Kevin Williams doesn’t need to be guaranteed a starting role in his 12th NFL season, as long as he’s playing for a winning team with a proven quarterback.
Williams’ visit last week with the New England Patriots seemed to go well. The veteran free-agent defensive tackle recapped what Bill Belichick told him during his trip to Foxboro on SiriusXM Radio on Tuesday.
“He went through the roster and basically explained where I could fit in with those guys,” Williams said, via ESPN.com. “They had a lot of injuries and they have some veteran guys coming off of injuries that play tackle, and I would have a chance to compete for a position there. Either way, we’d have a good rotation and have a chance to win some games.”
The Patriots certainly fit the criteria of having a winning program with a proven quarterback. Williams is fine with being part of a rotation, despite being a starter for the first 11 years of his career, all with the Minnesota Vikings.
“I think I still have some juice in the tank and to be in a nice rotation, it would maximize both for me and whatever team I’m with to both get the best from it,” Williams said.
The Patriots have a crowded group at defensive tackle, with first-round draft pick Dominique Easley, veterans Vince Wilfork and Tommy Kelly, and young players Chris Jones, Joe Vellano, Armond Armstead and Seavler Siliga all competing for roster spots. Easley (knee), Wilfork (Achilles), Kelly (knee) and Armstead (infection) all are recovering from injuries and could start the 2014 season on the PUPÂ or non-football injury lists.
The Patriots have some competition for Williams’ services. He told SiriusXM hosts Bruce Murray and Rich Gannon that he also has visited the New York Giants and Seattle Seahawks and that talks are starting to pick up with the Vikings.
