DeAngelo Williams: A Rising Star and Possible MVP?

Can an NFL player who does not make the Pro Bowl even be considered to be a contender for the league's MVP award? Sure, anything can happen in this world in which we live.

Will it happen? Not likely.

Does that end the conversation about how and why the Carolina Panthers' star running back, DeAngelo Williams, has placed himself in a position to even be considered for the hallowed award?

The league MVP award is all about a player's value to his team and how that player's contribution has impacted his team and added to their overall success in the NFL. 

Those close to the Carolina Panthers know John Fox's version of a successful team is one with an above-average defense, a very tough rushing backfield that can average five yards per carry, a quarterback good enough to manage a solid run game and talented enough to throw the deep ball when opposing defenses decide they have to "stack the box" in order to slow the Panthers' run game down.

So, who is DeAngelo Williams? What does a 45-year-old former Panther quarterback, a rookie running back, with whom Williams has had to split his carries with this season, and a professional wrestling "tag-team" duo all have to do Williams' on-field success and his likable persona and the respect he has earned from his fellow Panthers?

Well, in a way, almost everything.

First of all, last year's parade of backup quarterbacks rolling through Charlotte included the walking legend, Vinny Testaverde. Before being injured, Testaverde had a degree of success during his short tenure in Carolina. What was it about the former 1st round draft pick, who was still competitive at 44 years old, that impressed his new Panther teammates, including a backup running back named DeAngelo Williams?

The impressive part had to do with the professionalism Testaverde brought to the table and the mere fact that a man who was old enough to be many of the player's fathers was actually able to win a professional football game.

It was also quite a testament to Testaverde's work ethic that he could actually bench press more weight, bad back and all, than some of the "stronger" players on the Panthers' roster. 

"I think he's (Testaverde) probably impacted my season the most this year than anybody because of the conversation that we had before he left," Williams said Wednesday in an interview with the AP's, Mike Cranston.  

In the same AP segment by Cranston, it was stated, "We had a lengthy conversation and everything he said to me made perfect sense," said Williams, Carolina's first round pick in 2006.

"From the film room down to work ethic and everything of that nature. He really left me with some things that really touched me and stayed on my heart, as you can tell from this season." 
  
What epiphany did the backup running back have that propelled him from his role as a mere number two backup "runner," playing behind DeShaun Foster, to now being the NFL's touchdown leader and part of the tandem that leads the NFL in rushing yardage. Well, Williams isn't saying...just yet, anyway. But you can believe it all started after Williams was hauled down from behind after a huge break-away run last season. Williams looked like he had a sure fire awaiting, but as he got closer to the goal line something started to happen.  It was not a hamstring pull or an Olympic sprinter who stopped Williams touchdown run. It was  a football who had worked harder.

Now, the long run itself was great for the team and Williams was very excited but a bit miffed at not scoring the touchdown.  However, Williams had not even leftt the sideline before the ribbing started.  Williams said the comments started then. It was all in fun but having guys say "you got ran down!" and "hey,you need the oxygen bottle?" can be sort of eye opening.  Testaverde knew what had happened and on the plane ride back to Carolina, Vinnie went back and asked DeAngelo if he could sit down and speak with him for a minute. The transformation had begun.  Williams would not be run down again  if he had his way. 

When last offseason started most players take a nice long break.  DeAngelo Williams, knew what Vinnie Testaverde had told him and it did not involve three or four week vactions.  Willaims was back, hard at work , in preparation for the 2009 season.  A season where Williams is on track to break  every rushing and touchdown record the Panthers have.  If he gets anywhere near the type of production numbers he had at Memphis, then you may just be looking at the first Carolina Panther player headed to Canton.  Williams owns the records for most yards from scrimmage in college football history. He has more 100 yard plus rushing games than anyone in collegiate history as well. Hold those hats on tightly Panthers' fans.  Mr. Williams has many more years left to play.

