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Jamaal Williams Breaks Silence on What He Claims Went Wrong with Lions Negotiations

By Anne Erickson
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 08: Jamaal Williams #30 of the Detroit Lions warms up prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on January 08, 2023 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Jamaal Williams became a fan favorite for the Lions during the 2022 season. Of course, with such great stats, it was no surprise that Williams was going to see what was available in free agency, but with the way he talked about how much he loved the Lions, many thought it would a no-brainer that he would be back in 2023.

However, negotiations reportedly didn’t go well with the Lions. In the end, the Lions signed running back David Montgomery and Williams signed with New Orleans. Since then, plenty of rumors have circulated that Williams and the Lions just couldn’t come to an agreement. But, neither side has spoken out- until now.

  • Here's what Jaamal Williams says

    On Friday (March 17), Jamaal Williams had a sit-down with media from the Saints and was asked about his offer from Detroit. Williams was very forthright- and not super flattering of management.

    New Saints RB Jamaal Williams says the #Lions offer was “disrespectful” and that “they’ve been done with him”#OnePride #DetroitLions pic.twitter.com/g5s3EhMxGO

    — Detroit Lions Double Take (@Det_Lions_DLDT) March 17, 2023" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Here’s what he said:

    “They been done with me. I could tell. The offer they gave me, I feel like was very—just disrespectful. Just showing that they—you know—really didn’t want me to be there, like that. But it’s all love. Like I know my teammates, everybody there at the Detroit Lions have love for me and all that. But, at the same time, we couldn’t come to terms with things.”

  • More info on the money offered

    According to MLive’s Kyle Meinke. the Lions offer wasn’t close to what the Saints pulled out to get Williams on their roster. Here’s what he said on Twitter:

  • Conflicting reports

    Dave Birkett of the Free Press stated that the Lions “were believed to be offering Williams a similar deal to the one they gave Montgomery.” So, some are saying that Williams was offered a more than fair amount. Perhaps we’ll never know the truth, but we do know that Williams is no longer a Lion.

    Ex-Detroit Lions RB Jamaal Williams reportedly signs 3-year deal with New Orleans Saints

    Jamaal Williams, who set the Detroit Lions franchise record for rushing touchdowns in a single season in 2022, has reportedly signed with the Saints.