Free Agent DT Kevin Williams??

I for one couldn't see this happening. But from all reports he was playing still at a very high level last year. He would definitely be in the rotation and IMO be pushing for a starter job across from Wilfork.

If what he is saying about wanting a to play playoff football is the main focus. Then the Pats have as good a shot as anybody in the league at his signature. Especially with the mix of depth (if healthy) and oppertunity to contribute (due to said health concerns) that NE can offer.

For me, Armstead is still the Joker here. There is good a chance that he never takes the field for the pats as there is of him playing a snap.

Would love to see an attacking formation of:

Nink - Williams - Wilfork - Easley - Jones

With Collins/Mayo, Revis, Browner, McCourty, Ryan and Dennard in coverage.

Minnesota has opened communication lines with him, He's also listening to offers from the Seahawks and the Giants. BB has told him he'll be a rotational player. After 11 years as a starter, he may opt for less reps, then again, he may want to remain a starter. With Minny in the picture I would guess that is where he signs.

What sticks out to me is the QB quote and the playing in a meaningful game at the end of the season. Pats made him an offer, so he plays the "now everyone wants me" tactic to extract a few more dollars. Said he would have a decision in a week or so. We are in the thick of this signing.

Joker said:

Minnesota has opened communication lines with him, He's also listening to offers from the Seahawks and the Giants. BB has told him he'll be a rotational player. After 11 years as a starter, he may opt for less reps, then again, he may want to remain a starter. With Minny in the picture I would guess that is where he signs.

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But then he would not reach his goal to play for a winning franchise. They have 3 playoff teams in the same division.

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter 16m
Seahawks have reached agreement with defensive tackle Kevin Williams on a one-year contract, per @Edwerderespn.

wpdougie2180 said:

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter 16m
Seahawks have reached agreement with defensive tackle Kevin Williams on a one-year contract, per @Edwerderespn.

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Son of a..........

Great move for Seattle, they're taking an approach we love around here, bringing in the older, proven Vets to rotate into an already top tier unit. It's an easy sell for someone coming from a long-time losing team to join the defending champs on an already great defense.

I do believe their secondary will be a bit worse without Thurmond and Browner, 2 of their top 3 CB's, back next year but that should still be the defense to beat for the season.

wpdougie2180 said:

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter 16m
Seahawks have reached agreement with defensive tackle Kevin Williams on a one-year contract, per @Edwerderespn.

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PFT says it's for more than $2M. Not sure there's enough left to justify that price tag.

mayoclinic said:

PFT says it's for more than $2M. Not sure there's enough left to justify that price tag.

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We will see...if he has a decent year a lot here won't be happy we didn't try harder..but won't know till end of year

Another reason that Williams may have selected the Seahawks is that they don't play the Vikings this year where the Patriots do. Williams may not have wanted to face his old teammates

DaBruinz said:

Another reason that Williams may have selected the Seahawks is that they don't play the Vikings this year where the Patriots do. Williams may not have wanted to face his old teammates

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Interesting thought, it's usually the complete opposite. Most players will go out of their way to face their former team who didn't resign them to prove it was a mistake.

Kinda curious if you're right.

strngplyr said:

Interesting thought, it's usually the complete opposite. Most players will go out of their way to face their former team who didn't resign them to prove it was a mistake.

Kinda curious if you're right.

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Williams is a consummate professional. The Vikings were the team he was with for 10 years or so. But he also understands it's a business. I haven't heard him say one bad thing about the Vikings despite everything. It's why I believe he didn't want to face them.

Or, it could just be he thinks that going to the defending SB champs gives him the best chance of getting a ring despite all the people they've lost.

DaBruinz said:

Williams is a consummate professional. The Vikings were the team he was with for 10 years or so. But he also understands it's a business. I haven't heard him say one bad thing about the Vikings despite everything. It's why I believe he didn't want to face them.

Or, it could just be he thinks that going to the defending SB champs gives him the best chance of getting a ring despite all the people they've lost.

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Uh, it was probably just because Seattle was offering more money...

Marqui said:

Uh, it was probably just because Seattle was offering more money...

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Actually, by all reports, they offered a similar deal to Minnesota. He went to them because they have a better chance of returning to, and winning, the big game. Bummer he didn't sign here. He would have been nice to have in the rotation.

KontradictioN said:

Actually, by all reports, they offered a similar deal to Minnesota. He went to them because they have a better chance of returning to, and winning, the big game. Bummer he didn't sign here. He would have been nice to have in the rotation.

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Which reports?

mayoclinic said:

PFT says it's for more than $2M. Not sure there's enough left to justify that price tag.

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Yep. Would have been nice, but probably not at that price point. I do wish he'd gone to a team other than Seattle, though.

Marqui said:

Which reports?

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They were saying that on the Opening Drive this morning on Sirius.

A nice read on what the Williams signing could mean to Seattle:

What the Kevin Williams signing could mean for Seattle | Seahawks Blog | Seattle Times

Of note:

According to Football Outsiders, Williams played 718 defensive snaps last season. Michael Bennett was the only Seahawks defensive lineman to play 600 defensive snaps a year ago. No lineman played more than 58 percent of Seattle’s defensive snaps.

“The rotation is key,” said Louis Riddick, a former NFL scout and ESPN analyst. “He won’t be nearly as effective without it at this point in his career, and he gives them size, length a veteran hungry for team success.”

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The Seahawks had a dominant defensive line last year with no one playing over 58% of the defensive snaps. They and 7-8 guys that they rotated to keep guys fresh and scheme pressure. Food for thought.

KontradictioN said:

Actually, by all reports, they offered a similar deal to Minnesota. He went to them because they have a better chance of returning to, and winning, the big game. Bummer he didn't sign here. He would have been nice to have in the rotation.

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Do you have a link to a contract offer by the Patriot? I never saw anything other than Williams saying Belichick said he would be a rotational player.

I am not surprised that Williams did not sign here, if he had I think he would have had to beat out Tommy Kelly just to make the roster. I did not foresee Belichick keeping Wilfork, Kelly, W Smith, and Williams on the 53-man roster. In Seattle, he has a chance to start.

Brady6 said:

Do you have a link to a contract offer by the Patriot? I never saw anything other than Williams saying Belichick said he would be a rotational player.

I am not surprised that Williams did not sign here, if he had I think he would have had to beat out Tommy Kelly just to make the roster. I did not foresee Belichick keeping Wilfork, Kelly, W Smith, and Williams on the 53-man roster. In Seattle, he has a chance to start.

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I was talking about the contract that he signed with the Hawks.