NFL cornerback Cary Williams has been prone to, at times over the course of his career, spout all kinds of garbled nonsense. Whether he's blasting his own coach after a victory for pushing the team too hard during the week or he's sneering derisively at fans questioning his choice to miss non-mandatory offseason OTA's while he picks out home decorations with his family, Williams is almost always quick with a quotable proclamation about someone or something.
This week was no different.
After his Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Houston Texans 31-21 in Houston, Williams told reporters standing outside NRG Stadium that, while he doesn't exactly know what's wrong with Texans' wide receiver Andre Johnson, he's certain that something is definitely amiss.
"He's not the same guy," Williams said, according to Matt Hammond of Sports Radio 610 in Houston. "Not the same guy."
The 33-year-old future Hall of Famer is in his 12th season in the league and with Houston. He currently leads the team with 48 receptions and is second only to wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins with 563 yards and one touchdown.
"I don't know if he's happy," Williams said, after he spent the afternoon covering Johnson. "I'm not sure. I know he had some disputes before the season in a couple years now.
"But I know Andre Johnson. I know what he's done over his career. Just the attitude. It just wasn't the same."
In May, Johnson publicly questioned whether or not the rebuilding Texans were where he should - or really wanted - to be. Breaking in a new coach in Bill O'Brien coupled with the franchises' inability to add a top-flight starter at quarterback left Johnson wary at the thought of another potential losing season.
"Nobody's been here as long as I have. You just kind of look at things; I've been thinking about things this offseason," Johnson told The Houston Chronicle at the time. "And I just kind of wonder sometimes, 'Is this still the place for me?'"
Johnson has topped 100 catches and 1,200 yards in four of the last five seasons. He had two catches for 12 yards on seven targets Sunday.
"He's a great player. I'm not sure if he was happy or anything like that," said Williams. "But I know that was a different Andre than I know."
