Mike Williams And Kenny Britt
January 30th, 2014
Now this is one way to get Warren Sapp off the front pages.
The fellows over at PewterReport.com did some nice digging and have learned that because of his dubious Twitterings and postings on Instagram, along with being late to meetings and rehab assignments, Bucs receiver Mike Williams “accumulated several fines totaling more than $200,000” last season
UPDATE/REFUTE BELOW:
Now Joe also follows Williams on Twitter and has noticed his Twitters have gone in recent months from innocent (a picture of him in the emergency room, a picture of him holding his son) to just plain weird.
Hey, Joe posts weird things on Twitter, too, especially late on Friday nights after Joe has been at a watering hole for a time. Just because Joe finds what Williams’ Twitters weird doesn’t mean they are bad. It’s not like he’s Twittering photos of his weed stash like knucklehead Davone Bess did.
Joe knows former Bucs commander Greg Schiano really, really, really hated Twitter. He found it to be an affront to the American way of life and all but banned players from using it. So Joe can see why the Bucs were starting to sweat reading Williams’ timeline of late.
But what does get Joe’s attention is that he was (allegedly) channeling leaky Rip Van Freeman and being late or blowing off mandatory meetings, per Reynolds. If true (Joe has not yet heard back from the Bucs for their side of the story), this is alarming and at best, concerning. Now the part of this story where Joe drives off the cliff is that the Bucs, Reynolds writes, were so upset with Williams, the Dominik-Schiano regime pondered the possibility of cutting him and replacing him with noted jailbird Kenny Britt.
So the Bucs were going to wave goodbye to Williams, in part, because he Twitters weird things and hangs with some allegedly shady characters, and replace him with a guy who has been pinched so often he is regularly invited to police Christmas parties?
What had former Bucs rock star general manager and Schiano preached for years? Buccaneer Men, guys who are stalwarts in the community, players that kids can look up to, players that parents point to as role models.
Britt sure as hell isn’t a Buccaneer Man. But he was a Rutgers man.
UPDATE: Woody Cummings reached out to Williams’ agent who denies knowledge of Williams’ breaches with team rules.
@RCummingsTBO: The agent for Bucs WR Mike Williams tells TBO he is not aware of Williams being fined for missing team meetings or rehab appointments.
@RCummingsTBO: NFL does not require players on IR to attend team meetings so any meetings missed by Willias following his placement on IR are not fineable.
Not long after that report Joe has yet to hear back from the Bucs for their take on the subject.
January 30th, 2014 at 12:18 pm
I read an article that said Dom and Greg thought Williams was very very lazy.
January 30th, 2014 at 12:24 pm
Hmmm makes me wonder just how bad that hamstring injury really was….
January 30th, 2014 at 12:25 pm
*Remind me, I forgot to thank you by the way Joe. Me & my Ole’ lady had major munchies one nite, and you posted a pick of some peach cobbler ice-cream. It was a wrap after that.:-)
January 30th, 2014 at 12:26 pm
200K?
Wow.
Why on earth would a man throw away that kind of dough when all you have to do is show up for meetings and rehab?
And put your big future earnings at risk? Insanity.
January 30th, 2014 at 12:28 pm
Kenny Britt + Rutgers = Schiano/Buccaneer Man
January 30th, 2014 at 12:30 pm
I remember a couple months ago some one (forgive me, I don’t remember who) on these very pages showing concern for this very thing. He basically got blasted for it. Seems there was some merit to his concerns. But what gets me is if he is such a wild child, and they didn’t want him around anymore, why did they give him a fancy new contract?
January 30th, 2014 at 12:32 pm
@Chef Paul
Smh. Remember same guy gave Michael Clayton money.
January 30th, 2014 at 12:33 pm
Chef Paul…..lots of why’s when it comes to our team.
January 30th, 2014 at 12:33 pm
tru dat luv
January 30th, 2014 at 12:34 pm
Something going on with mike will. I don’t like it. He got his big contract now he’s turned a new leaf. I’ve been a fan of his since before we drafted him, but I don’t like reports like this one. Hopefully it was just schiano who had him fed up with football, and hopefully Smith and co. can get MW19 back on track. Because we already need receiver help, and we can’t afford to go looking for a new number 2.
