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DeAngelo understands his role. Understood?

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Steelers RB DeAngelo Williams goes on minute-long rant about his role
By Sean Wagner-McGough / Staff Writer
May 27, 2015 05:41 PM ET


Williams has a decent amount of thoughts on his role in Pittsburgh. (USATSI)
For the first time in a while, DeAngelo Williams is entering a season knowing full well that he isn't going to be starting. He's no stranger to the idea of splitting carries -- he often did so in Carolina with Jonathan Stewart -- but in Pittsburgh, there's no doubting who will be the feature back.

That's a role that belongs to Le'Veon Bell. But with Bell suspended for the first three games of the season, Williams is going to play a much larger role for the Steelers in his absence.

Apparently Williams wants reporters to know that he'll be just fine filling in for Bell. He also apparently wants members of the media to know that he's fine with being a backup. When Williams was asked on Tuesday about filling in for Bell, he ended up embarking upon a rant that lasted a full minute.

Here's the transcript of that rant, via ESPN:

Let me make sure we get this straight. Because all the Le'Veon questions and me and if I'm able to fill the role or if I'm not and all this. I came from Carolina, where I started for most of my career, OK? So that's not a heavy workload at all. By no means is it a heavy workload. All I have to do is get the playbook down, which I am. Understanding the terminology, which is different than Carolina's, which I am (learning). There won't be any questions or problems with me answering these questions. Ya'll just sit back and take a seat and relax and enjoy the show.

Man!

Just sit back and enjoy the show and you can answer your own questions. If you watch practice, I get out here and work on my hands to get them right. I'm aware he caught 85 balls. I'm aware that Dri (Archer) caught a lot of balls last year. I'm aware that if the ball is thrown in my direction, I'm expected to catch it because the media is going to be on my back. I understand the role that I'm put in right now. I'm behind Le'Veon. I'm Le'Veon's backup. There's going to be a lot of emphasis on me. I get it. But guess what? I'm ready to handle that role. Whatever you guys are ready to throw at me, I'm ready for it. So shoot. Give me everything that you've got. Because it can't get any worse than what you've already given me.

Got all that?

Williams is coming off a season in Carolina in which he only saw the field for six games. And in his limited playing time, he only averaged 3.5 yards per carry -- a career worst. Williams, who has had an issue with injuries in the past, is also 32 years old.

Once Bell comes back, the Steelers' ground game should be in far more reliable hands. Bell rushed for over 1,300 yards last season and, as Williams alluded to, he did lots of damage through the air, catching 83 passes.

In the meantime, it's Williams' show in Pittsburgh. And if his rant was any indication, it should be an eventful first few weeks of the season for the Steelers.
 
DeAngelo, here is the adult, veteran answer to the dumb questions asked by the media:
I'm aware of the problems that happened last year. I want you to know that isn't what I'm about. I want to contribute as much as I can. The coaches wouldn't want me here if I didn't. Leveon is an amazing back, and I want to create as much chemistry as possible in the backfield. But this is a physical position and I must be ready to start when called upon.
And they all go away
 
It sounds like DeAngelo talks yoo much.
 
sounds like he has heard the negatives and is preparing to show that he will be a contributor

if that is what motivates him fine

at least he is motivated
 
xjx said:
It sounds like DeAngelo talks yoo much.
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Haven't read much about DeAngelo have you. He seems like a really nice, team first, pillar of the community type of guy.

That said, even the nicest of guys get fed up being asked the same question over and over by the same people all the time. Sounds to me like he got fed up with being asked the same question and the implication that he isn't capable of handling the duties while Bell is suspended. Also sounds like the media was itching to provoke him and over inflated the rant.
 
Williams by all accounts is very well thought of in NC by a multitide of Panther fans. They paint him as a model teammate, citizen and all around good guy. He was productive in his nine years with the Panthers splitting time with Stewart and had something like a 4.6 yards per carry average. However the knock on this guy is not being able to stay healthy. I for one did not like the signing of this guy because of that very reason. Plus he's 32 years old. I would have much preferred re-signing a younger Ben Tate and drafted a young power back. If he follows suit and can't make it through the three games, then what? I have a funny feeling that this signing and not re signing Tate and drafting a young back will haunt us. And forget about the F/A RB from the small schoolthey signed. Thats not the answer either.
 
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steelhurt said:
Williams by all accounts is very well thought of in NC by a multitide of Panther fans. They paint him as a model teammate, citizen and all around good guy. He was productive in his nine years with the Panthers splitting time with Stewart and had something like a 4.6 yards per carry average. However the knock on this guy is not being able to stay healthy. I for one did not like the signing of this guy because of that very reason. Plus he's 32 years old. I would have much preferred re-signing a younger Ben Tate and drafted a young power back. If he follows suit and can't make it through the three games, then what? I have a funny feeling that this signing and not re signing Tate and drafting a young back will haunt us. And forget about the F/A RB from the small schoolthey signed. Thats not the answer either.
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You had me with the getting a younger guy to be Bell's backup, but lost me at Ben Tate. Tate was a bit of a prima dona and a cancer on the Blount level while he was in Cleveland. He was released for a Blount-like attitude. So, yes to a younger backup (next year?) and no to Tate; for me anyway.
 
