They say patience is a virtue. Former Dallas safety Roy Williams is hoping it will be just that, after taking his time to decide on a new team.

According to Len Pasquarelli (ESPN.com), the Bengals have inked Williams to a short term contract, and expect his presence to drastically improve a secondary that struggled at times last season to stay consistent.

Originally drafted by the Cowboys in the first round of the 2002 draft, Williams showed flashes of greatness early in his career, but struggled near the end when he was asked to take on a stronger role in coverage, as opposed to the run support style of play he preferred. That being said, he has been selected to five separate Pro Bowls, so the talent is unquestionably still there if Cincinnati can put him in the best position to succeed.

Terms of the deal were not announced.