January 30th, 2014 at 12:36 pm
Good thing Dom locked him up with a new contract. I remember listening to the press conference where both Dom and Schiano were praising his work ethic. Just more fall out from the Pop Star regime!
January 30th, 2014 at 12:36 pm
87,
Well hopefully with this new regime, we turn all those y’s into w’s
January 30th, 2014 at 12:37 pm
@Chef Paul
2nd that on the blasting part. Every time you step outside the box, and address a concern; they’ll blast you. Then when its time hold them accountable, they’ve either changed their name or plead the 5th. That’s why I won’t stop re-posting my old statements.
January 30th, 2014 at 12:41 pm
And lets not forget that their were concern about him in College. Remember how him and Rah bragged about how they did all of this due diligence on the kid? I for one like the kid, think he’s a great talent. So let’s hope this was just a bump in the road.
January 30th, 2014 at 12:42 pm
Joe, off topic, and this isn’t a complaint. Just something I thought you would like to know. I counted and there are literally 14 different adds for the same store on my page right now. Again not a complaint, just figured it’s not very efficient, and you would like it brought to your attention.
Joe’s all good with it. Thanks for caring. –Joe
January 30th, 2014 at 12:44 pm
He and Freeman were close maybe he didn’t like the coach shopping his QB and trying to trade for a different QB during the off season last year. I bet he has a much better attitude playing for a competent head coach.
January 30th, 2014 at 12:45 pm
He sends out the weirdest things on Twitter?! Also I believe that he starting a rap career…
But everything aside, I still believe Wide Receiver is one of the highest priorities. Vincent isn’t getting younger and Mike Williams is injured/not focused.
January 30th, 2014 at 12:45 pm
I kind of lost a little fanship for Williams during his second year. He was so awesome his rookie year, then in year two he kept dropping passes from fear of being hit. Every single time there was a defender closing in on him, he would drop the ball after it was basically a catch. His third year won me over a little bit, but I’m still a little reluctant to anoint him a savior just yet. he’s got some growing up to do, and hopefully when that happens he becomes what we all thought he could be.
January 30th, 2014 at 12:46 pm
What a shame. Guy was talented. 60+ catches a year and could make some great TD grabs
January 30th, 2014 at 12:48 pm
@ Chef Paul
Lol, you right. He was never the same after this hit
-Dashon Goldson Wrecks Mike Williams
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39AsbvKfNPQ
January 30th, 2014 at 12:48 pm
Go to Rutgers? Play on a terrible college football team? There’s a spot for you on Schiano’s professional team! This is why you can’t take a college coach straight out of college, without an assurance he won’t do that crap. I’d have that written into the contract. (“No more than 2,”)
January 30th, 2014 at 12:52 pm
this is what happens when you give a punk a pay day….seriously the pop star signs this guy but let Bennett go…..so glad that FAKE got fired…..
January 30th, 2014 at 12:53 pm
Haha Luv,
Yup that’s a typical Williams drop two years ago. I’ll give him a pass for that one though. lol. And why cant Goldson hit clean like that any more. That was very similer to one of Revis’ hits this year, that I was sure was going to get a flag but didn’t.
January 30th, 2014 at 12:57 pm
If Mike Williams is no longer hungry, do him a favor and send him packing! We need to draft a couple of receivers that can take the top of a secondary anyway, and Williams is not that receiver.
January 30th, 2014 at 1:07 pm
Williams is an eccentric guy. Its his personality. His twitter posts have gotten rather strange. And the move from normal to strange kind of coinciding with him signing the contract extension.
Is he using the money from the Bucs to start a rap career? Is he focusing more on rap than football using the Glazers money? I could see where the Bucs may be concerned.
Obviously an good employer wants their employees to have a life outside of the workplace. But Williams behavior is borderline alarming. Its near the point where he could possibly head down a path that gets him suspended by the NFL. Ya know what Im saying?
