“Earlier in the year, (Patriots coach Mike Vrabel) asked our team to raise our hand if you were playing football at this time last year, I was the only guy to raise my hand, so it was kind of weird,” Williams said. “But I’m just happy for all the guys to be able to raise their hand. To be like all right, ask that question next year. We was there in that same situation, in the Super Bowl.”
The reality truly hit home when New England toppled Denver in a 10-7 game that looked more like a blizzard than a conference championship game.
“You know, after the game — I got my happy tears out last year when we won it in Philly — so after the Denver game, just seeing those guys crying and stuff on the sideline about making it, it was everything,” Williams said. “I was kind of laughing at them, calling them soft. I was in the same position last year, crying like a baby, so I understand.”
Now that they’ve experienced the joys of an emotional, dream-like victory, the Patriots know it’s time to zero in on the greatest goal of all: winning the franchise’s seventh Lombardi Trophy. Fortunately, much like Darius Slay did with some Eagles teammates ahead of Super Bowl LIX, the Patriots have a few veterans who can guide them through the process.
“Just telling them to keep it simple,” Williams said of his Super Bowl advice to his teammates. “I told them all of this is happening, gonna be asked a lot of questions, gonna have to deal with a lot of media. Just deal with it and make sure in practice and in our meetings that we’re locked in. And when we have our little free time, you go have fun or do whatever.
“Because I mean it’s family, it’s fans, it’s a lot going on. But all the fun stuff is for them. We came here to win the game.”
The significance of such an achievement stretches far beyond the current Patriots roster, but as Williams noted Monday, it would also be especially meaningful for him. He’d have won two Super Bowls in two seasons with two different organizations, helping one fulfill a goal it fell painfully short of two seasons prior, and then doing the same for a franchise that couldn’t have been further from the mountaintop a year earlier.
“Woo, to pull that off, it’ll be something I didn’t even dream about,” Williams said. “I just dreamt about being in the NFL, playing in one. Winning? Back to back? That would be something I didn’t even dream about. I always say I’m just blessed to be in this situation, just to have this opportunity. I’m gonna do everything I can to try and take advantage of it.”
Oh, and don’t forget about the haters. Williams certainly isn’t, and proved as much when asked if his Patriots had the makeup to win it all.
“Definitely,” Williams said. “Definitely. Like I said, I like us.”
