When training camp concluded for the Philadelphia Eagles two weeks ago, corner Cary Williams called the New England Patriots "cheaters". Williams said, "I give them all the credit in the world, but one fact remains: They haven't won a Super Bowl since they got caught." Entering the joint practices and preseason game the Eagles were set to have with the Patriots in Foxborough this past week, Williams knew he was going to be targeted by New England and did not care.
During Friday night's preseason game between the Eagles and Patriots, Williams picked off a Tom Brady pass and returned it 77 yards for a touchdown, giving Williams all of the leverage in the world to boast about his comments and disdain for the Patriots. However, after the game concluded, Patriots' head coach Bill Belichick approached Williams on the field, and the Eagles' corner took the opportunity to apologize for his comments and shook Belichick's hand.
When asked by several media outlets what he said to the Patriots' head coach, Williams responded, "I told him that I was sorry. I told him I respect him as a man, I respect him as a coach, I respect him as a GM. And I respect the organization. I told him I said something out of emotions, and I didn’t mean that. You try to use anything to fire yourself up. I let my emotions get the best of me. I said some things I kind of regret."
He continued by telling reporters, "That was a situation where, playing these guys in the playoffs (Williams referring to his time in Baltimore), you kind of develop a a hate for them and you try to use anything to get your mind going and get going. In that situation, I could have chosen my words a little bit wiser. But it is mutual respect and we were able to come together and tell him I was sorry."
Cary Williams and Bill Belichick have moved on from the incident.