Blood Clots Further the Sad Story of Mike Williams

The up and down career of former Texas Longhorns offensive lineman Mike Williams has taken another turn for the worse, as it is expected that the now Washington Redskins offensive guard is going to miss the entire 2010 campaign, and perhaps the rest of his career, due to blood clots that have been found near his heart. Williams was recently hospitalized due to the condition, and although he has since been released, the Redskins stepped up, expressing concern that the condition could threaten not only his career, but his life, and the team made the decision to end his 2010 season before it ever started.

It’s another sad story for Williams, who seemed to finally be on his road to redemption. He received a two year contract from the Redskins this offseason, coming off a year where he started 8 games at right guard, and performed very well off of the change from his natural tackle position. Williams was slotted to be the Redskins starter once again, and much was expected out of him to make holes in the run game, and to protect new addition QB Donovan McNabb. The Redskins took a chance on him in 2009, after it seemed his career would be over.

In 2002, Williams was one of the highest offensive lineman ever drafted at the time, a left tackle, selected by the Buffalo Bills fourth overall in the draft. His tenure with Buffalo was tumultous, as his level of play on the field, as well as his conditioning, turned the Bills normally loyal fan base against him, as Williams is now regarded one of the biggest busts in franchise history. Williams was expected to be the next big thing on the line for the Bills, and did not deliver.

He spent the 2006 season with Jacksonville, and once again failed to do anything noteworthy on the field, overweight, and out of position most of the time. After Jacksonville cut ties with him in 2006, Williams found himself out of football for the 2007 and 2008 seasons, his career looking at it’s end, before Washington gave him the call in 2009.

We can only hope that Williams makes a full recovery and is able to get back on the field in 2011. His road to redemption was finally coming to fruition, and it would make for a great story for him to once again overcome adversity and be able to play the game that he loves at a high level. I wish Mike Williams the best of luck, and a speedy recovery, hoping to see him out there once again very soon.