Williams not necessarily in Jacksonville for the long haul
June 25, 2008
Gregg Williams
Expectations are sky-high in Jacksonville, particularly for a defense that looks all the more formidable after netting DEs Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves in the first two rounds of the 2008 draft and picking up veteran CB Drayton Florence from San Diego. But could it be one-and-done for new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who’s instituting a high-pressure scheme that largely necessitated the personnel fortifications? The way we hear it, it’s very possible. In a rare situation, Williams and the Jaguars mutually agreed to merely transfer the final season left on Williams’ contract with the Redskins to Jacksonville, rather than ripping up the deal and starting anew. The result is that the Redskins will be paying roughly half of Williams’ deal in ’08 and that Williams is free to do whatever he wants after the season. For a man who longs to get another shot at being a head coach, the situation plays out nicely for him. The Jags were more than willing to oblige, figuring that they likely could re-sign him if he’s unable to garner head-coaching interest, but also could part ways with him without owing him anything if he fails to make the anticipated improvements to the defense.
