You remember Cary Williams, don't you?
You know; the guy who, after his team gutted out a tough win against a divisional opponent, chose to offer comments to the media about how his team's practice schedule was making it difficult on him, and other guys in the locker room, to properly prepare for the next week's game.
Well, he's changed his tune a bit. Not enough to say that he was incorrect. But just that he handled the situation incorrectly.
"I said it, yeah. I try not to lie," said Williams. "In that situation, I don't think I did. But still I should have kept it in-house."
Jeff McClane of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Williams "stood up in front of his teammates on Tuesday morning and apologized for publicly voicing his complaints about the pace at which the Eagles practice."
Williams originally caused a stir when talking to reporters in the locker room after the Philadelphia Eagles outlasted the Washington Redskins this past Sunday. He chose to use that opportunity as a forum to gripe about the number and intensity of reps he sees in each practice.
Williams and Philadelphia head coach Chip Kelly reportedly met Monday to discuss the situation.
"Both points were valid. We were able to agree on some things," Williams said.
Kelly, who made the jump last season from college to the NFL, brought with him from the University of Oregon a number of techniques designed to enhance the organization through tempo. He employs a practice philosophy in which no teaching is done on the field, and repetitions are placed at a premium. He also prefers a schedule different than most NFL teams, wherein Tuesday is a full practice as opposed to an off day.
"I would say we run the most. . . I think that's with any team," cornerback Brandon Boykin said. "But we do go fast here."
McClane also reported that, after talking to 3 other players who requested anonymity, he got the sense that burnout and fatigue were, in fact, concerns in connection with the team's practice pace.
Many players credit Kelly's sports science program and focus on practice repetitions for helping them to stay healthy throughout the entirety of last season.
But Williams was, to a point at least, contrite.
"I did that out of anger and frustration," he said. "I could have been better in that situation. I spoke to the team today. I addressed each man in there. Told them that I was sorry for what I said and put them in a difficult situation. I told them it won't happen again."
