DARRENT WILLIAMS: 1982-2007

In the short time that I had been given the opportunity to watch Darrent Williams play in this league, I came away impressed from every single game he played. Williams was drafted out of Oklahoma State in the second round of the 2005 draft. As quick as he could run his 40 yard dash, Williams soared up the death chart during the preaseason. The Broncos had struggled to find a premier corner to start opposite All-Pro Champ Bailey. However, just a few games into his rookie season, they knew they had found another special player in Williams. He soon took over the second CB job in Denver and for two seasons he never let it go. He was as fast as any player in the NFL, but what set him apart from all other corners were his instincts. Darrent Williams had the uncanny ability to be in right place on every single play. He learned a lot from his teammate Champ Bailey, and in just two seasons he had developed into one of the most reliable CBs in football. It is no coincidence that when Williams left the Broncos final game with a shoulder injury, the Broncos defense just never looked the same.

When I read the news about Williams this morning, a shock came over me that I had just felt all too soon ago when the death of Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle was announced. When we watch these athletes on the field, we start to believe that that they are truly invincible. What we forget is that this is just their job, and they are as prone to tragedy as we are. The death of Williams is hard to cope with because he was just a 24 year old kid. Williams had such a bright future ahead of him, but because of senseless violence a pain goes throughout the Williams family and Broncos community that should never be felt by anyone. My condolences go out to the Williams family, and I can not imagine the pain you feel today. Let us hope that we may never hear a story like this again.