After Maurice Clarett had a federal judge overturn the NFL’s rule that a player must be three years removed from high school to be eligible for the NFL Draft, former USC wide receiver Mike Williams followed Clarett and entered the 2004 NFL Draft. Unforuntately, Williams had already hired an agent, making him ineligible for a return to USC by the time the United States Court of Appeals overturned the initial decision. Therefore, Williams was forced to sit out of football in 2004 and wait until the 2005 NFL Draft. Thanks to Matt Millen, Williams was drafted 10th overall by the Detroit Lions and thus kicking off a busted NFL career.
Seattle Signs Former USC Wide Receiver Mike Williams
In two seasons with the Lions, Williams caught 37 passes for 449 yards with two touchdowns receiving. He and Josh McCown were traded to the Oakland Raiders during the 2007 NFL Draft, where Williams posted seven receptions for 90 yards receiving in six games. In that sixth game against the Tennessee Titans, Williams dropped a critical fourth quarter pass that would have given the Raiders a first down in the red zone. Instead, the Titans took the turnover on downs, killed the clock and beat the Raiders. Williams was released a few days after that.
Williams signed with the Titans a month later at a reported 271 pounds. Even though he dropped his weight, the Titans eventually released him before the 2008 regular season. Since then, Williams has been unemployed.
Thanks to Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, Williams will get one last opportunity to play in the NFL. According to NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora, the Seattle Seahawks signed Williams to an undisclosed contract on Thursday. We can mostly assume that the Carroll-connection is at work here, giving one of his best receivers at USC one final chance to make it in the NFL.
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