Mike Williams is no longer king of the scale at Redskins Park.
The former 450-pound offensive tackle is now a 332-pound guard as the Washington Redskins continue offseason workouts. Errant defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth is listed at 350, though the team is real interested to see the true number whenever Haynesworth arrives. Nose tackle Maake Kemoeatu is 345 while offensive tackle Artis Hicks is 335.
After shedding the weight of an average Redskinette, Williams should be better in his second season in Washington. He doesn’t feel drained after losing 100 pounds just to make the team last season.
“It’s tough because you have to manage losing weight, but not the strength and energy. The muscles aren’t pulling the way they should,” he said. “Now I’ve been down for a while so my body has adjusted to a different weight. My conditioning and energy level is greater than last year. I have much more energy than I did.”
The 2002 fourth overall pick literally ate himself out of the NFL for three years. After starting three seasons for Buffalo, he played only nine games in 2005 before getting injured. After released, Williams signed with Jacksonville only to re-injure himself lifting weights and he was released again.
Williams was always a big guy, topping 300 pounds by high school as he joked of his mother buying him new pants each month. But the added weight kept coming during his exile before Williams began a strict diet last year while rooming with former Buffalo teammate Derrick Dockery in hopes of playing once more.
After entering training camp last year at 342, Williams started eight games. He looked rusty and weakened at times. During the offseason, he climbed to 357 before shedding another 24 pounds.
“I’ll get to a point where I’ll hold it. I’ll get to 325 and shut it down there,” Williams said. “It feels different when you’re a lot lighter.”
Williams never worried over becoming too light.
“You may have concerns, but doubting yourself you wouldn’t make it,” he said. “There were some days I had to keep pushing through or you don’t deserve to be on the field.”
Williams played guard for one quarter of one game before last season. He doesn’t mind moving inside where speed is favored over size.
“I feel comfortable at guard. I feel comfortable moving. It’s amazing,” he said. “There’s a lot of work that went into it, but it’s part of growing up. I’m 30 and still learning things. I may have been a late bloomer, but we’ll get it done.”
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
