The most bizarre NFL story in recent memory began with a simple news blurb Thursday: The Eagles waived Bernard Williams from reserve-suspended list.
The mention of Williams caused a stir among fans. Surely that couldn’t be the offensive lineman Bernard Williams who was suspended indefinitely in 1995 for several failed drug (weed) tests and never reinstated?
But it is the same one, according to multiple reports.
Bernard Williams, for those not familiar, is an offensive tackle who was suspended indefinitely in NINETEEN NINETY FIVE for weed after being named to the 1994 all-rookie team. he never applied for reinstatement and went to the CFL. he is 51 years old https://t.co/jmQs2FccAa
— alex katson 🇯🇵 (@alexkatson) November 16, 2023
Williams, a member of the NFL’s All-Rookie team in 1994, became the first and only NFL player to start every game as a rookie then never play again. He never applied for reinstatement to the NFL. The former Georgia All-American went on to play in the Canadian Football League, the XFL and the AFL before retiring to become an entrepreneur.
And all that time, Williams was hanging out on the Eagles’ reserve-suspended list. It’s not a good look for the reserve-suspended list. That list sounds very official, but given Williams’ almost 30-year presence, it now sounds more like the dusty corner in an old garage, full of old golf clubs and other forgotten stuff.
The Eagles will surely explain the details of this bizarre personnel move at some point, but for now, X/Twitter is in disbelief.
In other news, the Commanders have waived Sammy Baugh https://t.co/HV4xjx9GnY
— 🇸🇲 Sickos Committee 🇸🇲 (@SickosCommittee) November 16, 2023
Didn’t want to run the risk of the Cowboys picking him up 😏
— J L ⚫️🟡 (@JBling29) November 16, 2023
The Eagles owe it to Bernard Williams to re-sign him and let him retire an Eagle
— Dan McQuade (@dhm) November 17, 2023
Wait. You mean Bernard Williams from like 30 years ago!?
— On The Road To Victory (@OTR2Victory1) November 16, 2023
really playing the long game here
— Kevin Knight (@FalcoholicKevin) November 17, 2023
No way is that real…I mean no way!
— I’m Too Old For This (@theWilyVeteran) November 16, 2023