When the 6-3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers come into Candlestick this Sunday to play the San Francisco 49ers, they may not be at their most-focused. The organization was rattled early Friday morning when Tampa's leading receiver Mike Williams was arrested and charged with a DUI.
NFL.com reports that Williams was pulled over at 2:30 a.m. Friday morning and blew a .065 on the breathalyzer.
Williams was a fourth-round pick for the Buccaneers in this year's draft. He's been a real find for them, he's their top receiver this year and is on pace for a 1,100-yard rookie season.
But that's only if he plays all 16 games. Not all players face suspensions for a first-time DUI, but the Buccaneers organization has been scattershot all day Friday in determining how to handle the situation.
As of 8 a.m. PST Friday, a Buccaneers team official told ESPN's Adam Schefter that Williams would still play against the 49ers Sunday.
As of 9 a.m. PST Friday, a different Buccaneers team official told ESPN's Adam Schefter that Williams would not play against the 49ers Sunday.
As of 10 a.m. PST Friday, Buccaneers head coach Raheem Morris insisted Williams would, in fact, play. "It hurts our fans. It hurts our team. It hurts everybody on this football team, " Morris told the St. Petersburg Times, referring to the arrest. "But Mike Williams not playing this weekend would hurt the fans more."
Sports
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are becoming the new Cincinnati Bengals. ProFootballTalk.com reports that Williams is the fifth Buccaneer arrested in the last two seasons.
Joe Kukura is a freelance writer who is confused because there are three Mike Williamses in the NFL.
