Today, Brandon Williams spoke publicly for the first time since he agreed to his new contract with the Baltimore Ravens. Williams, 28, signed a 5 year $54 million contract with the club. His re-signing today is a major win for the Ravens, who tend to let high priced players walk if they can’t be negotiated to a better price. Keeping Williams will allow the Ravens to have a cornerstone defender for years to come.
Ozzie Newsome started off the press conference by praising Williams as a player, but more importantly a person. He said he was very excited, along with the entire Ravens organization, when Brandon agreed to his contract. Newsome believes that Williams is one of the great players the Ravens have, and thought it was very important to keep him.
Newsome turned over the floor to Head Coach John Harbaugh, who continued the praise of Williams. He talked about how coming from a small school, Williams excelled at his position. He stated that Williams is a great investment for the Ravens, and sees him able to continue to improve as a player. Harbaugh also said that he as a coach cherishes players like Williams for their hard work and character, and he is more than willing to hold on to people like him.
When Wiliams was handed the floor, he started off by saying that he was “happy to be home”. He thanked God for giving him his ability, his mother for raising him and working hard everyday to provide for him, his fiancé for always sticking with him since college, his agency Sports Trust, and his agent Bill Johnson, for treating him so well, Ozzie Newsome and John Harbaugh for giving him a chance, Steve Bisciotti for supporting him and his teammates, and the late defensive line coach Clarence Brooks for pushing him to be his best always. He then went on to thank Baltimore, and all of the fans who support the team and appreciate him as a person and as a player.
When asked about how he felt to be back with the Ravens, Williams said he felt relieved. He was hoping to be back with the Ravens, but was unsure of his future. In the end, it worked out for both Williams and the Ravens, and he was very happy for it. He said he could not picture himself in any other colors besides purple and black. Williams also said it meant a lot to him that he gets to stay with the team that drafted him for the long haul. He feels it’s better to stick with one team than to hop around to a new team.
Williams went on to say how he was thankful that with this new deal, he knew that his children would not have to grow up like he did. Growing up, Williams always had what he needed, but not much more. He also touched on his new role as a leader in the locker room, saying that he already talked to the other defensive linemen, and is going to help push them to their best.
It was evident in the press conference that all along Williams wanted to stay a Raven, and in turn the Ravens wanted him back as well. This is a major move for the Ravens this offseason, and will certainly help them on the defensive line, for years to come. Keeping Williams, along with the other free agent signings, should reassure Ravens fans everywhere that the Ravens are going to be back as playoff contenders once again.
