DeAngelo Williams is no longer a Carolina Panther, according to DeAngelo Williams. Williams had a meeting last week in which he says he was informed that he would be released, he told WBTV News in Charlotte.
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Williams indicated that general manager Dave Gettleman told him that the Panthers were not running the ball enough to justify keeping Williams. Jonathan Stewart is the younger running back with more tread on the tire, and the team is going to use him as the primary runner.
The Panthers are not likely to abandon the two back system. They just are now going to look for a younger and cheaper running back to become the secondary option. It is likely that the Panthers may look to draft this guy, but it may open the door to a cheap free agent.
Betsided
Another thing that was against Williams was his history of injuries. Williams is in his early thirties, which is no man’s land for running backs and he has been consistently hurt the last couple seasons. He had several ankle injuries and broke his hand against the Vikings.
Statistically, Williams will leave the Panthers as the all-time leading rusher in franchise history. He compiled 6,846 yards in nine seasons with the team. His combination with Stewart led to the 2009 season where the pair both had one thousand yard seasons.
Williams was one of the last of a dying breed on the Panthers. The number of guys from the John Fox era continues to dwindle. Steve Smith and Jordan Gross departed last year.
Williams will be missed as a person as well as a player. The running back died his dreadlock ends pink in support of breast cancer research after his mother was taken by the disease. Hopefully some team will give a chance to finish out his career on a positive note.