Doug Williams on Redskins new boss
By: John Keim
Examiner Staff Writer
12/18/09 9:30 AM EST
Former Redskins quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams was hired by Bruce Allen in Tampa Bay. With his contract up early next year, Williams, still in Tampa's front office, could be a candidate to join the Redskins' front office. He did not want to discuss any new deal yesterday; wouldn't be fair to his current employers. But he was very talkative regarding Bruce Allen, the Redskins new executive vice president/general manager (man, I wish he had gotten a less cumbersome title).
On what Allen brings to the Redskins: "Bruce Allen is probably one of the most informed guys around the league with what's going on. One thing I did know and realized was that if there was anything to be known on what's going on with other teams, Bruce is one of those guys that's very personal and finds a way to be able to communicate with people."
On his personality: "It's hard not to like Bruce. He has that personality that sometimes you don't know whether or not he realizes what's going on, but believe me he's aware. And sometimes you talk to Bruce and he'll tell you what he thinks and he's gone. He'll be straight up with you. That's one thing he'll be. He'll tell you what he feels."
On his reputation as not being a personnel guy: "That's hard for me to say because when we would meet during draft time or free agency time, we'd all give our opinion of what we though of players and in his position, his thing is that he didn't have to give an opinion. He'd listen to what everyone else said and come to a conclusion. I find it hard to say he is or he's not because it wasn't like us listening to him as much as him listening to all the scouts."
On if that's what you want in his position: "That's what he's going to do. His job is to be a GM and he had the last word and when he and the coach get together to discuss whatever he wants, he gets all the information. I'm sure once he gets all the information, when you're talking about a player that you like and you have three or four reports on him. So you listen to what everyone has to say and you put your two cents in and go from there. It's not like you have to sit there and say what does Bruce think about it?"
On whether or not he can work with Dan Snyder: "I think that's evident. I don't think Bruce would have taken that job if he didn't think him and Snyder could work together. I really do. Bruce is going to be perfect because No. 1, Dan will respect him. And he'll respect his opinion. Whatever Bruce does as far as the front office and people he brings in, or keeps, they'll all have to go through Bruce. I don't think Dan would go to someone else and ask his opinion until he talks to Bruce."
On his strength: "People skills. And in this business it is people. I don't care how you cut it up, it's people skills.... When you've been around long enough, you can watch folks and see if they have people skills. I haven't seen no one who didn't talk to Bruce and wasn't smiling after they left. There wasn't a frown on their face....The key is the people Bruce has around him are people that the players can trust. And when you talk about player trust, they understand this is a business of turnaround, cuts and things. But the key is you have to be honest with them and say this is the way it goes. Bruce and I, we had talks about a lot of different things. One thing I said is that I never had a problem going into his office adn talking and he never had a problem telling me what he thought."
On his own interest for a job here: "That's strictly up to Bruce. It wouldnt' be good to say that now."
On how he helped Tampa Bay: "Just him and Jon, from a salary cap standpoint, he did a heck of a job fixing the cap. When I came here we were strapped salary cap wise and he did a good job to where we are today."
Follow me on twitter @John_Keim
 }})
