DeAngelo Williams Annoyed With Panther’s Treatment Of Mom’s Funeral

The Carolina Panthers longtime rusher DeAngelo Williams talked about his release from a team that he has played for his entire career, in an exclusive interview with CBS WBTV.

While they have not officially waived him yet, the Panthers have already made him aware of their plans to cut him. He leaves the team leading them in rushing yards (6,846) and touchdowns (46), but saw his output severely hindered by injuries, which sidelined him for majority of 2014.

However, though he has spent nine seasons with the team, he is not upset about being cut; in fact, the only thing that truly bothered him is how the organization dealt with his mother’s death last May. Since his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, Williams became a major advocate for awareness across the league. He was a main proponent behind getting all the teams to wear pink in October, something the Panthers heavily publicized.

When his mother died, the team did very little to reach out, Williams claims. Of course, teammates and the Panthers organization called and texted: “Coach Rivera said, ‘I’m sorry to hear that,'” Williams stated in the interview. “And right after that, Dave Gettleman called. He was like, ‘Man, we’re praying for you.’ I was like, ‘I really appreciate it. Thank you so much.'” However, Panthers’ owner Jerry Richardson failed to reach out to the longtime back: something he apologized for during 2014’s training camp.

Yet after, almost all of the players and representatives from the Panthers failed to attend the funeral. “[Only Greg Hardy] came,” said Williams. “And there is nothing that he can say or do in my eyes that is bad. All the players around the league, all the players in the locker room, they texted and called. But Greg Hardy showed up.”

Still, it was hard for DeAngelo to not be disappointed with the organization he has called home for nine years. “I was so upset with Carolina, because for the last five or six years during October she was celebrated,” he said. “But then when she’s no longer here, let’s move on.”

As for his future, Williams is glad to get a fresh start, but does not want to end his career after his poor showing in 2014. He played in six games where he only garnered 219 rushing yards, 3.5 YPC and zero touchdowns. And though he does not know where he will play next, he says he is excited about the possible opportunities.