DALLAS RECEIVER WILLIAMS’ EGO BRUISED BY SUCCESS OF BACKUP AUSTIN

The Dallas Cowboys have won three straight games and moved into a first place tie with Philadelphia.  Tony Romo is playing efficient and productive football at quarterback, and backup receiver Miles Austin has produced like a NFL Pro Bowler since entering the starting lineup.  So how is the presumptive starter, Roy Williams handling the success of the Cowboys and his teammate as he’s struggled through injuries?  He’s decided to whine about it.

Sounding more like a neglected girlfriend than a professional football player, Williams balefully tried to suggest that he was happy with the Cowboys’ recent success and that of Austin but quickly turned the subject to his personal performance.  There would be nothing wrong with a little constructive self criticism to get him motivated, except he didn’t do that either—it’s all Tony Romo’s fault.  And it’s not so much that Miles Austin is playing well, he’s just getting all of the lucky breaks that poor Williams isn’t.
 
Asked about his status as the Cowboys #1 receiver in light of Austin’s recent success, Williams responded:

"I'm the No. 1 receiver.  But things are just going No. 2's way."

He then started placing the blame on his quarterback, complaining that their ‘relationship’ isn’t ‘close’ despite a lot of work in the off season:

"It's just not even close. It's not even funny. Not even close."

He then implied that Austin’s success is because Romo *wants* him to succeed and, presumably, has it out for Williams and wants him to fail:

"He gets the ball thrown correctly his way. I'm stretching and falling and doing everything. Everybody else who's been here's balls are there. Our footballs from Romo to Williams are everywhere right now."

Romo clearly wasn’t saying what he *wanted* to say when asked about Williams’ comments:

"We're going to be fine there. I know what Roy's doing. It's just a matter of going back and looking the tape and seeing what we have to do better. But it's just part of growing with a receiver."

Right now, there’s not a lot of people buying what Williams is ‘selling’.  In 16 games since arriving from Detroit, Williams has 33 catches, 447 yards and three touchdowns.  Austin, on the other hand, has 482 yards on 21 receptions with five touchdowns in just three starts.

When the Cowboys acquired Williams the hope was that he’d replace the mercurial Terrell Owens with some cool professionalism.  Based on his recent comments and lack of productivity, it’s starting to look like more of the same.