Saints fans put up billboards with a message for Marcus Williams
This year’s NFL playoffs feature a quarterback considered the GOAT and a safety considered a goat.
The GOAT is a reference to Tom Brady, whose five Super Bowl wins are the most of any quarterback in NFL history, leading many to label him the greatest of all time. The goat is Marcus Williams of the New Orleans Saints, whose missed tackle on the final play of Sunday’s NFC divisional round playoff game allowed the Minnesota Vikings to score the game-winning touchdown and advance to the NFC championship game.
Williams didn’t just fail to make the tackle against Vikings receiver Stephon Diggs — he failed to even make contact when he dove at the receiver’s legs. Diggs avoided the contact, turned and raced down the sidelines to record the memorable touchdown.
The loss will be a hard one for New Orleans fans and players to forget. But while many Saints fans took to social media to bash Williams, a number of them are showing their support for the rookie defender.
A billboard along the interstate in New Orleans featured a message Monday in support of Williams.
This billboard just popped up on Interstate-10. This is what being a TRUE Saints fan is all about! We show love for Marcus Williams! @Babymagik32 @drewbrees @Saints #saints #whodat4life #WhoDatNation #whodat #westillbelieve #saintsbillboard @wgnotv #datsok pic.twitter.com/2kKHs5E3CQ
— Kenny Lopez (@KennyLopez_TV) January 16, 2018
The billboard isn’t the only message of support for the rookie.
A local restaurant, Central City BBQ, invited Williams to a free dinner at the establishment.
That’s in addition to the hundreds of fans who welcomed the team at the airport when it returned from Minneapolis at 1 a.m.
Williams, for his part, didn’t back down from the media after the heartbreaking loss.
“Man, it was just my play to make,” a teary-eyed Williams told reporters after the game.
“The ball was in the air. I didn’t go attack it,” he added. “And he came down and made a great play, and that’s just on me.”
“If the play happened different, I would just go attack the ball and make that play. I just gotta be that guy and go up and get the ball,” he said. “As the safety back there, you gotta be the eraser. And that was my job. You can’t let it beat you down. I’m gonna take it upon myself to do all that I can to never let that happen again. And, I mean if it happens again, then I shouldn’t be playing.”
A day after the game, Williams took to Twitter and thanked family, friends, fans and teammates for their support.
I appreciate my friends, real fans, family, and team for everything they have done for me this season all of the support is highly appreciated!No the season didn’t end as planned but one thing for sure I won’t let one play define the type of MAN or PLAYER that I am or will be!💯
— Marcus Williams (@MarcusWilliams) January 15, 2018
While Williams’ missed tackle will go down in Saints — and Vikings — lore, it doesn’t erase the fact he had a solid rookie campaign for New Orleans. He started 15 of the Saints regular season games and notched four interceptions. He also had an interception in Sunday’s loss at Minnesota.
Williams was one of four Saints named to the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie team, along with running back Alvin Kamara, cornerback Marshon Lattimore and offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk.
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