Prioleau, Williams go back long ways

• By SHELDON MICKLES
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Aug 27, 2009 - Page: 1C

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METAIRIE — At the last three of five NFL playing stops, veteran safety Pierson Prioleau has been subjected to some good-natured, locker room ribbing from his teammates.

It was no different when Prioleau, an unrestricted free agent, was signed this spring by the New Orleans Saints to add depth at both safety positions, and, more importantly, experience to the back end of their secondary.

Prioleau followed first-year Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams to New Orleans, just as he followed him when Williams was with the Buffalo Bills (2001-03), Washington Redskins (2005-07) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2008).

After playing under Williams eight of the past nine seasons with four teams, Prioleau has heard it all from his teammates. One of their favorites theories is that Prioleau is Williams’ son or stepson, which always brings a hearty laugh from the corner of the locker room where the defensive backs dress.

“That’s his baby,” cornerback Randall Gay said with a laugh. “Everybody’s got kids … well, that’s coach Williams’ kid.

“When coach talks about his ‘other’ son, (Prioleau) is always included. We ask each other every day, ‘You need something? Ask Pierson.’ ”

Because he’s so used to it by now, the easy-going Prioleau has fun with it and goes along with it in the locker room.

“I laugh right along with them because it’s definitely funny,” said Prioleau, an 11-year NFL veteran. “I’ve been with Gregg at every place he’s coached the last nine years. Trust me, there’s nothing to it but football. I love him to death and he loves me to death, but we fight all the time.

“But I love playing football and he loves coaching. He knows what I bring to a team, and I know what he brings to a team. The truth of the matter is that as long as I’m playing this game, I’m happy about it.”

Like Prioleau, Williams gets a laugh out of the players when they needle Prioleau about how he always winds up where Williams goes.

“It’s amazing I haven’t gotten more tax deductions out of him,” a smiling Williams said. “I got a little bit for my own children, but I’ve never been able to get anything back on him. And since I’m not his agent, I haven’t been able to get a fee out of bringing him from place to place.

“But I’ll tell you this: It’s not by accident that he’s here.  It’s because I have tremendous trust in him, and I know that he’s a very good mentor.”

Prioleau said he’s proud, however, to have earned his stripes under Williams. When he was head coach of the Bills, Williams is credited with saving Prioleau’s career after he was cut by the San Francisco 49ers in 2001.