DeAngelo Williams piles on David Gettleman, takes Panthers off list

The Carolina Panthers fired general manager David Gettleman on Monday, and DeAngelo Williams has continued the piling on.

The Carolina Panthers reached the Super Bowl at the end of the 2015 season, before a 6-10 camping last year. But there was little doubt about the ability of general manager David Gettleman to construct a roster, so his firing on Monday morning was a surprise so close to the start of training camp.

But the departure of some veteran players was handled awkwardly by Gettleman in recent years, most notably wide receiver Steve Smith and cornerback Josh Norman, and a possible holdout by tight end Greg Olsen looks like another potential black mark on that front. Smith and Norman have, not surprisingly, quickly taken to social media to convey delight at Gettleman’s unemployment. Now former Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams, who was cut in 2015 after nine seasons with the team, has taken his turn to call out Gettleman.

Williams is currently a free agent, with a (hopefully) one-time foray into pro wrestling on his resume now. He drew some attention by suggesting he had and then revealing a list of four teams he would not play for, which included the Panthers along with the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys and Jacksonville Jaguars.

An unhappy exit from Carolina obviously put the Panthers atop that list, in theory anyway, and Williams has proven he has something left in the tank over the last two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Over 16 games during the 2015 season Williams had 907 rushing yards (4.5 yards per carry), 11 touchdowns and 40 receptions, and he had 237 rushing yards on 58 carries over two early season starts in place of Le’Veon Bell last season.

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With top-10 pick Christian McCaffrey and Jonathan Stewart in place as their top two backs, and Fozzy Whittaker and Cameron Artis-Payne to fill out the depth chart, the Panthers don’t really have a need at running back. But Williams clearly wants them to know he’s interested in a reunion, now that a “snake” like Gettleman is gone.