Patriots showed support for Terrell Williams amid cancer battle

The phrase flashed on the jumbotron through the first quarter with a message to Williams written in big, bold letters for all to see.

“We ship out help to our defensive coordinator Terrell Willliams in his battle towards most cancers,” the display screen learn.

New England dominated Carolina within the staff’s first sport since coach Mike Vrabel introduced the information of Williams’s prognosis final week. After the 42-13 win, Vrabel selected his phrases rigorously when requested what it meant to get such a convincing victory whereas Williams was out preventing the illness.

“I don’t assume that these issues are actually comparable,” Vrabel mentioned. “We’ve received one scenario the place any individual is preventing and we’re taking part in a sport. We care deeply about Terrell, and we’re going to do every little thing that we are able to to assist him and to help him and ensure that he will get what he wants and competes and fights and that we deal with him as individuals and help.
That’s the large factor there.

“The opposite facet of it’s simply the sport,” Vrabel added. “We perceive how vital the wins and losses finish, and we’re right here to win. However I don’t have a look at it like, oh, we have now to win as a result of it is a essential catch. We simply must win in order that we are able to proceed to construct a program that may stand, that may face up to every little thing that goes on on this league.”

Williams, who earned his first shot as an NFL defensive coordinator this season after spending almost three many years as a defensive position coach within the school and professional ranks, is dealing with a most cancers prognosis proper initially of his time with the Patriots.

Though he missed a major period of time through the spring as a result of an unrelated well being scare, Williams was an enormous a part of the Patriots’ plans heading into the season. He has taken time away from the staff, with inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr taking up defensive play-calling duties within the interim.

Williams will probably be across the staff, Vrabel mentioned, nevertheless it’s unclear what his position will probably be within the instant future. His absence has been on the gamers’ minds, defensive lineman Milton Williams mentioned.

“I do know Large T — we’re all praying for him, and the way a lot everyone within the constructing loves him only for the individual he’s, the coach that he’s,” Milton Williams mentioned. “We needed to go on the market and ensure we placed on a superb efficiency for him. We all know he’s at residence watching, and we all know he’s proud.”

After the sport, the Patriots tweeted out a video of Drake Maye breaking down a huddle within the locker room.

“Carry it in. I do know Coach T preferred that one,” Maye mentioned. “Coach T preferred that one for positive.”