DeAngelo Williams gave an exclusive interview with WBTV in Charlotte on Monday night informing the world the Panthers are planning to release him. It was an inevitable conclusion with excess running backs on the roster, his age (32) and the $2 million Carolina can save.
But Williams also detailed his disappointment with the franchise in the wake of his mother's death last year, saying "no one came to the funeral."
"When she died, I called Coach Rivera," Williams said. "Right after that, Dave Gettleman called. He was like 'Man, we're praying for you.' I was like 'I really appreciate it, thank you so much.' That was the end. That was it. No one came to the funeral. The owner didn't reach out."
No one is technically inaccurate. The running back said one player did come to his mother's funeral in Arkansas, (soon to be former) Panthers defensive lineman Greg Hardy.
"One player came. And there's nothing he can say or do in my eyes that is bad," Williams said. "All the players around the league, all the players in the locker room, they texted, they called. But Greg Hardy showed up."
Williams said Jerry Richardson did apologize and pen a letter to Williams after a touching article he wrote on TheMMQB.com about his mother's death.
"I wrote the article. I come back and there's a letter from the owner saying I read this story, it's a really nice love story between a son and his mom."
Williams continued saying he was "so upset with" the Panthers following his mother's death because of the lack of people that came to the funeral.
"I was so upset with Carolina, because for the last five or six years during October, she was celebrated. But then, when she's no longer here, let's move on," Williams said. "I'm not saying this now because they're releasing me. In fact, I probably wouldn't have brought it up had you not asked me. It stung to know that a place of business you've worked for, you've bled, you've done everything you possibly can for this organization ... upon your darkest hour, they let you handle it by yourself."
Williams added he doesn't plan to retire and is "going to keep going."
"There's no way I can end my career with the season I had last year, so I'm going to keep going."
And the running back sounded motivated too, noting that being released isn't what bothers him. He's bothered by not being disappointed about the release.
"I'm not disappointed I'm being released. And that's what bothers me."
