For veteran defensive tackle Kevin Williams, the options are becoming more and more clear: Play a 12th season for not much money, or call it quits.
Williams recently told Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press that the former Viking doesn’t plan to play for peanuts.
“If it’s not worth the risk of going back out there, I can’t say I’ll do it,” Williams said. “I don’t see [taking a low-value deal] at this point, but you never know. . . . I’m not one of those guys that’s afraid to go home. I’m comfortable going home.”
Plenty of factors go into the decision, surely. How much has he banked after 11 seasons with the Vikings? What other opportunities does he have that don’t entail further wear and tear on the joints, bones, and brain?
Ultimately, the question is whether a guy wants to keep going. It’s an intensely personal decision-making process that Williams may not be able to completely resolve until late July or August (or September) roll around.
Since it became clear the Vikings wouldn’t bring him back after signing what seemed like 17 defensive linemen in free agency, Williams has visited the Giants and Seahawks. His best bet to get more than the minimum or close to it could be to wait for someone to get injured.