OWINGS MILLS – Baltimore Ravens reserve cornerback Cary Williams has been punished by the NFL and will serve a two-game suspension without pay for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
Williams exhausted the appeals process and will now serve a suspension, which will cost him two game checks for a total of $46,470.
“Over a year ago while Cary was a member of the Tennessee Titans, he was involved in an incident that fell under the NFL conduct policy,” Williams’ agent, Marc Lillibridge, told the Carroll County Times. “Through the appeals process with the NFL and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s office, Cary was suspended for two games. Although we’re disappointed we did not win the appeal, we respect the league office’s decision. Cary just wants to focus on the training camp with the Ravens and the remaining games in the regular season.
“Even though Cary was a member of the Titans at the time, he’s disappointed he let the Ravens’ front office, ownership and teammates down. What happened is in the past and now he just wants to focus on helping the Ravens get back to the playoffs and to the Super Bowl. Cary is a father; Cary is the kind of guy any agent is proud to represent. I’m excited for him moving forward as a player and a person as a human being.”
The suspension stemmed from an incident involving a personal family issue, according to Lillibridge.
Williams wasn’t arrested, per his agent, and there’s no criminal record for him in state and national databases.
Lillibridge expressed frustration that Williams was suspended for two games when Seattle Seahawks linebacker Leroy Hill was suspended for just one game after pleading guilty to misdemeanor drug possession. Hill was arrested again days later for a domestic violence case.
“I thought we were going to win the case,” Lillibridge said. “We did what we could, but they thought differently about it. Now, Cary’s moving on and concentrating on the rest of the season.
The Ravens were aware of the incident involving Williams when they signed him off the Titans’ practice squad on Nov. 24, 2009.
“We’ve been aware of this since before we signed Cary,” general manager Ozzie Newsome said in a statement.
Williams has had a strong offseason, drawing praise from Ravens coach John Harbaugh.
A tall, athletic cornerback at 6-foot-1, 185-pounds, he’s expected to compete for playing time in the Ravens’ nickel package.
Williams appeared in five games last season with one start and recorded five special-teams tackles.
He’s a former Titans seventh-round draft pick from Washburn University.
A native of Miami, Fla., Williams transferred to Washburn after being suspended twice at Fordham in 2004 before being dismissed from the team.
Williams has talked about how the experience helped him mature into an NFL prospect.
NOTE: The Ravens are actively involved in negotiations with both their unsigned second-round draft picks; linebacker Sergio Kindle and nose guard Terrence Cody. However, neither deal is imminent as the weekend approaches.
Rookies, quarterbacks and selected veterans report to McDaniel College on Monday. The first practice is the following morning and the first full-team practice is Friday.
Aaron Wilson covers the Baltimore Ravens for the Carroll County Times and the Annapolis Capital