One look at a Panthers' practice and you will see Williams hit the open hole and run the ball all of the way to the end zone. Whether it was five yards or twenty five yards he goes for the goal line. If it is in the 100 degree Spartanburg heat during Panther training camp or last week in the rain, when the hand off to Williams is called you will see him "take it to the house." 

Sure, it would have been fine to simply stop after five extra yards and jog back to the huddle. But somewhere in Williams' head, I will bet you can hear Testaverde saying, "You practice like you play and you will play like you practice.....and you will only get out what you put in."

At 5'9", 217 pounds, Williams, from a distance looks smallish, but up close and personal, DeAngelo is nothing less that a well built, solid mass of muscle. Actually he and Panther superstar Steve Smith are very close in size, with Williams having a lower body, made perfectly for a low center of gravity. So, don't let size fool you. 

Williams is nowhere near the size of Brandon Jacobs or Marion Barber, but his numbers are overwhelmingly better, and he runs just as hard between the tackles and poses much more of a deep threat when he gets on the outside. 

Cranston asked Jake Delhomme about the conversations had by Williams and Testaverde and Delhomme said, "Last year, Vinny talked to DeAngelo about that, about, 'Hey, when you practice, run. Finish runs.'"...

"Because Vinny had all those years and knew how to prepare. He was a tireless worker. He prepared extremely hard. I thought it was great that Vinny did that, because obviously, he saw something in DeAngelo."

What Testaverde saw was what Panther fans saw when DeAngelo was returning kickoffs as a rookie. He was a fierce runner and before each return he would lean his head back and do an abbreviated "backstroke" dance before every kickoff return.

The motions he went through looked similar to the dance move he and his "power rushing" friend, Jonathan Stewart, now do after either one of them scores a touchdown. Speaking of dances and duos that leads me to the kind of guy Williams is.

Besides being a very serious competitor—and I do mean serious—Williams also keeps his life light hearted. One look at his collegiate numbers will give you an idea of the kind of football player Carolina actually has.

Williams holds the NCAA records for most career all-purpose yards (7,573) and 100-yard rushing games (34). He also ranks fourth on the all-time NCAA rushing list with 6,026 yards, trailing only Ron Dayne, Ricky Williams, and Tony Dorsett. 

On the other hand, Williams knows exactly how to have a good time. He knows who he is and he keeps it light and has fun with it. He has the kind of face and personality that Madison Avenue would love if he could somehow find his way on the national stage. Maybe an early game in 2009 could change all of that. 

Where is the disdain and animosity for the rookie running back who has taken up over 700 yards and nine touchdowns away from Williams' potential? It simply does not exist.  Williams, who splits carries and plays a little more than half of most games, knows he could possibly be the NFL's leading rusher and possibly be on a record setting pace. 

But Williams also knows he could wind up like many other backs who are over-played. Injured and not reliable. The more you play, the more chances you have to accrue injuries. The more injuries you have usually equates to a shorter career you will have.

Most importantly, Williams knows keeping a "fresh" running back and being able to toss in a "change of pace back" in the Panther run game can wreak havoc on opposing defenses and so far it has worked. Williams cares about the game in front of him, not the accolades left behind him. 

When many in the local Charlotte media argued and made their cases that DeAngelo was "robbed" and shunned by the league for not making the Pro Bowl, Williams had already said he did not care about it. 

He said he was focused on one thing only, getting ready for the all important, NFC showdown versus the Giants this Sunday night. 

So, with this seriousness and focus that Williams has, just where did the light-hearted personality, the dance, and the celebration come from? Williams is a funny guy and he loves to have a good time.

I had taken my young sons to see the a pay-per-view wrestling event and "The Hardy Boys," a "tag-team" duo had just finished off their opponents in the popular traveling exhibition America knows as the "WWE."

The fans who had filled the Charlotte Bobcats Arena seemed to be cheerfully having a good time with it, the kids were lapping it up. However, there was one young fellow, three rows ahead of me, on the front row, who was absolutely going wild.

As he jumped and laughed and acknowledged the winning duo, his short dreadlocks bounced. As he turned around, you could tell by the smile that DeAngelo Williams was having a blast.

