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Jonathan Stewart remerged as the team's top ball carrier last season, rushing for 809 yards and three touchdowns.
Gettleman told reporters last week at the NFL scouting combines in Indianapolis that it is hard for an older running back and that he finished the season "like a pro's pro." He did not mention the decision to release Williams.
Williams said he spoke for about 10 minutes with Gettleman and Rivera.
His mother died from breast cancer in the offseason. He endured injuries to his hamstring, ankle and hand, limiting him to six games.
CHARLOTTE,Cheap Jerseys China, N.C. (AP) — Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams said the team plans to release him after nine seasons.
Although Williams is the franchise's all-time leading rusher with 6,Wholesale China Jerseys,846 yards, his production dropped off this past season. Williams, who turns 32 in April, missed 10 games due to injuries last season and was limited to 219 yards rushing. He averaged a mere 3.5 yards per carry and did not score a touchdown.
"We sat down and he told me 'The fact of the matter is we're going to have to release you'," Williams told WBTV. "I said you know,Cheap Anaheim Ducks Hoodies, '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 both, so we're going to release you.'"
Panthers spokesman Steve Drummond confirmed the meeting, but said the team hasn't released Williams and there would be no action taken on Monday.
Williams' best season came in 2008 when he ran for a career-best 1,Cheap Jerseys USA,515 yards and 18 touchdowns. He followed that up by rushing for 1,117 yards and seven TDs in 2009.
The Panthers released Smith last year and Gross retired after the Panthers wanted him to take a pay cut.
It's possible the team could designate Williams as a post-June 1 cut. That would save about $2 million under the team's 2015 salary cap.
Williams said Gettleman told him he was being cut because the team doesn't run the ball enough to justify keeping him and Jonathan Stewart on the roster.
Gettleman did not immediately return phone calls.
Williams was selected by the Panthers with the 27th overall pick in 2006,Cheap China Jerseys. His 46 touchdowns rushing are a franchise record.
"I don't feel bitter at all," Williams told WBTV. Stewart "had the hot hand at the end of the season. He's a great running back. ... 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, 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 told Charlotte television station WBTV Monday that he was informed of the decision in a meeting last week with general manager Dave Gettleman and coach Ron Rivera,Wholesale Jerseys Cheap.
Last season was a difficult for one for Williams.
However, in the last five seasons Williams has averaged less than 600 yards rushing per season and had only 16 combined touchdowns rushing during that span. |
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