AP

Eagles cornerback Cary Williams called the Patriots “cheaters” early this month, and stood by that comment after facing some criticism for it. So surely, when the Eagles and Patriots met on the field on Friday night, Williams said it to Bill Belichick’s face, right?

Wrong.

Instead, Williams tracked down Belichick to apologize and tell him he hadn’t really meant it.

“I told him that I was sorry,” Williams said, via Philly.com. “I told him I respect him as a man, I respect him as a coach, I respect him as a GM. And I respect the organization. I told him I said something out of emotions, and I didn’t mean that. . . . You try to use anything to fire yourself up. I let my emotions get the best of me. I said some things I kind of regret.”

Williams said Belichick also had kind words for him.

“Two guys with respect for one another,” Williams said. “I told him how I felt, and he knew it was from the heart.”

Williams had an interception return for a touchdown in the game, and he said that was an exciting moment for him.

“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t,” Williams said. “I even held onto the football. Anytime you can get Tom Brady, he’s one of the greatest all-time. I’m keeping that ball.”

Williams hurt his hamstring on the pick-six, but he didn’t think the injury was serious — no more serious than his pre-game comments about the Patriots.