Cary Williams says people should check themselves before condemning others. Photo by Jesse Simmers/contrastphotography.com

Eagles cornerback Cary Williams has never given the party line when it comes to his views — regardless of other people’s opinion or the consequences that come with saying what you honestly feel.

For the last few days, it seems the entire country has vented its outrage after a video was released by TMZ of former Baltimore Ravens star running back Ray Rice punching his then fiance in the face and knocking her out during a violent confrontation in an Atlantic City casino elevator that was all caught on tape.

Williams was a teammate of Rice when the Ravens won Super Bowl XLVII on February 3, 2013 in New Orleans.

Williams practiced with Rice for four years, traveled all over the country with the former Rutgers standout running back and is still friends with his former teammate.

Williams did not back down from the gravity of what Rice did, but talked about the abuse in terms of what he felt was the proper level people should be taking.

“I knew that something had to go down, something had to occur in the elevator for her to be knocked out and be unconscious on the floor like that,” said Williams, now in his eighth NFL season, second in Philadelphia. “I was kind of expecting it. It (the punches) was not a surprise because she was unconscious. But I was surprised that the incident happened. Because I know Ray, and I know his character. I know he is a great character guy. He is always a guy who was joking and laughing, caring about the next guy next to him. He was a great teammate. He cared about his community. He did great things within the community.”

Williams then shifted gears and talked about the saturation of rage from around the country – which even reached the White House – that has been levied on Rice.

“For him to make a mistake like that and be crucified – in my opinion – it’s terrible,” said Williams, who spent four seasons in Baltimore. “But that is the life we live in. Right now that is the world we live in. It’s a shame that we’ve got millions of people thinking they’re perfect. And they live the great life and they’ve done nothing wrong.

“I understand hitting a woman is very, very disrespectful and is something I wouldn’t want my daughter to go through either,” Williams continued. “Especially the way that went down. We also have to understand people make mistakes. I am not condoning anything he’s done. But I can’t cast a stone…I’m sinful. And I’ve made a mistake. I am not perfect.”

Williams was asked if the NFL was more concerned about its image than it was in dealing with the act more severely at first.

“I don’t know,” Williams said. “I’m not in that office. I don’t hear those meetings. I don’t know what’s going on. That’s up to (NFL Commissioner) Roger Goodell and those guys that’s up there commissioning, being advisers to everybody else in the National Football League.”