The second year of Detroit Lions star wide receiver Jameson Williams hasn’t gone exactly to plan.
Williams faces a six-game suspension to start the season after violating the NFL’s gambling policy. Then, earlier this month, Jameson was caught on social media videos in what Kory Woods of MLive.com describes as “one of Detroit’s toughest neighborhoods” while lighting a fuse box with fireworks.
“These incidents have led to criticism from fans and pundits, who question Williams’ maturity and judgment,” Woods wrote.
But Williams’ father, James, spoke to reporters at Chandler Park Academy while hosting his son’s inaugural football and skills camp, and offered a blunt message to his son.
“Honestly, he signed up for this,” James Williams told MLive. “You know, what comes with great praise, it’s going to come with greater criticism. And that just goes along with the game. You know, not everybody’s going to love you. Not everybody’s going to hate you. So, I mean, we’re not really tripping off of that.”
The elder Williams contends the media is just doing its job.
“I mean, the media’s going to be the media. The media has to do their job, and that’s understandable. So it’s gotta be something good (or) It’s gotta be something bad.”
When asked if criticism fazed his son, Williams originally said “No,” then “quickly retracted” the statement according to the report.
“I lied,” James said, laughing. “And you gonna see it in his play.”
[MLive]