Denver Broncos Sign LB D.J. Williams To Contract Extension

by John Bena on Sep 7, 2008 12:25 PM MDT in Denver Broncos Roster Moves

New Deal Keeps Williams In Denver Through 2013

The Denver Broncos on Sunday signed linebacker D.J. Williams to a five-year contract extension through the 2013 season, Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced.

In his fifth NFL season, Williams has started 62 games with the Broncos since they selected him in the first round (17th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft from the University of Miami. He is the club's only defensive player to appear in all 67 possible Broncos games (regular season and playoffs) during the past four years while seeing time at all three linebacker positions.

Williams, who has started at least 14 games in each of his four seasons, owns 438 career tackles (316 solo), four sacks (35 yds.) and two interceptions (10 yds.). He also has posted 21 pass breakups, seven forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries along with 10 special-teams tackles during his career.

While playing the middle linebacker position for the first time in his career in 2007, Williams started all 16 games and recorded the highest tackle total (170) by a Bronco in five seasons. According to press box statistics, he led the AFC and ranked second in the NFL in tackles.

In 2004, Williams became the first rookie in Broncos history to lead the team in tackles (114). He finished third in the Associated Press' NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year voting and received Pro Football Weekly/PFWA All-Rookie honors.

Williams was a three-year starter at Miami, where he was a two-time first-team All-Big East Conference selection and helped the Hurricanes to a national championship victory as a sophomore. He earned USA Today Defensive Player of the Year honors at De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif.

Williams was born on July 20, 1982, in Sacramento, Calif.

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my dad use to take me to de la salle high school games when i was little

And DJ williams was a running back who just would run all over people. When denver drafted him i was pumped and to this day i am even more pumped.

Nor cals finest

The quest is the Highway to the Danger Zone-Kenny loggins

by TommyTSlice on Sep 7, 2008 12:42 PM MDT reply actions

Well deserved.

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Sep 7, 2008 12:45 PM MDT reply actions

Glad the Broncos did right by D.J.

Of course, they also did right by themselves, too. He’s going to have a helluva season. Best to sign him before his value goes through the roof.

"In the empty spaces - lacunae, vacuums, pauses, voids, black holes - new things begin. We are born anew from the unexplored space, the badlands, the outlaw territory." - Sam Keen

by spock on Sep 7, 2008 12:49 PM MDT reply actions

awesome.

Slowly becoming the best player on defense for sure.

by precisiontint on Sep 7, 2008 12:55 PM MDT reply actions

This is a vote of confidence for Shanahan and Denver's team in General

I am ecstatic that they have done this. My biggest fear was that when his contract ran out that he would be gone. He is a top tier linebacker, this says something about what he thinks about the Broncos as well. He knows he could have made millions wherever he went, EVERY team needs his level of linebacker. But to stay in Denver means he sees success as part of the future here in Denver. This was what I needed to have more confidence in Denver’s defence going into the beginning of the season.

"...The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming.."
--Teddy Roosevelt, The Man in the Arena

by Loveland310 on Sep 7, 2008 11:26 PM MDT reply actions