Saskatchewan Roughriders’ defensive back Deontai Williams went through a hearing with the Canadian Football League regarding his tackle on Ottawa Redblacks’ receiver Kalil Pimpleton.
“I had to explain and tell them what my situation was on that play. I told them I regret my decision and I apologized to Pimpleton,” Williams said.
With six seconds remaining in the Riders’ 29-16 win at Mosaic Stadium in Week 17, Pimpleton caught an eight-yard pass from quarterback Jeremiah Masoli. He was met by Williams, who slammed him head-first into the turf. The six-foot-one, 225-pound DB emailed the five-foot-seven, 175-pound pass catcher to apologize.
“Told him that I’m never that guy to get in the way of feeding your family. I explained the situation and how it happened. I was saying your head was down and you were low. I was trying to get under you but I couldn’t so it ended up looking bad with me slamming you to the ground and you end up falling on your neck,” Williams explained.
“For him to forgive me and then give me a Bible verse after, that speaks to how great of a man he is. It made me feel happy. That means he’s very professional and he understands football is a contact sport. Apologizing to him let him know that there was no intent to hurt him, I was trying to get him down.”
Williams was flagged for a 25-yard unnecessary roughness penalty and given a rough play disqualification from the game. After initially remaining down on the field, Pimpleton was able to get up and walk off before the Redblacks training staff got to him.
“I’ve watched it so many times. I wish I could rewind everything, go back in time, use my body weight to get him down instead of trying to pick him up and slam him. I regret my decision and my intent was never to try to hurt him,” Williams said.
“I’ve never been a dirty player, always been a hard-hitting player, but never dirty. I get all these types of threats from fans, I’m going through right now. It’s my birthday week — (on) October 4, I turn 28 — I’m trying to enjoy the moment.”
Head coach Corey Mace spoke with Williams about his tackle on Pimpleton. The second-year cover man said Mace told him he has to be smarter and his coaching staff does not teach that type of tackling. Mace believes it was never Williams’ intent to hurt Pimpleton.
“No one’s ever intending to hurt anybody that’s not within the rules of the game. Certainly in Deontai’s situation with that tackle, I believe he could’ve gone about it a different way. If he had to go back and do everything differently, I’m sure he would,” Mace said.
“The melee and all that stuff that happened after, that’s not what we talk about and it’s exactly everything that we’re trying to get away from. Another opportunity for us to learn in a situation like that, learning to win with a little bit more class.”
The Jacksonville, Fla. native has played in 11 games this season, recording 41 tackles, two interceptions, and one forced fumble. He awaits word about supplementary discipline from the league office as the Riders prepare to travel to Edmonton for a matchup with the Elks on Saturday.
Countdown to Kick-off begins with yours truly and Wes Cates at 2 p.m. Luc Mullinder and Dave Thomas join at 4 p.m. with the kick-off to follow at 5 p.m. on the Co-operators Roughrider Radio Network.