playing sports. If anything, playing keeps him sharp and in shape.