Williams was having fun. Now, DeAngelo knows wrestling is only meant to entertain its' followers, but it also is an exhibition of some very amazing, high-flying, acrobatic moves by some very large, muscle bound guys, like the ones he sees on the field every day. 

Each "big-time" wrestler worth their salt has a patented entrance song and a few, especially "tag-team" duos have creative celebration dances. These moves and drama that surrounds these guys make them seem larger than life and it all looks like a well scripted music video.

So, what does wrestling have to do with the NFL, DeAngelo Williams, and a possible league MVP award? Specifically, nothing. However, in regards to DeAngelo Williams, it is sort of a confirmation that he enjoys doing all he can do, doing it well, being an unselfish part of a team and off course, doing that celebration dance.

In the offseason, the Panthers drafted a "power-runner" in the first round. Jonathan  Stewart or "Stewy" as he is known by his teammates has also become a wrestling fan.  He is the other part of the Carolina Panther league-leading rushing duo. He is Williams' "tag-team," his reliever, his teammate, his post toouchdown celebration partner and most of all, his friend.

In a time where it seems some athletes are all about the "me" factor and when some even seem to almost care less about whether their team actually wins a game as long as they get their "stats" Deangelo is different. It is all about the money to way too many guys these days.

Many times it looks like there are a handful of players in the NFL who look to be more focused on getting a certain amount of carries or catches, anyone know a wideout in Dallas crying about his tight end getting more looks he does? This is what separates DeAngelo Williams from the pack.  He is not selfish. More than once I have seen "Delo," as he known by his teammates,  run the ball 10 or 20 yards to the 5 yard line and come out of the game and be replaced by Stewart and in doing so, give up "his" touchdwon. Remeber, this has happened more than once...but who is the first one off of the sideline to go out and "chest bump" and have a victory dance with Stewart?  Williams of course.

It is all about the team and posting wins for Williams. One look at the number prove it. The duo, who have seemingly took the name "Smash and Dash" are the NFL's best pair of running backs. Williams alone has more touchdowns than any other player in the entire NFL. 

Clinton Portis, who was named to the Pro Bowl instead of Williams, is ranked 33rd in touchdown production.

On the other hand Jonathan Stewart is tied for 15th and "oh, by the way," Adrian Peterson is also tied with Carolina's No. 2 running back, Jonathan Stewart in the touchdown production department. The  numbers do not lie. If you add any pair of running duos numbers together, no-one has more overall rushing yardage than Carolina's "Smash and Dash."

No, disrespect to LenDale White, who seemingly claimed the "Smash and Dash" moniker before DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart did, may just need to reflect on the facts and stats before he gets too upset.  I think a fine way to settle it would be a Superbowl showdown between Tennessee and Carolina.  The winner could copyright "Smash and Dash" and the loser could eat their humble pie 

Williams' leadership to Jonathan Stewart has been priceless. His touchdown production is amazing and is the best in the NFL. His yards-per-carry numbers are incredible. 

The focus, effort and talent he brings to his team has his team ranked between second or third in the various, different, national NFL power rankings. Williams' Panthers are one win away from wrapping up home field advantage throughout the NFC Playoffs. 

Home field has not meant much to the Panthers over the past few years, but this year, that has all changed. The Panthers are perfect at home. They have come from behind to win, they have won a few close games, and they have also posted record-shattering blowouts against some of the NFL's best teams. 

Most impressive? The 299 rushing yards against Tampa's vaunted "Tampa Two" defense where Williams had 186 off of just 19 carries...while happily splitting runs with his tag-team partner, Stewy.

Is Williams worthy of MVP consideration? Time will tell.

However, if the Panthers can ride Williams' hard running style to a win over the New York Giants, thus securing home field advantage for playoffs, that would place Williams' team just two wins away from the Super Bowl.

And that may go a long way in helping focus a few sets of eyes on just how important Williams is to his team and how the team has prospered when Williams has been successful.