Moe Williams Joins Rams

Former Vikings running back Moe Williams has signed with the St. Louis Rams, reuniting him with former Vikings offensive coordinator Scott Linehan.

Moe Williams is back – not with the Minnesota Vikings, but he’s still back in the NFL.

The running back whose career just keeps going signed a one-year contract with the St. Louis Rams Wednesday.

Williams, 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, is in his 11th NFL season after spending nine years with the Vikings and one (2001) with the Baltimore Ravens. The University of Kentucky product has started 12 of 132 career games, rushing 435 times for 1,826 yards with 21 touchdowns. Williams has also made 154 receptions for 1,511 yards with four touchdowns, adding 63 kickoff returns for a 22.1-yard average with one touchdown.

Williams was originally a third-round draft choice (75th overall) by the Vikings in the 1996 NFL Draft.

Despite making overtures to Viking Update about retirement last October – even before a knee injury caused him to be placed on injured reserve and his participation in the Vikings’ boat party became public – Williams will join former Vikings offense coordinator Scott Linehan, who is now the head coach of the Rams.

The Rams had been having drawn-out discussions with the New Orleans Saints about trading for former Vikings running back Michael Bennett, but the Saints finally dealt Bennett to the Kansas City Chiefs Tuesday. Bennett, who signed with the Saints as a free agent this year, became expendable when the Houston Texans passed on Reggie Bush with the No. 1 pick in the draft and the Saints corralled the multi-dimensional running back from USC. However, the Saints waited until Bush was signed to trade Bennett.

Williams worked out for the Rams earlier this summer, but the delay in his signing may have had to do with St. Louis’ interest in Bennett.