REY WILLIAMS SIGNS WITH STEELERS

Rey Williams had 97 tackles and six sacks during the two-plus seasons he spent with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He signed with the NFL’s Pittsburg Steelers on Feb. 12.
Photograph by: Roy Antal, Leader-Post file photo

REGINA — Perseverance paid off with a shot at the NFL for former Saskatchewan Roughriders middle linebacker Rey Williams.

Each year Storm Kirschenbaum, Williams's agent, compiles a highlight video of his client's previous season and sends copies to NFL teams. This year, that video helped Williams sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"It's totally luck of the draw,'' said Williams, who signed with the Steelers on Feb. 12. "I don't know what made them open it or even look at it, but they saw my highlight film. The guy who brought me in also remembered me from college (Hofstra) because they were high on me from then. He said that they had lost track of me but after they saw my highlight film, they were blown away.''

Williams amassed those highlights in two-plus seasons with the Roughriders where he had 97 tackles and six sacks. In 2009, Williams took over as the starting middle linebacker, recording 59 tackles and three sacks despite missing five games with a knee injury.

Williams was at his best in the playoffs. He had 10 tackles and three sacks in the Riders' 27-17 victory over the Calgary Stampeders in the West Division final. Williams followed that up with 11 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble in Saskatchewan's 28-27 loss to the Montreal Alouettes in the Grey Cup.

Williams also contributed on special teams with eight tackles in 2009 and 29 tackles in his career. The Steelers are looking for the Williams to bolster a special teams that was among the worst in the NFL. Pittsburgh's kickoff coverage was ranked 30th, after allowing four kickoff returns for touchown. The punt-coverage team was rated 24th.

It was through special teams that Williams was able to catch on with the Riders in 2007 after stints in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers. Williams started his trek though the NFL after graduating from Hofstra in 2004.

"That's how it is in football,'' said Williams, who is 6-foot-0 and 228 pounds. "Once you get on special teams, they may open a place for you on defence. That's all you can wish for and hope that everything turns out for the best.''

Kirschenbaum said that the 28-year-old veteran will be more than another body to fill out the Steelers' training-camp roster.

"There is the perception that he's just another training-camp body,'' said Kirschenbaum. "People don't realize that when you have three years in the league, they have to sign the player to minimum of three credit seasons. They aren't going to waste their money on a guy they think is a camp body.''

Williams was also left with that feeling after meeting with the Steelers.

"They seem genuinely excited to have me there,'' said Williams. "They know that I'm a good special-teams player and that's where they are really hurting right now. They want me to be the dog because they went from the top of the league in 2008 to the bottom in 2009. That's where they really want me to focus on.''

Williams is the third member of the Riders' 2009 defence and 18th CFL player to sign with an NFL team this offseason. Defensive end John Chick, the CFL's most outstanding defensive player in 2009, signed with the Indianapolis Colts. Stevie Baggs, who tied for the league lead in sacks with 12 at the other defensive end position, signed with the Arizona Cardinals.

Williams is also the second CFLer to sign with the Steelers in two years. Stefan Logan, a former member of the B.C. Lions, starred as a returner with the Steelers last season.

Williams, who took over at middle linebacker after Maurice Lloyd signed as a free agent with the Edmonton Eskimos, feels the Riders will be OK despite the losses. There is depth at middle linebacker with Mike McCullough, Jerrell Freeman and Kye Stewart.

"They still have guys like Omarr (Morgan) and Mike (McCullough) and (Gary) Etcheverry is a great coach,'' said Williams, who trains in Atlanta with Baggs. "Besides, in football, they will always find someone else. People were mad when Mo left but we carried on without him. They will be all right. One thing about football is things keep going.''