January 30th, 2014 at 1:09 pm
he lost blount free and how many others? all thoe guys in his ear telling him bucs suck. as to take a toll. time and new team mates will heal that wound. he’ll come around now that lovies in town!
January 30th, 2014 at 1:10 pm
I was a Dom supporter – I was disappointed when he was let go. Now I am glad. I am tired of what went on here last year. Bowers over Bennett (the gamble on Bowers was bad enough when Dom drafted him), Free’s bs, giving away Blount instead of keeping him for depth (not ever using him was bad enough), Talib leaves here and he is a Pro Bowler and now this crap with Williams.
Where is the freaking leadership? Obviously Schiano was incapable – he just wanted followers. Dom made a point to draft college team captains – where the hell are they?? Why is someone not kicking Williams ass? Bowers, Blount? Talib?
Ppl want to say Belicheat credibility is what makes players like Blount/Talib fall in line. I say NO. Belicheat has leaders in his players that will not tolerate this kind of behavior because they want to win.
WHERE are they on the Bucs?
January 30th, 2014 at 1:13 pm
This read raises a lot of questions about ” The New Schiano Order”/The New Schiano Regime”. Ufff, Joe you might’ve opened a “Pandoras Box” there , buddy………
January 30th, 2014 at 1:25 pm
I’m thinking one day he may regret giving up that 200k….
January 30th, 2014 at 1:27 pm
I used to follow him on Instagram. I had to drop him. I couldn’t take his posts about “caveman gang” any longer. Even before this story it appeared to me that he was more focused on being a rapper than being a Buccaneer. This reports concerns me even more.
January 30th, 2014 at 1:30 pm
Might begin to explain this cryptic quote I saw after Gregory and Dominik got canned:
“Freeman was “not as bad as some of the people we’ve put up with in the second half,” the source said.”
January 30th, 2014 at 1:36 pm
Not good.
January 30th, 2014 at 2:02 pm
Two words…ROCK…STAR
January 30th, 2014 at 2:19 pm
RCummingsTBO
“NFL does no require players on IR to attend team meetings so any meetings missed by Williams following his placement on IR are not fineable”
January 30th, 2014 at 2:36 pm
mike williams is a good player,he was hurt,he will do good this year with new oc.
January 30th, 2014 at 2:49 pm
Eric Says
“200K? Wow.”
Assuming PR did not make the story up, which is very possible, because they have made things up to general traffic before. OR, they have taken the word of FANS as a source, which is totally stupid.
Don’t forget, Cummings played it smart, he tried to get verification. The agent would have known because it comes out of his commission as well (NFL takes it out before issuing the check).
January 30th, 2014 at 2:51 pm
Even if the story is partly or completely true, Lovie will straighten him our. It would explain why Williams playing dropped of some last year before the injury.
January 30th, 2014 at 3:43 pm
If williams was late last year then im pretty sure he has done the same thing in 2012 ..which makes this artice nonsense becausr if that was the case he would not have been resigned to a huge contract…with that said if he was late then the tweet from cummings is right on..any player is not required to attend team meetings while on I.R…and remember how dominick had set up freeman to be late before by having him wait in the training room until schiano was finished witb a meeting…which caused freeman to be late …that whole front office and coaching regime was a freaking joke..glad they were fired and glad they are gone…lovie and his staff will bring respectability back to one buc …what a mess the last 4-5 years was…sheesh
January 30th, 2014 at 4:09 pm
The agent said missing meetings is not fineable.
Notice the agent did not address rehab sessions.
Sounds like a half truth, an evasion, or something worse . After all, wouldn’t ‘t you want an injured guy at rehab? Where is Cummings’ follow up?
And what is the over/ under on how many rehab sessions the Island Missed? (Zero is the way to bet on that one ).
I like Mike, I hope he recovers well and blows through the coming year. I mainly hope Lovie gets the team on track. Do remember that this is professional football and those who aren ‘t professional in their preparation and recovery cause trouble for themselves and the team. Even an overmatched college coach can see some of those problems.
Just sayin’.
January 30th, 2014 at 4:13 pm
Joe-
This beckons the next questioning of why would the Bucs then pay him to be a long term fixture as a number 2/3 WR on the roster?
