When news broke this past July that Buffalo Bills fifth-round draft pick Jonathan Williams, a running back from Arkansas, was arrested for DWI, it was just the latest in a line of disappointing behavior from the Bills’ running back corps. With an arrest and a guilty verdict, a suspension would definitely come, and we speculated that it would cost Williams two games of the 2017 season.
Well, maybe not.
Williams was found not guilty of driving while intoxicated because “the prosecution simply didn’t have enough evidence to prove he was intoxicated,” according to Williams’s lawyer, Shane Wilkinson. It will be interesting to see whether or not Williams faces any league discipline, but it’s likely that he will not. Almost all NFL players suspended for DWI arrests pleaded guilty or no contest, were found guilty, or had breathalyzer results that were over the legal limit.
Williams admitted to drinking a 40 oz. before driving the night he was arrested, but he refused to take a breathalyzer test. He was arrested because police said he “displayed signs that were consistent with intoxication” during a field sobriety test.
Williams carried the ball 27 times for 94 yards and touchdown during his rookie season with the Bills. He stands to earn much more playing time than that in 2017 now that former backup running back Mike Gillislee departed to sign with the New England Patriots.