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Gregg Williams’ NFL career likely is over

Gregg-Williams

The Commissioner may reinstate him after the 2012 season, but former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams most likely is done -- at least at the NFL level.

Reaction to his September 14, 2012 sworn statement has been swift and it has been clear. Per multiple sources, the feeling around the league is that players will not want to play for Gregg Williams in light of the perception that he “snitched” on Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma by signing a document claiming that Vilma offered $10,000 to anyone who knocked former Vikings quarterback Brett Favre out of the 2009 NFC title game.

Some players have used strong and colorful language, so strong and so colorful that we won’t repeat it unless and until someone chooses to attach their name to it. The bottom line, as we explained last night, is that no NFL players will follow or trust Williams, especially in light of that ridiculously over-the-top “kill the head” rant from the night before a January 2012 game against the 49ers.

The bigger offense comes from giving up a player, for something the player did within the confines of program that Williams created and administered. The fact that Williams made the situation worse by lying about it in 2010 will make players more likely to believe Williams should have taken his medicine and not implicated any of the men who played for him.

Williams remains, technically, the defensive coordinator of the Rams, who have not replaced him. But it would be a major surprise if Williams returns -- especially since it will make the current players upset (at a minimum) and it will make it harder (and at a minimum more expensive) to sign free agents.