Buccaneers

Report: Mike Williams Could Be A Release Candidate As His Salary Isn’t Guaranteed Until 2015

March 24, 2014

Update:

According to Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports, the remaining guarantees included in Mike Williams‘ contract won’t take effect until the 2015 season, which means the Buccaneers could get out from under his contract this year.

Garafolo mentions that most of the full guarantees in Williams’ contract were paid out last year.
Jason La Canfora reports that Williams’ $6.8 million for the 2015 season won’t be guaranteed until the third day of the league year.

Williams, 26, still has five years remaining on his six-year, $40.25 million contract that included $9.4 million guaranteed. He has a base salary of $1.2 million to go along with $1 million roster bonuses for the 2014 season.

Next year, Williams’ salary balloons to $5.6 million, which means that he could be on the chopping block in next few months, depending on what the Buccaneers new regime elects to do with him.

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Jason La Canfora has heard that the Buccaneers have been “open to dealing” WR Mike Williams.

However, the fact that he has been involved in numerous off-the-field issues in recent years has limited any interest from other NFL teams, according to La Canfora.

WTSP Tampa Bay reported Sunday that Williams was hospitalized in Tampa after he was allegedly stabbed in the thigh by his brother.

Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports provided an update this morning as sources informed him that Williams told police that he was “accidentally” stabbed by brother during a wrestling match.

Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times reports that police are treating Williams’ stabbing as a domestic dispute that ended in violence, and not “horseplay.”
Auman adds that sworn statements from witnesses and evidence collected by investigators contradict Williams’ story that that it was an accident.
Police are still trying to get in contact with Williams’ brother regarding the incident.

As for a potential trade, I can’t see the Buccaneers finding much, if any, interest in Williams based on the recent issues and his contract. Other factors working against a trade include: DeSean Jackson reportedly available and the perceived depth of year’s receiver draft class.