'87 Chronology-No Regrets

Event Date: August 14th, 1987

Event Description: Williams Jumps

Source: UPI

Quarterback Doug Williams, making the jump back to the NFL after two seasons in the USFL, says he is elated to be with the Washington Redskins.

One day after the Redskins acquired his rights from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Williams agreed to terms and reported to the team's Dickinson College training site Tuesday night. Williams was set to take his physical and sign a three-year contract today.

“I didn't want to get into a situation again with my life where I had to play with a team that was rebuilding and didn't have the team Washington had,” Williams said.

“I'm elated to be here and I just hope that, whatever my role is with the Wasington Redskins, I can do it to the best of my ability.”

Williams, 32, who guided the Buccaneers to the NFC championship game in 1979, said he has accepted his role as a backup.

“Let me get the record straight, Jay Schroeder is the starting quarterback for the Washington Redskins -- I know that, coach (Joe) Gibbs knows that and everybody else knows that. I didn't come here to unseat Jay,” he added.

Williams, known for a strong arm and weak knees during a professional career starting in 1978, played five years in the NFL with Tampa Bay before joining the USFL. He spent the 1984 season with the Oklahoma Outlaws and the 1985-87 seasons with the Arizona Outlaws.

Williams said he also contacted the Los Angeles Raiders about the possibility of joining them, but the Raiders did not express any interest. The Redskins reportedly dealt a fifth-round draft choice to Tampa Bay for the rights to Williams. 

Williams, who left Tampa Bay in 1982 in a salary dispute, said he did not regret his years in the USFL. “If there had been total free agency in the NFL I wouldn't have went to the USFL, but under the circumstances, I have no regrets,” he said.

Source: (UPI Modified)