IRVING -- Dallas Cowboys safety Roy Williams is used to dealing out big hits. Lately, his reputation has been taking its share.

Williams has gone from fan favorite to fans' favorite punching
bag in recent years, mostly because of how often touchdown passes
are thrown in his direction.

He hasn't helped himself, in or out of the locker room, by
blaming others for the breakdowns - from reporters he accused of
not understanding what was happening to teammates he claimed to be
bailing out. At least, that's what he would say the few times he
was willing to be interviewed.

Coaches keep insisting the big hitter is just fine as a cover
guy, even though last season they began sending him to the sideline
in obvious passing situations.

All that's merely background, setting up how things have gotten
worse in recent weeks.

The eighth overall pick in 2002, Williams blended in alongside
Darren Woodson and made all sorts of highlight-reel plays. The team
won only five games that year so there wasn't much else to brag
about except the exciting rookie, turning his jersey into a strong
seller.

A few years later, he got a 25.2 million-dollar contract through
2010.

Williams has remained a lightning rod for criticism. Former
Cowboys coach Bill Parcells taunted him for being "a biscuit short
of a linebacker." The league's banning of the horse-collar tackle
is known as the Roy Williams Rule. Sports Illustrated ranked him
among the most overrated and most feared.