January 30th, 2014 at 5:13 pm
Yup.
January 30th, 2014 at 5:20 pm
Hope this isnt true. Our offense is in big time trouble if it is. One stop closer to drafting Sammy.
January 30th, 2014 at 5:51 pm
Look at the source of the article, pewter report. That says it all. There were no facts to support the article. Anyway, who cares. He’s an adult and he’s not breaking the law so what does it matter. There are people out there that post weirder things on twitter and Instagram so let Mike live. Now if he’s healthy and not giving maximum effort that’s one thing, and its not good if he’s missing rehab (unless he’s trying to dodge the MRSA) but he’s injured and its the offseason now. Hopefully this will be a nonissue when training camp rolls around.
January 30th, 2014 at 6:23 pm
This wont happen under Lovie…..So glad Schiano is gone! Maybe we can get Michael Bennett back after he plays in the Superbowl
January 30th, 2014 at 6:34 pm
No big deal. He may never be the best WR in the league with his work ethic, but I’ll take a lazy mike williams every Sunday if he continues to perform at the level we are accustomed to him playing. Not every player can prepared the most or work the hardest.
Besides, Didn’t revis say that schiano made the locker room hate wanting to go to work? People didn’t want to show up. Mike Williams was 1 of probably 70 that hated going to work for that sorry excuse of a coach. Especially after you are injured, and can’t even play for the rest of the season. He was probably also deeply depressed like most players on IR.
January 30th, 2014 at 7:08 pm
Here we go again, Tampa Bay’s finest fans and media crucifying one of their own again. The guy has performed at the highest level
January 30th, 2014 at 8:27 pm
“Joe Says:
January 30th, 2014 at 5:13 pm
This beckons the next questioning of why would the Bucs then pay him to be a long term fixture as a number 2/3 WR on the roster?
Yup”
Stuff like this repeated mistakes plagued the good that Dominik did and he deserved to take the fall for the failures because you just can’t keep making mistakes like this.
This is yet potentially another setback.
January 30th, 2014 at 10:32 pm
I seem to remember Williams playing on a very bad hamstring, for at least 2 or 3 games. If he was hurt with a torn hamstring,he should not have been playing. It just made it worse, thanks to Schiano Buccaneer man crap. So if Williams had a attitude with Schiano i can see why.
January 30th, 2014 at 10:32 pm
before everybody goes apeshite on Dominik (for whatever reason),
who are the sources?
and what does starting a rap group have to do with anything. some players take up music in their off time, others take up dancing on TV in their spare time. so whats the f-in point?
no sources. no confirmation from the Bucs. and just a horrible attempt at creating controversy where it doesnt exist.
January 30th, 2014 at 10:52 pm
look at the hindsighters!
ok, so none of you wanted to give mike Williams a contract, huh? whatever. he earned it. all your hate for schiano and/or Dominik just clouds your reasoning and common sense!
look at what the contract that was signed was before spouting off your idiotic rants! or just continue running your pieholes without knowing the truth and facts.
January 31st, 2014 at 10:54 am
based on some recent articles, it sounds to me like Pewter Report is really pumping Mark Dominick for information about what he was seeing and what he would have done this offseason. i’m not sure where else this inside info would come from. nobody still at OBP interested in keeping their jobs would be leaking this stuff as they’re being evaluated by new bosses. besides Dom, only hickey has left the bucs’ front office so far, and PR’s first “insider” report on what the offseason would have been like under schiano\dominick came well before Hickey got the Dolphins job. i suppose schiano or some former position coaches could be offering this stuff up also, but wouldn’t it be a journalistic reach to trust some former assistant coach’s word that they were going to cut X and sign Y?
January 31st, 2014 at 12:30 pm
Jeez, I thought the Little General never lost the locker room or did he lose it Day One?
I haven’t seen any Schiano sightings in the media as an expert analyst or anything similar.
February 1st, 2014 at 11:36 pm
It’s easier to be a RAP star then being in the NFL. Just a thought.
OTOH. I think Lovie/Tedford will get him pumped for 2014.