Steelers linebacker Williams looks to prove his worth this year
As Vince Williams made his way around the St. Vincent campus on Sunday, a “Richie Rich” backpack – complete with adorned dollar signs – was strapped to his back.
While Williams' 2016 salary is several times the average annual income for an American, in the world of the NFL his compensation is far from “rich.”
That could change by 2017. So could the team Williams plays for.
The inside linebacker is in the final season of the four-year rookie contract he signed with the Steelers after being taken in the sixth round of the 2013 draft. Barring the unlikely scenario of him signing an extension at some point over the next 42 days, Williams will play this season with the knowledge that he'll be an unrestricted free agent after it ends.
Williams takes a characteristically pragmatic approach to the situation.
“I don't really think about it – every year is (virtually) contract year,” he said. “You can be cut at any moment (so) what's a contract really mean? I mean, you get your signing bonus (but) after that, everybody's fair game (to be cut). You have to come in and establish yourself and prove your worth every year.”
Williams is due a reported base salary of $675,000 this season. But the situation is opening up for him to – potentially, at least – get a significant raise come spring.
His role as 2016 begins is as the top backup at both inside linebacker positions behind Ryan Shazier and Lawrence Timmons. But Timmons is likewise due to become an unrestricted free agent after the season, and with his 31st birthday coming before the start of next season's summer workouts and a hefty $8.75 million owed to him this season, it's certainly a plausible scenario that Timmons could be in his final season as a Steeler.
The Steelers could turn to Williams as a cheaper alternative. Defensive coordinator Keith Butler, a former NFL linebacker, said he believes an NFL linebacker's prime comes between Seasons 3-4 through seasons 7-8.
Williams is entering his fourth season; Timmons his 10th – and in 2015, for the first time in several years, Timmons' role was (slightly) diminished, providing further evidence that perhaps the Steelers are considering passing the proverbial torch.
“I'm an ‘old guy' now,” Williams said. “I feel like an old guy, at least (in regards to) I have been here long enough. I know everything, I feel like.”
In a quirk of circumstance, Williams' starts have declined each season from 11 as a rookie to two in 2014 to none last year. But his comfort level and knowledge of the defense has risen with each passing year.
“I've been around Coach Buts and Coach (Mike) Tomlin for so long,” Williams said, “I know exactly what they're looking for in practice; every drill and every rep.”
