Broncos Cornerback Will Be Missed

Shortly after being ousted out of playoff contention the Denver Broncos would receive the worst news yet. Second year cornerback Darrent Williams became the victim of a drive-by shooting when he attempted to leave a Denver nightclub called The Shelter after the New Year was brought in. Williams who was just 24 years of age had his life taken from him in a hummer stretch limo as it was bombarded with bullets in a case where police have found no motive or reason to have targeted Williams. Williams reportedly had one gun shot wound to the neck as told by Robert Whitmore who was the chief medical examiner in the county coroner's office. The investigation has not found any significant clues to the shooters or if the alleged argument that triggered the shooting had any connection to the passengers inside the limo. They only report that the assailants conducted the drive-by in a white Tahoe or Suburban with tinted windows. One of the passengers and teammate Javon Walker had received counseling shortly after and was also the person who watched Williams die in his arms.

The party was scheduled to be a birthday party for Denver Nuggets' team member Kenyon Martin who declined to comment about the tragedy. When Broncos' head coach Mike Shanahan spoke about Williams he said, "Darrent was a guy that was always upbeat, always had a smile and he was a fierce competitor" and that "God got a good one in him." Shanahan said many great things about what Williams meant to him, the organization, and his teammates because he was such a friendly guy. Shanahan had trouble holding his tears in as he remembered his initial conversation with Williams before drafting him in the second round of the 2005 NFL draft. Shanahan also stated that they were lucky to have been able to draft him by the second round. The other Bronco who was drafted the next round was former running back Maurice Claurett who made the most news of any player drafted by the broncos in 05' until now because of his recent confession of robbery among many other acts of crime following his dismissal from the Broncos after a disappointing preseason. Now instead of holding meetings to discuss personnel issues and the off-season Safety Nick Ferguson said their recent team gathering was, "to grieve and remember the good things about him. ... Today we joked, laughed and embraced a lot, what a family does."

On the morning of January 3, 2006 the team held a private memorial at Broncos Headquarters so that team members could express their feelings towards Williams to his family. Family, friends, and fans offered flowers, photos, teddy bears and footballs at various memorials set up around the city including the Broncos Headquarters. Memorials also honored Williams at the scene of the heinous crime and at Invesco field.

The two years Williams spent with the Denver Broncos led him to 139 total tackles and 6 interceptions. Williams will not be remembered by the size of his stature (standing only 5'8") but by the size of his heart. He is survived by a seven year old son and four year old daughter who reside in Fort Worth, Texas (Williams' Home Town) and they now have a memorial fund set up for them. It is sad to see a young man trying to do the right things get taken by random acts of violence. Before the crime Williams wanted to set up a free football camp for the youth, now instead he will represent the first Homicide case of the year for Denver.