Pat Williams Confirms He's Not Coming Back To Minnesota

by Christopher Gates on Mar 2, 2011 8:13 PM CST in Minnesota Vikings

That's the word from Tim Yotter at Viking Update, in any case. Apparently Phat Pat sent them a text message about his future plans.

"Everything’s good. I am not coming back. Going to go finish elsewhere," the three-time Pro Bowler said in a text message to Viking Update.

Even though it is a bit of a shame, I think we all saw this coming. Pat has been a warrior and a great leader since coming to Minnesota from Buffalo before the 2006 season, but his play clearly dropped off last season, and he battled an array of injuries. He's been named to three Pro Bowls since becoming a member of the Vikings, and has been one of the league's dominant run stuffers for his entire career. The less informed will remember him primarily for the NFL dragging his name through the mud in the StarCaps mess, but we Viking fans. . .as usual. . .know better.

Hopefully Phat Pat will find a team to fit in with once there's a new CBA in place. The guy deserves to go out on top.

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son of a....Dammit!

was it his choice to leave or our FO? I know that Leslie was expecting him back next year, because he was planning to have some offseason surgery. This also means we have to fill his hole in the line, his massive gaping hole.

by muffin man on Mar 2, 2011 8:20 PM CST reply actions

I will miss him

but its time to get young.

☠★☪My dream, is to see the Minnesota Vi♛s win a superbowl. USA- the land were dreams come true. ☀ ツ This is our ۩۩house۩

by UnBannedVikingholic on Mar 2, 2011 8:34 PM CST reply actions

Best of luck to you Phat Pat

We WILL miss you. You were a part of one of the best DLines in the history of the NFL. You are the best run stuff I have ever seen and we thank you for that.

by DM_Purp on Mar 2, 2011 8:44 PM CST reply actions

Thanks Pat

You will always be remembered as one of my favorite Vikings.
Wish we could have retired you here. But best wishes for a happy finish to your great carreer

AKA : Revenge4Webb

by CitrusFLViking on Mar 2, 2011 8:46 PM CST reply actions

Gopher Update

Once again another promising Minnesota team blows their NCAA hopes. What is it with Tubby?
Can’t he just bury a team early and not let them off the hook?
Not vikings but just another curse us Minnesota fans will endure.
Does someone have some lucky charm that can break this aura B4 the CBA is finished and we actually have to fill some needed area on this Vikings team?
Is it me or do you feel likesome evil cloud is hanging over us? Minnesota sports has just gone to hell in a handbasket

AKA : Revenge4Webb

by CitrusFLViking on Mar 2, 2011 9:38 PM CST reply actions

haha i thought for a second you said "hell in a HankBaskett"

Right now, i have confidence in the twins and excited to see Nishioka in action.

by muffin man on Mar 2, 2011 9:50 PM CST up reply actions

On the topic

of “Minnesota Chokiness”
Wild go to Long Island for a must-win game against a down-trodden and dejected Islanders team, and lay a BIG FAT EGG

Formerly thewild_viking_twins. Because my old profile was kidnapped by ninjas, and I was NOT a bad enough dude to rescue it...

by NorthernStar on Mar 2, 2011 10:30 PM CST up reply actions

:(

I wanted Pat to retire in purple…

I loved watching that guy…he’s just so…BIG!

I'm still a Minnesotan at heart...

by urluckyday on Mar 2, 2011 11:10 PM CST reply actions

but we Viking fans. . .as usual. . .know better.

thats because vikings fans are the most well informed and knowledgeable fans in the league :)

Will the Real Thor Please Stand Up ... ?

by the Real Thor on Mar 3, 2011 7:33 AM CST reply actions

Not sure anyone would take him

He’s gonna be what, 38/39? next season? He’s well over 300 lbs and he’s old. I think he’s defied nature in being able to play for this long, but unless he’s going to be a backup on another roster, I don’t see what team would use him. Most teams with a need at DT have a deep rookie class to draft one from this year….

by cdubs3201 on Mar 3, 2011 10:37 AM CST reply actions

Someone

will undoubtedly pick him up, at least for a year. He has a great resume and solid leadership both on and off the field. Someone with a youth movement at D-line may wish for him to provide guidance for a year, I suspect.

Hail the Minnesota Vikings, ye mortals.
All other NFL fans are heretics.

by KJSegall on Mar 3, 2011 6:44 PM CST up reply actions

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I love Phat Pat. Say it aint so

by Jepp The Viking on Mar 3, 2011 2:15 PM CST reply actions

Gonna miss Pat Williams

For all his good play over the years, I think I’m gonna miss hearing Pat Williams’ soundbites after games. Most of the time I’d have to listen to it a couple times before I could understand what the hell he’d said.

Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin

by Skol Girl on Mar 3, 2011 5:31 PM CST reply actions

Farewell to Phat Pat.

I have to say, from my beginning days of watching my beloved Vikings until now, I don’t think I’ve ever felt so much regret that a player is leaving this team without a Super Bowl ring- how I wish he could have gotten one with us. He’s been a great player and a great guy- he’s always working his huge butt off for the team, and never once bothered to cause an embarassment. (StarCaps is obviously an embarassment for the NFL, not P. Williams.) And he’s been great to the fans- very open and gracious for the support he receives. He even said he’d strip down and throw every bit of his gear (save his jockstrap thank G-d, although at that point- well, we would have all been traumatized for life anyways) into the stands for the fans had we won the Super Bowl in ‘09- not only freakin’ hillarious, but in fact, in a twisted way, a solid gesture to the fan base. (Except the children. Oh, how the children would have suffered.)

He’s one of those players who has bled purple and gold for us ever since he got here. If the Vikings don’t make it to the Super Bowl, I truly hope whatever team he lands with does- and I know I’ll be rooting for them.

Hail the Minnesota Vikings, ye mortals.
All other NFL fans are heretics.

by KJSegall on Mar 3, 2011 6:43 PM CST reply actions