"DeAngelo Williams, the smile still on his face after agreeing to a five-year, $43-million contract last week, can already see and feel the difference in all the changes made by the Carolina Panthers.

"The 'is what it is' is no more. It's time to go," Williams said Sunday, a not-so-subtle reference to former coach John Fox's conservative approach to both football and public pronouncements.

When the Panthers locked up Williams with a new contract, cementing his pairing with Jonathan Stewart in the backfield, it kept the popular running back where he wanted to be. Considered one of the top free agents at his position, Williams had been linked to Miami and Denver, among others, during lockout speculation about his ultimate destination.

Williams didn't talk publicly about his future during the lockout but his goal was to stay in Charlotte where he lives.

"There were some other teams out there that were looking at me that gave me a pretty good deal too but ultimately came down to not wanting to leave. I love it in Charlotte," Williams said.

Williams said he is enthused about the new, more aggressive offensive approach being implemented by coordinator Rob Chudzinski, which has running backs taking on expanded roles. Because of the new collective bargaining agreement, Williams can't participate in padded practices until Thursday but he's at Wofford, going through the walk-through sessions Sunday and Monday.

Williams said his only exposure to the west coast-style offense the Panthers are implementing came when he played under San Diego Chargers coach Norv Turner in the Senior Bowl. He liked it then and likes it now."