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View Full Version : D-Will's legacy still sturdy benchmark



Denver Native (Carol)
06-07-2009, 07:50 AM
http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_12537543

FORT WORTH, Texas — Sit on the Georgia gray granite bench in the welcome shade of a mellow elm tree, and memories of Darrent Williams returning an interception 80 yards, returning a punt 52 yards, returning a kickoff 36 yards will return.

So much has changed with the Broncos since Williams played his last game in Denver on Dec. 31, 2006, recording three tackles and two punts returned for 50 yards before he left the field late in the second half with a shoulder injury.

The coach who drafted Williams and believed in him enough to make him the primary return man and a starting cornerback as a rookie, the team's star quarterback, the veteran all-pro safety, many of his other teammates and the assistant coaches on defense, his closest friends on the Broncos — all have moved on.

Williams has been gone nearly 2 1/2 years. But the memories don't fade with time or the grass beneath the elm.

"D-Will" and all the other young men and women who are taken too soon, too suddenly must not be forgotten.

At the Broncos' offseason workouts, rookie running back Knowshon Moreno is wearing "27" on his uniform after being granted permission by the Broncos and Rosa- lind Williams, Darrent's mother. Moreno also says he will volunteer at the teen center built to honor Williams.

And the bench is a sturdy dedication to Darrent. A photo of Darrent in a Broncos uniform wearing "27" has been carved on one side; on the other is the simple inscription "Dedicated with Love, Denver Broncos Fans."

The "All Ready Fund" — Darrent's mantra was "All ready" — was organized last year because, in the "Christ Our Son" circle of the Laurel Land Memorial Park here in Darrent's hometown, a permanent headstone had not been placed on his grave.

There was a temporary marker, which funeral home executives said would have to be removed. Many people responded they wished to do something concrete — or granite — to show their love for Darrent and their support for his family, especially his young son and daughter.

Hundreds contributed more than the $10,000 that would pay for the permanent gravestone the family had selected, and that amount was sent by KeyBank, which supervises the fund, to Laurel Land.

Honestly, a lot of controversy swirled around the effort to honor Darrent. Although one family member said the assistance would be appreciated, Mrs. Williams later stated she didn't want a gravestone yet.

Cemetery officials said the family did agree to the construction and sculpturing of a granite bench to be set in the area adjacent to the several plots the Broncos had purchased.

It has been done.

Broncos fans who have requested an update will be proud of the bench, where solemn visitors can sit and reflect in the calm on a football career, fatherhood and a life unfinished.

Darrent was not a bench-sitter.

However, after being named MVP in the state's 7-4A classification at Fort Worth's O.D. Wyatt High School, Williams was recruited by only three colleges — and was awarded a late scholarship by Oklahoma State. He started as a freshman with the Cowboys. Despite being 5-feet-8, the cornerback/return specialist was drafted in the second round by the Broncos in 2005 and started 11 games in his first season. His first interception was against Oakland, and he returned it 80 yards for a touchdown. He was named to the NFL all-rookie team. The Broncos anticipated Williams being a longtime starter and potential all-pro tandem at cornerback with Champ Bailey.

Darrent Williams was murdered early on Jan. 1, 2007. Mourning by morning.

On a recent day in Fort Worth, Darrent's hometown, I rode out to the cemetery with photographer John Leyba, who snapped, literally, hundreds of action pictures of Williams during his two seasons with the Broncos.

The unassuming stone bench — with a statue of Jesus in the background — directly faces the grave of Darrent.

Colorful flowers have been placed in the vase above the temporary headstone.

Mrs. Williams now has told me that she is thankful for everything that has been done in Darrent's memory, but the headstone is "a private family matter," and a mother's wishes will be respected.

The family believes that there will not be closure in Darrent's death until the murderer, and associates, are convicted. The rest of the "All Ready Funds" will be available for the headstone whenever the family decides a permanent headstone is appropriate, or the money will be donated to the teen center.

Willie D. Clark, who is in jail in Denver, has been indicted on 39 counts, including two of first-degree murder, in connection with the shootings from an SUV into the limousine in which Williams was riding. Nobody else has been charged.

Clark's trial was scheduled to begin July 6, but has been postponed to Oct. 13, two days after the Broncos play New England in Denver.

Maybe Knowshon will rush for an 80-yard touchdown in memory of Darrent.

A benchmark.

Dean
06-07-2009, 06:26 PM
I would hope that each of the perpetrators gets what is coming to them.

I would pray that the family might have closure even though an understanding of why a spark so bright was extinguished is completely beyond all comprehension.

sneakers
06-07-2009, 11:56 PM
Still kinda hard to believe that that happened

LRtagger
06-08-2009, 09:41 AM
Does anyone have a link to send donations to the All Ready Fund? I tried to search, but all I could find were articles on Google about it.

Denver Native (Carol)
06-08-2009, 10:23 AM
Does anyone have a link to send donations to the All Ready Fund? I tried to search, but all I could find were articles on Google about it.

I could not find anything either. I would suggest calling this number, and hopefully, they would know:

Denver Broncos Football Club
Executive Offices and Training Facility
13655 Broncos Parkway
Englewood, CO 80112
(303) 649-9000