Why complain about a rant when the poor guy is peppered with questions from a reporter just after busting his tail in practice?

Frankly, I'm tired of reporters, print, TV or other medium getting in the nose of players during a game or during practices and then writing an article like the player lost his cool.

Remember the sideline reporter a few years ago during a Ravens game asking Jerome Bettis "about his injury (groin)" My wife and I laughed our behind off when the Bus shouted something about "I pulled my groin". The reported looked stunned but what did you expect?
 
SteelBuckeye said:
You had me with the getting a younger guy to be Bell's backup, but lost me at Ben Tate. Tate was a bit of a prima dona and a cancer on the Blount level while he was in Cleveland. He was released for a Blount-like attitude. So, yes to a younger backup (next year?) and no to Tate; for me anyway.
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Me too, SteelBuckeye, adding to the Dri comment. williams : " Dri reminds me of the sokeless tobacco pouches, ooppps, Umm Dri caught a lot of passes last year......."




Salute the nation
 
I did not see it as anything other than reporters doing the usual spin job trying to create drama where none exists. Many of these characters will deliberately put out misleading info to get someone to read or listen to their crap for the day. There are much more thoughtful comments and better analysis on this web site by guys and gals that are just fans than one can consistently find in the media by the same individual.
 
This ain't news.

Williams knows damn well he's in Pittsburgh to back up Bell.

Young back or old, injuries happen and I think they wanted someone with experience knowing full well Bell was facing suspension.
 
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SteelBuckeye said:
You had me with the getting a younger guy to be Bell's backup, but lost me at Ben Tate. Tate was a bit of a prima dona and a cancer on the Blount level while he was in Cleveland. He was released for a Blount-like attitude. So, yes to a younger backup (next year?) and no to Tate; for me anyway.
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I see where you're coming from with Tate. Of course he would have to understand before signing the contract he's a backup to Bell but then again we thought the same with Blount. I never realized Tate was a distraction in Cleve. I know when we had him here in Houston he was fine. Never a distraction and played behind Foster. He did get a lot of touches though since Foster was in and out with injuries. But he was never a problem here. I know he ended up like third on depth chart for RB's in Cleve.and guess he didn't handle it too well, but what don't the Browns screw up? Guy goes from productive back in Houston and ends up deep down the depth chart in Cleve. Kind of strange.
 
I took the Dri comment as a back-handed reference to the fact that most other backs can't play out of the backfield like Bell. "IE, I know Dri caught alot of balls out of the backfield last year too. Which of course was untrue. NOBODY catches balls out of the backfield like Bell, that's part of what makes him so special. Nobody expects someone to come in and fill those shoes. What we need is someone who can pound the ball and give the Steelers a realistic play-option threat.

I think what he's doing is saying "I'm going to do my job and I'll be the change of pace back you need while Leveon can't play. And when he returns I'm here to spell him a bit and hammer the ******* on the other side of the line. I know my role, I'll do my job. I may not catch 70 passes, but I WILL plough into the middle linebacker and make his Momma hurt."

That's how I read it anyway.
 
I think Williams is just learning that the media questioning to him in da Burgh is not like he is used to in Carolina.

Nothing to see here, just a guy tired of answering the same question 14 times instead of 3 times.
 
He was pretty much hurt all of last year with one problem or another, he only played in 6 games

I just hope he can make it through training camp and start the season healthy
 
Spike said:
He was pretty much hurt all of last year with one problem or another, he only played in 6 games

I just hope he can make it through training camp and start the season healthy
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That is fine....3 games at the start, and 5-6 touches per game the rest of the way.
 
The guy writing the article is a douche bag. ****, he has a hyphenated last name for goodness sakes. What does that tell ya?
 
awboatguy said:
The guy writing the article is a douche bag. ****, he has a hyphenated last name for goodness sakes. What does that tell ya?
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That you stayed up all night drinking? Go to bed
 
The guy is from espn and that tells me that he is part of the media that does not know and tries to get their circulation up by hiring former players. I very seldom look at anything they have to say as better info is available else where.

The guys that post on here are good sources. The guys that tend to follow the local teams very closely are a good source. Espn is drive by media looking to spin something into controversy and to carry water for the cheatriots not much there.:thumb:
 
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I heard the audio on Steelers Nation Radio, and they kept asking the same questions over and over and over again. He just got tired of repeating himself to media people who wouldn't have been there if our first game wasn't against the Patriots possibly without Brady.
 
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