Karl "The Truth" Williams has carved out his spot on the Bucs but isn't complacent.
By JOANNE KORTH
Published August 6, 2003
LAKE BUENA VISTA - Seven years ago, Karl Williams was training camp fodder, an undrafted receiver from a small school with an even smaller chance of making the Buccaneers roster.
Not big enough.
Not strong enough.
Not fast enough.
Then, at the end of his first professional practice, an assistant coach called out for anyone who could return kicks to stick around. Williams took him at his word.
"From the first time I stepped on a football field, everybody told me I couldn't do it," Williams said. "It seems like every year I found a way to prove everybody wrong. That's my motto now. If you say I can't do it, I'm going to prove you wrong."
Who would doubt a man nicknamed The Truth?
Entering his eighth season, Williams no longer is teetering on the training camp bubble, as likely to be cut by the Bucs as kept. He is no bigger, no stronger and no faster, but has a secure place on the roster as a receiver/return specialist.
"He's having a very good camp," coach Jon Gruden said. "He's a guy we rely on to make plays for us no matter what role we put him in. He's a humble guy, a guy who's worked for everything he has and that's one of the winning edges that he brings to our football team and something I really appreciate about him."
A product of Texas A&M-Kingsville by way of Tyler (Texas) Junior College, Williams is all of 5 feet 10, 177 pounds. But he has left a sizable mark on the Bucs record book.
He has five punt returns for touchdowns, one each in five of seven seasons, and seven of the nine longest returns in team history. He also holds three team punt-return yardage records: game (116), season (597) and total (2,169).
"It's just one of those things where you hope natural talent and ability takes over when you get back there," said Williams, 32. "That's being a ballplayer. Everybody always talks about me as a punt returner, and they made a punt returner out of me my rookie year because that was the only way I could get on the field."
This year, Gruden has held Williams out of most return drills to give younger players a chance. Meanwhile, Williams has asserted himself on offense, closing the gap between he and top-three receivers Keyshawn Johnson, Keenan McCardell and Joe Jurevicius.
"You always have to have guys who can step up and play and Karl has proven he can do that in any situation Jon puts him in," McCardell said. "Jon likes that. We know Karl is going to make his plays when he gets the chance."
Williams has 130 catches for 1,586 yards and seven touchdowns. He had at least 21 catches in five of seven seasons, respectable numbers for a backup. Starting for injured McCardell against the Vikings, he had four catches for 49 yards and one touchdown.
"I didn't hesitate once with Karl in there," quarterback Brad Johnson said. "The greatest attribute for a receiver is being reliable. It's not your speed, not making a great play; it's being in the right place at the right time, doing it time and again, being dependable. That's what Karl is. Whether he's on special teams, in the offense or in the locker room, you call him The Truth and that's the way it is."
Though his place is secure, Williams' mind-set is no different from previous training camps. After years of clawing onto rosters, he prefers to remain an underdog.
"In a way, I'm more comfortable fighting for a spot," he said. "At this level, I don't think it's good if you're sitting there knowing you've got a roster spot. I want to come out and fight every day with the rest of these guys.
