Panthers Release RB DeAngelo Williams

Photo Credit: Streeter Lecka - Getty Images

Photo Credit:
Streeter Lecka – Getty Images

The Carolina Panthers have released running back DeAngelo Williams, according to Williams himself. He told a Charlotte news station the Panthers cut the running back last week.

Williams is Carolina’s franchise-leading rusher in multiple categories, so it is somewhat of a surprise the way two parties have parted.

In an exclusive interview with Charlotte television station WBTV, the running-back explained that it all went down last week during a meeting with coach Ron Rivera and general manager Dave Gettleman. “We sat down, and he told me, ‘The fact of the matter is we’re going to have to release you,'” Williams told the station. “I said, you know, ‘Why?’ and he said, ‘Because we don’t run the ball enough. Just like you said back before the season started, we don’t run the ball enough to keep you and [Jonathan Stewart] both, so we’re going to release you.'”

Jonathan Stewart is the Panthers other running back whom Williams has shared carries with since the Panthers drafted Stewart 13th overall in 2008. Carolina never could make a decision on which back they should give most of the carries to, so throughout both their tenures the Panthers rode the hot hand.

Per ESPN, Carolina will save $2 million in salary-cap space by designating Williams as a post-June 1 cut. Williams has one year left on his deal and is scheduled to count for $6.3 million against the 2015 salary cap.

Williams is set to turn 32 in April and has been with Carolina since being drafted in 2006. He has 6,846 career yards rushing and 46 rushing touchdowns.

Injuries and a broken hand limited him to six games in the  2014 season, which gave Stewart an opportunity to step up, which he did. Stewart was one of the leading rushers in the league over his final six starts, including two playoff games, with 594 yards.

Although Williams hasn’t officially been released by the team, it seems Williams tenure in Carolina is over, confirming with his comments on WBTV. “[Stewart] had the hot hand at the end of the season, He’s a great running back, obviously. I don’t feel bitter at all. It’s a business. And that business comes back and reminds us year after year — whether it be Steve Smith (all-time leading receiver released by Panthers after 2013 season), whether it be Jordan Gross, whether it be myself — it’s going to happen to every guy in that locker room, so it doesn’t bother me at all.”

Williams did not note what his future plans are at this moment in time.