Doug Williams Talks Race, Dominik & Freeman
February 11th, 2013Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
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Joe advises every Bucs fan to watch the incredible Doug Williams documentary series running right now on NFL.com. Not only is it a great history lesson for Bucs fans — with memorable highlights and interviews — but it’s a tremendous look at racist times in the United States.
Williams chatted Sunday afternoon with Joe’s pal Steve Isbitts on 98.7 FM. Williams discussed the racist hate mail he received in Tampa back in the 1970s, as well as a major disagreement he had with rockstar general manager Mark Dominik and director of player personnel Dennis Hickey while they were all in the Bucs’ front office, one Williams believed soured the relationship between him and Dominik.
Per Williams, he wanted to sign Antonio Bryant before the 2008 season, but Dominik and Hickey thought that would be a terrible signing.
Williams also gave a strong endorsement to Josh Freeman’s 2012 production and offered a take on why he believes the Bucs didn’t want Freeman to participate in the documentary. The entire interview is available below.
February 12th, 2013 at 1:29 am
Well lets be honest, Antonio Bryant WAS a terrible investment. He has outstanding talent but is an absolute definition of a DIVA WR with bum knees.
February 12th, 2013 at 2:39 am
@ 941-Bucs
I don’t think it was a terrible investment at all. I mean the guy was highly productive, was our designated # 1 wideout, led in all the receiving categories while with the team, was Jeff Garcia’s favorite target, and was NOT a locker cancer that we all thought he would be. Now if your talking about a LONG TERM investment for us, then yes he was disappointing in that respect because he was only with the team for 2-3 years, but I’m pretty sure it was known at the time that he was not going to be our long term answer at wideout. He was just here to help give a boost to the talent deficient wide receiving corps and I think he far exceeded expectations.
February 12th, 2013 at 2:51 am
you know, the guy may sound friendly while doing an interview but like most athletes he can be a Di@k. I really wanted to like the guy but its videos like the one below of him harassing a fan for simple asking for an autograph that makes it hard to like him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy8E8dDsR4M
Is this really fair, Andrew? Nobody has any idea what happened before the video was rolling, and there’s no evidence that anyone was seeking an autograph. Pretty weak. –Joe
February 12th, 2013 at 6:25 am
@941 – What are you talking about?? Bryan was signed off the street for peanuts and had one of the best seasons by a Buccaneers receiver EVER! Dominik as GM the next year then turned around and gave him $10 million with the franchise tag.
February 12th, 2013 at 10:24 am
Met Doug many years ago he and he is NOT a Di@k. He obviously is opinionated but walk a mile in his shoes and you may feel differently.
February 12th, 2013 at 11:17 am
Joe, Joe, Joe,
Kudos on the interview and this article. You did your thing and you are always welcome on the eastside for a frothy adult beverage.
February 12th, 2013 at 11:29 am
I was born in Clearwater in 1983. I never felt like I grew up in “the South.”
I always felt that Tampa Bay is a modern melting pot.
I am so ashamed of Tampa’s racist history and somewhat racist present.
I am sure that many of the Freeman haters are closet racists.
I am sure!
February 12th, 2013 at 12:44 pm
It is shameful that the TB area never got to celebrate Doug Williams and a Superbowl due to a cheap owner, I believe that Culverhouse was an equal opportunist cheap owner but I am not naive enough to think that race doesn’t play a part of it, I hope that is not the case for Freeman. I do believe Raheem was not only disliked because of his inability to lead the team but also because he is African-American. Nevertheless, I think Doug Williams w an icon and there should be no more waiting for his induction into the ring of honor. Do the right thing Bucs
February 12th, 2013 at 5:36 pm
@ Joe
looking back on it, it probably wasn’t very fair to post a video of Doug Williams painted in a negative light. heck Ive never met the guy, He could be the nicest person in the world who was just having a bad day. but I’m sure you can understand that since I wasn’t even born during the time of is relevance in the NFL that things I find on the internet about him are all I have to formulate any kind of opinion on him. However, what I should have done was listen to those who know him much better than I do, such as yourself, and taken their word for it. I’m not usually that thoughtless.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:48 am
@teacherman777
Raheem was hated because he was a JOKE and a walking disaster of a head coach. Yeah there’s probably some racists out there, anytime a black dude has a major occupation like HC or Pres. of USA, there’s obviously some racists, but 95% of people hated Raheem because of how bad we were during his 3 years. I’m so sick of the race card liberals we have in our country.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:49 am
@teacherman777 and Rrsrq