Even Kiffin Gives Up on M. Williams as Raiders Cut Receiver

The Oakland Raiders released wide receiver Mike Williams, the former 10th overall selection in the NFL draft by the Detroit Lions.

After failing in Detroit, Williams had been trying to rejuvenate his NFL career in Oakland under first-year Raiders coach Lane Kiffin, who once had recruited Williams to USC and coached him there. But Williams had only seven catches for 90 yards this season and had a key dropped pass in Sunday's loss to the Tennessee Titans.

Williams was drafted by the Lions in 2005 after being forced to sit out a year. He'd entered the NFL draft after a judge's ruling in a lawsuit involving former Ohio State tailback Maurice Clarett made Williams eligible for the draft a year earlier than he would have been under league rules. But the league managed to reverse that ruling on appeal and kept Clarett and Williams out of the 2004 draft, and Williams was unable to regain his collegiate eligibility.

It was a sign of bad things to come. Williams fell into disfavor with the coaching staff in Detroit and was traded to the Raiders last offseason. Now even Kiffin has given up on him as an NFL prospect. Williams has only 44 catches in his three NFL seasons, 29 of them as a rookie with the Lions in 2005.

The Raiders signed veteran wide receiver and kick returner Tim Dwight to take Williams's place on the roster.

By Mark Maske |  October 31, 2007; 9:55 AM ET  | Category:  Raiders
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