The NFL announced Wednesday that Cowboys' safety Roy Williams' appeal
to overturn a one-game suspension was denied. The suspension came as a result of Williams using the illegal horse-collar tackle, a technique that has become synonymous with his name since it was outlawed under the "Roy Williams Rule".
Williams it seems is unable to break the habit of dragging down opposing players by the back of the collar which has led to numerous severe injuries. In fact, it was his use of the horse-collar that broke Terrell Owens' leg in a 2004 game against the Eagles, an injury which arguably cost the Eagles the Superbowl that year.
The tackle that broke TO's leg was also the straw that broke the camel's back. The league outlawed the move during that offseason. Perhaps the memo got sent to Williams' junk mail folder.
The R is for Stupid.
Regardless, Williams will now sit against the Carolina Panthers in a crucial road game for the Cowboys. They need to win to keep the Packers at bay. If the Cowboys lose either of the remaining regular season games while Green Bay goes on to win out, the Packers will clinch the NFC meaning the Cowboys would have to travel to the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field in the event that the two should meet for the conference championship.
It was announced this week that Williams officially did not have an Pro Bowl caliber year this season as he was left off a list of 11 Cowboys named as starters or reserves. Still, despite lackluster tackling at times, he has been effective. And for the all the talk about his inability to cover wideouts in the open field, he has not been prone to giving up disastrous plays.
The real question is can this old dog learn a new trick? The league has fined Williams for each horse-collar infraction this year. Hopefully, the suspension will finally get through his thick helmet. Otherwise, we may end up seeing a lot less of Roy Williams, and his horse-collar.
