Randal Williams
Encyclopedia
Randal Ellison Williams (born May 21, 1978 in Bronx, New York) is an American football
free agent
tight end
in the National Football League
.
Williams attended Deerfield Academy
and then the University of New Hampshire
. He was sign as an undrafted free agent by the Jacksonville Jaguars
, then released and signed by the Dallas Cowboys
.
Williams' career with the Cowboys could be considered mediocre at best: although he had adequate playing time during the first three seasons, he did not catch a single pass. However, in a 2003
game against the Philadelphia Eagles
, he did return an onside kick
for a touchdown which officially took just three seconds. This was the fastest kick-off return for a touchdown in NFL history and, as the kick was the opening kick of the game, was also fastest score to start a game since the NFL began using a scoreboard clock. However, for Williams to have run 37 yards in three seconds would have required the equivalent of a 9.8 second 100 metre dash, which is somewhat unlikely given that Williams was wearing football pads and slowed before reaching the goal-line. Replays show clearly that the game clock didn't actually start until after Williams took a few steps, at least two seconds. During the end of the 2004 season
, however, Williams, who had largely been phased out of the offense
, was given the chance to start
several games alongside Keyshawn Johnson
following injuries to Terry Glenn
and Quincy Morgan
, the wide receivers above him on the depth chart
. Although he would have a larger role for the rest of the season, Williams only caught one pass in his career with the Cowboys, and he was released during the 2005 preseason.
Williams was signed by the Raiders as a free agent
on August 2, 2005. He was released on August 4, 2007.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
.
Williams attended Deerfield Academy
Deerfield Academy
Deerfield Academy is an independent, coeducational boarding school in Deerfield, Massachusetts, United States. It is a four-year college-preparatory school with approximately 600 students and about 100 faculty, all of whom live on or near campus....
and then the University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire is a public university in the University System of New Hampshire , United States. The main campus is in Durham, New Hampshire. An additional campus is located in Manchester. With over 15,000 students, UNH is the largest university in New Hampshire. The university is...
. He was sign as an undrafted free agent by the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, then released and signed by the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
.
Williams' career with the Cowboys could be considered mediocre at best: although he had adequate playing time during the first three seasons, he did not catch a single pass. However, in a 2003
2003 NFL season
-Milestones:The following teams and players set all-time NFL records during the season:-Team:-Individual:-Awards:-External Links:**-References:*NFL Record and Fact Book *...
game against the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, he did return an onside kick
Onside kick
In American and Canadian football, an onside kick is a type of kick used at a kickoff or other free kick, or scrimmage kick or other kick during play, in which the ball is kicked favorably for the kicking team to avoid giving away the ball...
for a touchdown which officially took just three seconds. This was the fastest kick-off return for a touchdown in NFL history and, as the kick was the opening kick of the game, was also fastest score to start a game since the NFL began using a scoreboard clock. However, for Williams to have run 37 yards in three seconds would have required the equivalent of a 9.8 second 100 metre dash, which is somewhat unlikely given that Williams was wearing football pads and slowed before reaching the goal-line. Replays show clearly that the game clock didn't actually start until after Williams took a few steps, at least two seconds. During the end of the 2004 season
2004 NFL season
The 2004 NFL season was the 85th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 9, 2004 to January 2, 2005...
, however, Williams, who had largely been phased out of the offense
Offense (sports)
In sports, offense or offence , also known as attack, is the action of attacking or engaging an opposing team with the objective of scoring points or goals...
, was given the chance to start
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
several games alongside Keyshawn Johnson
Keyshawn Johnson
Joseph Keyshawn Johnson is a former American football wide receiver, interior designer, business executive, author and current television broadcaster for sports channel ESPN. He retired from football on May 23, 2007 after an eleven-year career in the National Football League...
following injuries to Terry Glenn
Terry Glenn
Terry Tyree Glenn is a retired American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the New England Patriots seventh overall in the 1996 NFL Draft...
and Quincy Morgan
Quincy Morgan
Quincy Demond Earl Morgan is an American football free agent wide receiver in the National Football League who has played for the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Denver Broncos...
, the wide receivers above him on the depth chart
Depth chart
In sports, a depth chart is used to show the placements of the starting players and the secondary players. Generally a starting player will be listed first or on top while a back-up will be listed below...
. Although he would have a larger role for the rest of the season, Williams only caught one pass in his career with the Cowboys, and he was released during the 2005 preseason.
Williams was signed by the Raiders as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
on August 2, 2005. He was released on August 4, 2007.