New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

The New Orleans Saints have signed former CFL wide receiver/kick returner Chris Williams, according to a report by the Canadian Press on Thursday.

The signing comes on day after Williams, 25, reached an agreement with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to allow him to pursue opportunities in free agency.

Last season, he caught 83 passes for 1,298 yards and 11 touchdowns, while leading the CFL in punt returns with 78 returns for 1,117 yards

New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report | NOLA.com

Interesting numbers.

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

Doubt the use at wr but maybe kr .. He's got a few nice vids from cfl.

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

Can we trade them our CFL RUNNING BACK!!!!!
We don't need anything in return

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

This makes no sense to me. I'm so uninformed. :wink:

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

Someone is hurt or about to get cut...

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

As long as Payton knows what he's doing thats all that matters. Wish they would've addressed the OL but owell.

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

It's an intriguing pickup. It doesn't cost us a draft pick or anything does it?

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

I've never really liked them using Sproles as the return guy. Williams has some great numbers in a league that has a thing against fair catches. Could be a real good pickup for us.

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

Preston Parker would have done just fine on kick off/punt returns. I thought the guy had a solid camp.

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

Something is not right. I guess Moore is out for a while or Sproles is hurt.

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

Sean Payton is keeping a tight lip on his injuries, WTH? this is out of the blue, im hoping whoever scouted him is just seeing we can place him somewhere and nothing is seriously wrong.

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

Andy Tanner is safe!

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

Moore maybe hurt but we have Toon and Tanner.. Or maybe to prevent more sproles fumbles.

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

I'd sure like to see Sproles NOT returning punts.

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

I hope you were joking.

Would it be the single fumble he has this year?

Or is it the zero he had in '12?

Maybe it's the zero he had in '11.

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

As a Canadian and an avid CFL fan, I can tell you that this guy has some serious talent. I agree with most of your assessments that he'll be used primarily as a returner here, but could see him getting some offensive snaps eventually. Had a bit of an attitude problem up north (thought he was too good for the league), so hopefully that doesn't end up being a problem here.

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

Do you think Payton and Brees would allow that to happen?

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

Coach Payton knows best !

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

Or maybe he has crazy talent that Payton and Loomis couldn't pass up.

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

Super fast, like Michael Lewis fast. I think he will be used immediately in the return game. I said this at the beginning of the season we really needed a dedicated returner. Funny thing is we got him the day the CFL cut him loose to play in the NFL so they must have been watching his situation for a while. Pretty good hands as well.

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

ok your our inside guy. head case? that is solved when he walks into the locker room or the door hits him in the a$$ when he walks out

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

Chris Williams New Mexico State

2009 NFL Combine
Pre-draft measureables
Ht Wt 5 ft 7 in 170 lb
40-yd dash 4.28 s
10-yd split 1.44 s
20-yd split 2.43 s
3-cone 4.15 s
20-ss 6.84 s
Vert 39 in
Broad 10 ft 7 in
BP 13 reps

All values from NFL Combine
Miami Dolphins

He signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted college free agent on April 30, 2009. He was waived/injured on August 24 and subsequently reverted to injured reserve. He was released with an injury settlement on August 25.
Cleveland Browns

Williams was signed to the Cleveland Browns practice squad on November 9. He was released on November 18.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Williams originally signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on October 18, 2010 and spent two weeks on the team's practice roster. He was re-signed on May 18, 2011. On September 3, 2012, during the last Labour Day Classic played at Ivor Wynne Stadium, Willams recorded his sixth return touchdown of the year, setting a new CFL record for return touchdowns in a single season. It was also the third consecutive game in which Williams had returned a punt for a touchdown, which also established a new CFL record.[1] Williams finished the season with 16 touchdowns, 1,298 receiving yards and 1,117 punt return yards.

After an outstanding season Willams did not want to return to the Ti-Cats under his current contract of less than $50,000, and on March 15 he tweeted the following, ""Im beefin with my squad im not going back." [2] It is believed that Willams wants to play for an NFL team come the 2013 NFL season. On April 4th it was announced that Williams had contacted the Canadian Football League Players' Association to see if the Ticats violated a provision within the collective bargaining agreement that could lead to the final year of his contract with the Tiger-Cats being voided. Williams claims that the Ticats did not offer him the one year plus an option, but rather just the two-year plus an option contract.[3] After failing to show up for mandatory training camp at the start of June 2013 the Ti-Cats placed him under suspension. Neither Williams nor his agent has made any contact with the Tiger-Cats, despite the team trying to communicate with them. [4] On June 4 2013 an independent arbitrator ruled that Williams' contract with the Tiger-Cats is legal and binding. [5] However, almost 3 months later on August 29, 2013, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice over-ruled the decision of the independent arbitrator, declaring Williams is not bound to any contractual obligations with the Tiger-Cats, making him a free agent in the view of the CFL Players Association. The CFL has announced that they will appeal the decision.[6] On October 2 2013 the Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced that Williams was free to sign with any NFL team, but they would reserve his CFL rights through the 2014 CFL season.[7]
New Orleans Saints

