Oct 14, 2008 - 10:38 PM
0 shoutsIRVING, Texas (Ticker) -- Roy Williams is headed home, and he could not be happier.
The Dallas Cowboys acquired the former University of Texas star on Tuesday from the Detroit Lions for a trio of draft picks.
In exchange for Williams, a 2006 Pro Bowler who has 29 touchdown receptions in 60 career games, the Lions received the Cowboys' first-, third- and sixth-round selections in the 2009 draft.
Dallas also acquired Detroit's seventh-round pick in 2009 as part of the deal completed just prior to the trade deadline.
"I'm more happy to be a Dallas Cowboy than when I got my first bike," Williams said during a conference call.
Williams was ecstatic to leave the winless Lions (0-5) for the Cowboys (4-2), who have a star-studded roster and Super Bowl aspirations.
"Going from 0-5 to 4-2, you can't ask for anything better than that," Williams said.
Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said Williams, who can become a free agent after this season, agreed to a five-year contract extension. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"We've got a five-year contract - this year and five more years," Jones said. "It's key because this guy is in the prime of his career, just hitting his stride, so to speak."
The Lions were also pleased with the trade.
"There's a lot of upside there," said Lions general manager Martin Mayhew, who took over the role after Matt Millen was fired on September 25.
"You're looking at having possibly five of the first 100 picks. You may be able to trade up and get another second-round pick; you have ammunition for that. So, it does help as far as our plan for 2009."
In Dallas, Williams joins a high-powered Cowboys' offense that already features Terrell Owens, one of the NFL's most talented and talkative wide receivers. The newly formed combination of Williams, Owens and Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten arguably gives Dallas the most potent aerial attack in the league.
As for the questions about whether the volatile Owens can coexist with a star receiver?
"The first guy that I had an opportunity to visit with besides (offensive coordinator Jason Garrett) was Terrell," Jones said. "I called him and he was elated, beside himself, and got his phone number so he could call Roy."
"T.O. was the first person that called me, so I think were gonna make a good combination," Williams said. "All I want to do is win. That is all I've been wanting to do since I left the University of Texas."
So what was the conversation about?
"We just talked about winning," Williams said. "He talked about how hard they practice here, and talked about winning ballgames and getting to the Super Bowl. That's our goal. It's been my goal ever since I got in this league, and hopefully it can happen."
The 6-4 Williams will bolster Dallas' injury-depleted receiving corps that already is without wideout Sam Hurd, who will miss the remainder of the season with an ankle injury.
Jones said the whole idea behind trading for Williams was to take some pressure off Owens. Williams will practice Wednesday and may get some snaps in Sunday's game against the St. Louis Rams.
"Jason last year thought that one of the best things we could do - and many of you (in the media) thought that one of the best things we could do was get a guy that has to have double coverage on the other side of Terrell, and then you've got to make some choices out there, and that is what we think we've got here," Jones said.
A native of Texas, Williams will not have the benefit of immediately playing with Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo, who has a broken pinkie finger on his throwing hand and could be sidelined up to four weeks.
But when Romo returns, he will have a variety of offensive weapons in Williams, Owens, Witten and Pro Bowl running back Marion Barber.
Williams, 26, hauled in 17 receptions for 232 yards and one touchdown in five games this season for the Lions, who selected the former Longhorn with the seventh overall pick in the 2004 draft.
Now, Williams is headed from one of the NFL's worst teams to one of its best in the Cowboys, who have averaged 29.2 points per game - the third-best mark in the league.
"It's a wide-open offense, and I just want to come in and learn the offense and help this team win," Williams said.
Dallas, which went 13-3 last year en route to the NFC East title, is attempting to bounce back from last weekend's 30-24 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, who became the first team in NFL history to win an overtime contest on a blocked punt return for a touchdown.
The Cowboys also are reeling from the injury to Romo and the indefinite suspension of troubled cornerback Adam Jones, who was penalized Tuesday for his involvement in an alcohol-related altercation last week at a Dallas hotel.
Williams has spent his entire career with the Lions, recording 262 catches for 3,884 yards. His best season came in 2006, when he set career highs of 84 catches and 1,310 yards.
