Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson on Wednesday inked a contract extension that paid out the most guaranteed money for a cornerback in the history of the game. Richard Sherman scored his big payday from the Seahawks in May and Darrelle Revis hit the jackpot (again) in New England shortly after the Bucs released him.
Since the start of the new league year, the consensus top three corners in the game have totaled about $100 million in guaranteed cash.
Eagles cornerback Cary Williams on Wednesday was asked if he felt one of those three should be considered the league’s No. 1 corner over the two others. After first saying, “I don’t care” and later adding that “they deserve the money,” Williams suggested that playoff performance should factor into a corner’s reputation -- and then he conveniently mentioned that he’s won many, many playoff games.
Asked if he’d put himself in their echelon, Williams didn’t mince words.
“Yeah,” Williams said. “No question.”
Williams said great corners “come through in great situations in great games in big-time situations,” which he said he’s done already.
“I look at my career. I’ve played in playoff games,” he said. “Most of those guys haven’t played in playoff games. It is what it is. Hopefully those guys could make it to the playoffs. Hopefully those guys could continue the success that they’ve had in their careers. Much respect to those guys, because I don’t see a much of a difference in any of them.”
His argument that the aforementioned three haven’t played in the postseason applies only to Peterson. (Maybe he also counted Browns cornerback Joe Haden, who recently signed a five-year, $68 million contract with $45 million guaranteed despite no playoff resume.)
Revis, a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro, has played in six playoff games with the Jets, who went 4-2 in those games and allowed more than 16 points in just three. Sherman, a two-time All Pro, just won a Super Bowl with Seattle, which is 4-1 in playoff games when Sherman starts.
Williams started for the Ravens in 2012, when they beat San Francisco in the Super Bowl after rallying in the AFC championship to upend Peyton Manning and the Broncos in Denver. He then signed a three-year deal with the Eagles that came with a $5 million signing bonus and $10.5 million guaranteed.
He has played in 11 postseason games and his teams are 7-4 in those games, but he’s never made All-Pro or the Pro Bowl.
Williams wondered why he doesn’t get as much credit as the big three, given that he’s got more postseason wins than any of them.
“I’ve started and haven’t given up a touchdown in any of those playoff games. And my name is never brought up because maybe I’m a seventh-rounder or whatever the case may be,” he said. “I don’t know what it is. It is what it is, because my statistics definitely show I can play this game.
“But at the end of the day it’s not my job to heckle or wonder why I’m not in the top 100 or anything like that. I just play and try to be the best I can possibly be. Those guys are great, those guys are equally as talented and they do what they have to do to get their teams wins.”