Having considered all his options, and flirted with at least two serious suitors, veteran tight end Roland Williams has decided to return to the Oakland Raiders.
The unrestricted free agent, who missed most of the 2003 season as he continued to recover from knee and toe injuries, has agreed in principle to a three-year contract. Williams' deal is worth $2.85 million, plus a $200,000 signing bonus.
A native of Rochester, N.Y., Williams visited with the Buffalo Bills, the team he grew up watching, two weeks ago. He was interested in signing there but, when Buffalo apprised him it probably would not make a contract proposal until after the draft, he changed his stance and had his agent seek other offers.
Like many veterans still unemployed, Williams wanted to find a new home before the draft perhaps changed the landscape. Raiders owner Al Davis got personally involved in the recruiting and that certainly affected Williams' decision.
Williams, 28, played the 2001-2002 seasons in Oakland, somehow getting through the latter campaign despite a career-threatening foot injury. He had knee and toe surgery after the '02 season, went to camp with the Raiders last summer, but was released when the club deemed him not fully rehabilitated.
The former Syracuse star sat out most of the year before signing with Tampa Bay late in the season. He appeared in just one game and had no receptions. Tampa Bay was one of the teams courting Williams, regarded around the NFL as a very solid tight end and a real warrior, this spring.
Originally chosen by the St. Louis Rams in the fourth round of the '98 draft, Williams was traded to Oakland the day before the 2000 draft.
For his career, Williams has 111 receptions for 983 yards and 13 touchdowns. When healthy, he has been an effective receiver in the red zone and is a solid blocker. He has appeared in 77 games and started in 62 of them.
The unrestricted free agent, who missed most of the 2003 season as he continued to recover from knee and toe injuries, has agreed in principle to a three-year contract. Williams' deal is worth $2.85 million, plus a $200,000 signing bonus.
A native of Rochester, N.Y., Williams visited with the Buffalo Bills, the team he grew up watching, two weeks ago. He was interested in signing there but, when Buffalo apprised him it probably would not make a contract proposal until after the draft, he changed his stance and had his agent seek other offers.
Like many veterans still unemployed, Williams wanted to find a new home before the draft perhaps changed the landscape. Raiders owner Al Davis got personally involved in the recruiting and that certainly affected Williams' decision.
Williams, 28, played the 2001-2002 seasons in Oakland, somehow getting through the latter campaign despite a career-threatening foot injury. He had knee and toe surgery after the '02 season, went to camp with the Raiders last summer, but was released when the club deemed him not fully rehabilitated.
The former Syracuse star sat out most of the year before signing with Tampa Bay late in the season. He appeared in just one game and had no receptions. Tampa Bay was one of the teams courting Williams, regarded around the NFL as a very solid tight end and a real warrior, this spring.
Originally chosen by the St. Louis Rams in the fourth round of the '98 draft, Williams was traded to Oakland the day before the 2000 draft.
For his career, Williams has 111 receptions for 983 yards and 13 touchdowns. When healthy, he has been an effective receiver in the red zone and is a solid blocker. He has appeared in 77 games and started in 62 of them.
