Trent or No Trent?

The Redskins have about a week to decide how they will handle the current Trent Williams saga.

If they can find a suitable helmet, maybe, just maybe, Williams will don the burgundy-and-gold again.

Color me skeptical but I don’t see it working out quite like that.

Williams doesn’t trust the organization and medical staff. He won’t say, but he didn’t have to, he despises the idea of playing for Bruce Allen again.

Recent accusations do not exactly help.

On Friday, Charlie Casserly was on NFL Network and in the view of the NFL Players Association (at the very least) fanned the flames.

Charlie Casserly said Trent Williams was advised to have growth checked out 3 years ago by a specialist ... he thinks it’s about money https://t.co/uz5FQ6Px1P
— Simone Love (@SimoneBett) November 1, 2019

Sunday morning, the NFLPA issued a statement on behalf of Williams indirectly accusing Casserly of a violation of proper protocol.

Our statement on behalf of Trent Williams:

In our multiple conversations with Trent and his agent, we have considered various options based on the facts, but we also understand that Trent wants to put this all behind him, not relive a painful experience when his life was (1/3)
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) November 3, 2019

It might not be a classic case of ‘he said, she said’ but clearly there are conflicting views over Williams medical care.

Here’s what I believe we can take out of this:

1 – Williams’ feels wronged by bad advice or trusting multiple people that according to him, told him it was nothing to worry about.

2 – Casserly mentioned something that I have heard from league sources as well, but I have absolutely zero proof that it happened the way Casserly reported that it did.

3 – If Casserly’s information is right, it may explain one of the reasons why Williams does not want to pursue an extracted battle with the Redskins and NFL over his care, as NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith told the “Sports Junkies” on 106.7 The FAN Monday morning.

Per @DeSmithNFLPA on @JunksRadio - Trent Williams has asked the NFLPA not to pursue an investigation.

He’s upset that the team leaked out information. Also categorizes it as disinformation. Says if it doesn’t stop, they will pursue action.
— Craig Hoffman (@CraigHoffman) November 4, 2019

4 – The Redskins did not ask for a joint investigation last week because they wanted to be fair and righteous. Make no mistake. Bruce Allen is ruthless and cold-blooded. He will vigorously defend the Redskins brand, if he feels they’ve been wronged. They absolutely must have proof in their view that will vindicate them. It could be another reason why Williams does not want to pursue the matter.

5 – Even if the Redskins have proof and can find a helmet that they feel fits Williams concerns, there’s no guarantee that Williams will play next Sunday against the Jets or ever again in a Washington uniform.

He could refuse to play and dare the Redskins to suspend him. I don’t believe he would do that, but I can’t rule it out.

He could get injured in some other fashion. He also could continue to say that he can’t safely wear whatever helmet the Redskins come up with. Remember Antonio Brown?

If the Redskins release Williams at any point (like the Raiders ultimately did to Brown), he would throw a parade larger than the Nationals did in D.C. on Saturday.

If Williams does choose to play, he would simply be suiting up to preserve his rights and contract situation. He wouldn’t be playing because he really wants to suit up for Allen.

Williams has admitted and this was the case all along, that he does not want to be responsible for people losing their jobs. That could be fueling his hesitancy as well.

A finishing thought (for now):

If Bruce Allen would have handled Williams’ situation seriously from the start, this could have been avoided. Allen has a history of completely misjudging his employees. He did it with Kirk Cousins and he has done it again with Trent Williams.

Trust me, there are others but those are the big names.

If Allen would have said earlier this year – “Trent – how do we make this right” or “how do we keep you happy” and to happily retire as a member of the Redskins – perhaps this could have been avoided or the anger/mistrust wouldn’t have grown?

Maybe Allen did but there were multiple reports that both sides did not have any discussions. Knowing Allen’s business acumen and how he handles people that he feels he’s better and more powerful than, I would doubt strongly that any olive branch was extended.

Allen thought that Williams would blow off the off-season program or maybe a week or two of camp. There’s no chance he thought that Williams would not report until just before Week 9 of the season. Not a chance.

As usual, Allen had it all wrong, as he often does.

He might force Williams’ hand but good luck getting what you paid for. Also, make no mistake about it – Williams has much more respect in that locker room and around the NFL than Allen does.

Free agents, who have a choice between the Redskins and someone else, are likely to keep this situation in mind.