On October 3, 2013, he was signed by the New Orleans Saints. The move came just one day after he was granted free agency.[8]


well so far i see nothing really surprising looking up the kid. only surprise though mild is the fact the saints sign yet another wr that is more of a kick returner. that is a change of pace.

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

It's about having two D Sproles ... Broncos are putting together a holiday package inspired by what we did to the dolphins ... I'm getting tired Of Peyton manning jocking Brees in particular ...

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

Between he and Hakim we've got some retarded speed on our practice squad ... Line both of them up on one side of the field with Sproles , Graham and Stills opposite . That's the ultimate pick your poison ...

I still want to see a saalim hakim reverse. ...

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

This is the answer. The acquisition is to minimize Sproles exposure to injury. It would also mean teams would kick to us giving us a chance to return.

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

5 ft 7in 170lbs Don't scream nfl type wr. Kick returner is about all I see in his future here but T.Cadet could be doing that. I would expect to see his name in the waiver wire again pretty soon. I'm surprised we haven't looked at depth with the offensive line or front seven on defensive side.The skilled postions seem to have enough depth. We should be looking for a Big guy to push people off the ball

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

Here is a thought, maybe they signed Williams to be the return guy so that Sproles can get more rushing touches?

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

hep i was starting to think the same thing after a few hours of reading this. but with the play of the OL it makes me nervous. well nervous for all our backs

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

Sorry for being dumb here but why would teams kick to us to purposely allow us to return if the guy is electric? Have I missed something here :) Surely they would want to guarantee he doesn't run at us.

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

I wonder if the same was said about Sproles at 5'6" 190lbs? Or how about Trindon Holliday (one of the most explosive returners in the game) at 5'5" 177lbs

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

Umm...anybody see those two blatant blocks in the back there at the end? Not that the guy isn't good/doesn't have moves or speed, but that gets called back in the NFL no doubt.

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

Wonder if there is more to Moore injury than we know.

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

I think Moore may be placed on Injured Reserve. I saw him nursing a pretty serious finger/wrist splint

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

I'll bet you can find 1 return for TD video on just about every returner in the league. Doesn't mean they are all a Darren Sproles.

They kicked to Reggie Bush more than Sproles. Albeit they were kicking from a little further back, they could have still kicked it OB.

Did you watch the Browns/Bills game last night, The returner was only stopped by the kicker on the 40, they licked to him again.. TD!

For some reason no one wants to kick to Speoles.

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

Sproles is not on the official injury report. Moore is. My guess would be that Lance will be out longer than anticipated.

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

Still not sure I get this. Surely when you kick you want a punt to be called for a fair catch or you ground it inside the 20. From a kickoff perspective you want to blast it through the end zone. There is very little value in risking actually wanting the opposition to return the ball.

Of course if the kick isn't good enough then yes, let's see someone roll :) I've not been a fan of Sproles returning any kicks due to his importance in the offence for a while now. It has been made all the more obvious this season because of his being on fire!

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

Now do those guys play wr like this guy is listed as? no they don't. yes sproles catches passes out of the back field and lines up at the wr spot on occasion . I said I don't see THIS GUY as a wr for us kick returner is the only spot I think he is going to have any relevance to us but I high doubt he lasts a week or two before being cut. I see this as a similar move as steve breston signing

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

I like Sproles but as a returner, he does get run down just like the Chargers said. He's still good at it but actually breaking one...either have to be lucky or have some serious speed. Williams is also experienced at it so he could make money for us right now plus this is basically his last shot at the NFL so I'm sure he's going to leave it all on the field.

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

Trindon Holliday is listed as a WR on the depth chart; just sayin'

And this is is what you said:

Re: New Orleans Saints sign former CFL player Chris Williams: report
 

He'd be fine at WR...have you seen all his highlights, the man can catch. Brees also has no issues throwing to smaller WR's. Most of his passes to Sproles are right in the chest.