Cary Williams: Pats are 'cheaters'

Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Cary Williams said Tuesday he stands by his opinion that the New England Patriots are "cheaters" and said he isn't afraid he will be targeted for retribution by New England when the teams hold joint practices next week.

Williams first made his opinion on the Patriots known last week, saying "they are cheaters" because of the 2007 Spygate scandal in which the team was punished for filming New York Jets coaches' defensive signals during a September game. The Patriots were subsequently stripped of a first-round draft pick and fined $250,000 by commissioner Roger Goodell, while Patriots coach Bill Belichick was fined $500,000.

"I give them all the credit in the world, but one fact remains: They haven't won a Super Bowl since they got caught," Williams said last week.

On Tuesday, Williams stood by his comments.

"Did I say the wrong thing? No," Williams said, according to the News Journal. "I stand firm on what my beliefs are, and that's just that. I didn't tell a lie. At the end of the day, that did happen. It's in the history books. As far as I'm concerned, I made a comment about it and that's that."

The Eagles and Patriots will hold joint practices in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Aug. 12 and 13. Williams said last week he thought the sessions are "unnecessary" since the teams will play Aug. 15. Eagles coach Chip Kelly thanked Williams for his "input" on Sunday while explaining why he thinks the joint practices will benefit his team.

Williams was asked Tuesday if he feared the Patriots might target him next week because of his outspoken views on their team.

"I don't care," he said, according to the News Journal. "That's the whole point. I don't care if they come after me or not. That doesn't scare me. My mentality is I've never been a punk, never been a sissy, never been a guy that's going to be a scared guy. I don't play this game in fear at all. I don't fear no man. As far as I'm concerned, you put your pants on as well as I put my pants on. We're going to man up when we get there."

Williams also criticized the Patriots last year after he was removed from one of the team's joint practices for getting into a scuffle with receiver Aaron Dobson.