NFL power rankings: Breaking down the four tiers of teams this preseason
From teams vying for the No. 1 pick to those with Super Bowl hopes, Mackenzie Salmon breaks down the four tiers of teams in this year’s first edition of our NFL power rankings.
USA TODAY
If the Detroit Lions win three games again, Jamaal Williams might never recover.
That’s how much he cares.
This is the vibe he shared, through tears, with his teammates before a training camp practice in Allen Park. The clip, which went viral immediately Monday afternoon, is doing its part to hype up HBO’s “Hard Knocks” show following the Lions, which debuts Tuesday night.
“Today is the minimum of effort,” Williams started, with teammates all huddled around him. “Do not give up, do not feel like you tired. When you tired, think of last year and think of that (expletive) record! Every time I get tired or I think I can’t go no more, I think of that (expletive) record! Last year wasn’t it! That ain’t us! We can make it! Have some heart! I get emotional about this, I’m ’bout to cry cause I care about ya’ll. Do your best, let’s go! Lions on three.”
‘HARD KNOCKS’ PREMIERE: How to watch HBO debut of Detroit Lions and coach Dan Campbell
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The Lions went 3-13-1 last season, the first year under head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes, and went winless in their first 11 games.
Williams, the Lions’ No. 2 running back behind D’Andre Swift, had a solid year last season, his first with the team after signing as a free agent and leaving the rival Green Bay Packers.
He has quickly become a favorite in Detroit, throwing and catching passes with fans during warmups before games. You can see why Campbell and Holmes wanted to bring him here as they toil in a rebuild, after the Matt Patricia-Bob Quinn era left the franchise in shambles.
You can bet Holmes and Campbell, a big-time motivator himself, are absolutely loving the passion Williams shared with the team.
Williams, 27, carried 153 times for 601 yards (3.9 yards per carry) and three touchdowns, and caught 26 passes for 157 yards in 13 games in 2021.
He was a fourth-round pick out of BYU in 2017.
