Cary Williams wants to earn his spot in Legion of Boom

RENTON — Cornerback Cary Williams doesn’t want to be handed a starting job with the Seattle Seahawks.

The newest member of Seattle’s “Legion of Boom” secondary, Williams signed a three-year deal worth up to $18 million with the Seahawks last week to replace Byron Maxwell at right cornerback. While in all likelihood the starting job will be his in the fall, Williams was adamant Tuesday that he wants to earn the right to start.

“I don’t look at this as an opportunity for me to be handed anything,” Williams said from Nashville in a conference call with reporters. “I just want to work my tail off, work as hard as I possibly can, earn a position.”

Led by a star secondary, the Seahawks defense has been the best in football the last two seasons, which have included a Super Bowl title and a second appearance in the championship game. Williams said he’s spoken with stars Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor already and the expectations in Seattle were made apparent.

“They told me clearly from the beginning it’s one mission, it’s one mindset,” Williams said.

Williams started every game the past four seasons, two of those with Philadelphia and two with Baltimore, where he won a Super Bowl. Last season he had 59 tackles, nine passes defensed and two interceptions for the Eagles. Williams has nine interceptions over the past three seasons.

The 6-foot-1 Williams fits the mold of what Seattle looks for in cornerbacks: big, tough, physical players that are effective in pressing receivers at the line of scrimmage.