"Darryl Drake first met Roy Williams when he was a junior at Odessa Permian, the school on which the novel and movie "Friday Night Lights" is based.

The thing the Bears wide receivers coach, then an assistant at Texas, remembers most was Williams' transcript. All A's and B's recounted Drake, who beamed like a proud father when talking about his newest pupil.

So it comes as no surprise that a smart guy like that would seek out the quarterback for a meeting as soon as possible. Williams ate at a table with Jay Cutler during lunch Saturday, working to forge what he hopes will be a mutually beneficial relationship.

"I am new to this team and the leader of the football team is the quarterback," Williams said. "So for me to talk to the quarterback and get to know him, that's good for our football team and myself. A lot of quarterbacks don't like the receivers."

Does Williams have first-hand experience with a bad quarterback relationship? Maybe with the Cowboys?

"Oh no," he replied coyly. "That never has happened."

All of his answers in response to questions about three poor seasons with the Cowboys came with short answers.

Why didn't it work there?

"I don't know," he said.

Does he need to figure out why to succeed here?

"No," he said.

Does he have something to prove?

"No," he said.

The fact is Williams signed a prove-it deal with the Bears, a one-year contract with a base salary of less than $2 million. There are salary incentives, but the short-term contract is designed for the 29-year-old to prove his value and get back to the bargaining table.

The Bears have a low-risk gamble that a former first-round pick and Pro Bowl performer for the Lions can click for them as the offense makes a transition to greater emphasis on the wide receivers."