Former Arizona Cardinals Corner Williams Well Deserving of HOF Nod
By Scott Allen
When the announcement came out that former Arizona Cardinals cornerback Aeneas Williams was named a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, it came as no surprise to me. To some it sounded like a surprise, but I can’t see how? During his nine seasons in Arizona and his three seasons with the St. Louis Rams, Williams was one of the games most dominant corners. His selection as a finalist is well deserved.
He was an eight time Pro Bowl selection, four first team all-pro selection, and one second-team all pro selection. He had 55 interceptions over his career and altered the outcome on so many more passes I lost count after season number one.
He is a member of the Arizona Cardinals Ring of Honor, inducted in November 2008. I had a chance to interview Williams two days before that induction, reflecting on what he did in his career, what he was currently doing, and what being inducted into the Ring of Honor meant to him. Even after all of that though, he was more interested in what I did as a blogger.
That is who Aeneas Williams is. He is a genuine great guy who also happened to be one of the best players in NFL history.
Williams currently is a pastor of his own church in St. Louis, further exhibiting the type of person he is. He is always more into others than himself. He is unselfish and although I’m sure he is humble and thankful for the HOF finalist selection, he is the type or person that would be happier for someone else getting the selection into the Hall of Fame rather than himself.
There should be no argument though. He belongs with the other 14 players on the finalist list. I’m not saying he is better or more deserving than the other finalists, because there are some really good players on this year’s list, however if he is selected, there should not be one complaint. If there is, then you clearly didn’t watch football in the 90’s and early 00’s. Good luck to him. He deserves the best because he was amongst the best on the field and will always be amongst the best off the field.
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