Williams: No one fears Eagles defense

Cary Williams played with the Ravens from 2009-2012. Credit: Getty Images

Cary Williams might have rubbed some people the wrong way with his comments. Hopefully, he helped ignite a fire under his teammates, too.

Williams defended himself for picking a fight with a Patriots player at practice last week. Eagles coach Chip Kelly removed him from drills after he got into a shoving match with rookie Aaron Dobson. Williams was only trying to prove a point.

“It definitely would have been a different situation if it was in Baltimore,” said Williams, who helped the Ravens win a Super Bowl last season. “It wouldn’t have been a fun practice, I’ll tell you that. It wouldn’t have been a fun practice for the Patriots.”

The cornerback’s comments were met with slight objection by his new coach. When informed of Williams’ remarks after Sunday’s practice, Kelly seemed to take issue. The Eagles are here to play football, not start street brawls.

“There is a certain way you’re supposed to play this game and it’s between the whistles,” Kelly said. “The stuff after the whistles is not what you’re looking for. Our players knew that and Bill [Belichick] was the same way, one of the reasons we wanted to participate against the Patriots is we knew this wasn’t going to turn into a WWE brawl. Because that’s not what it is. It’s a game of football.”

But maybe Williams has a point. The defense has lacked a certain nasty edge since Brian Dawkins left town. Williams said he spoke to Dawkins about that exact thing. The two agreed that no one fears the Eagles anymore.

“We have to establish a tenacity,” Williams said. “A tough-nosed defense, something that’s to be feared when it comes out there each and every week.”