I spent the last ten minutes of Media Day listening to Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, and wished I arrived earlier. He’s frank and informative. Sean Payton’s bid to shut Williams up didn’t work, but he didn’t provide any bulletin board material either. Here are a few highlights.
* Williams wasn’t worried that his comments about wanting some “remember me” hits became a big story.
“I was a little surprised that it took off, but in that respect it didn’t bother me because it’s true,” Williams said. “I do believe that. I do believe that I want our players to play hard. I don’t want them to have any apologies.”
* Williams spoke to Jim Wyatt of the Nashville Tennessean about nearly taking a job with the Titans last year. Tennessee offered more money than New Orleans, but wouldn’t hire Williams’ son. It’s fascinating stuff we recommend checking out. Titans fans have to wonder what could have been.
* Don’t expect Williams to suddenly get vanilla in the Super Bowl. He expects to mix things up every series as he and Peyton Manning figure each other out.
“Changing up, keeping [Manning] on edge, and making him know there is a multitude of things you’re going to do, somewhat gives you a chance. You make his life easy if you just settle in and do one thing. We’re going to have to keep things moving on all the time.”
* Williams thinks he gets too much credit for x’s and o’s, and that his specialty is dealing with people, especially difficult people.
* On defensive tackle Remi Ayodele’s mohawk: “I like his personality, I think his haircut sucks. It tells me you have a great self image of yourself if you can cut your hair like that and think it looks good.”
* Thought this quote boiled Williams’ job down to essentials well: “My job is about affecting change,” Williams said. “If you don’t affect change, you’re out of the league as a coach, as a player.”
Williams’ history of affecting change as a coordinator is proven. Something tells me he’ll get another as a head coach before his career is through.