Who do you think he signs with?

Everything I am hearing is that The Texans are not gonna resign him.

Patriots and Falcons have been rumored to be his likely landing spot.

As a Panthers fan, I will be irate if he signs with the Falcons.

3/12/2012 5:07:43 PM

IBTL

3/12/2012 5:08:34 PM

stfu

3/12/2012 5:08:55 PM

wtf??

3/12/2012 5:09:48 PM

Didn't they franchise him?

3/12/2012 5:11:19 PM

No.

Quote :

"With two days still remaining before the start of free agency, it isn't yet a foregone conclusion linebacker Mario Williams will leave the Houston Texans. Despite not applying the franchise tag to Williams, a source with knowledge of the situation told ProFootballTalk.com the Texans still have a 50-50 chance of retaining the two-time All-Pro selection. 2012's notable free agents Matt Flynn highlights a group of intriguing players waiting to hit the free agent market. Here's a list of some of the more notable ones. More ... Free agency officially starts at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. The Texans declined to apply the franchise tag to Williams, which is valued at $10.605 million for 2012. Williams, the first pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, suffered a season-ending torn pectoral muscle in Week 5 last season. While the Texans' defense continued to play well after losing Williams, the 27-year-old is considered the top defensive free agent this offseason after totaling 53 sacks in his first six seasons. Elite pass rushers are at a premium on the free-agent market, and offers from elsewhere are another concern for the Texans. The Chargers, for one, have reportedly assigned an unknown price that they would be willing to pay to sign Williams, U-T San Diego reported Tuesday. The newspaper also reported the team spoke with Williams' agent, Ben Dogra, at the NFL Scouting Combine last month."

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d82786afc/article/texans-reportedly-still-have-5050-shot-of-retaining-lb-williams?module=HP11_headline_stack

3/12/2012 5:14:55 PM

Williams to SD would be great. More reason for me to cheer for the Chargers beyond just Rivers.

3/12/2012 5:17:54 PM

He's definitely going to get a HUGE deal.

Pass Rushing DE's always command a hefty fee and he's entering his prime seasons. On top of that there are a lot of teams with extra money to spend this year because of the carryover salary cap rules.

Is anyone mentioning the Buccaneers? I know they have a ton of room.

3/12/2012 5:20:40 PM

I think they got a small mention in some article I was reading, but nothing serious.

I think they are something like $67mil under the cap.

I hate to say it, but I feel like his talents would be wasted if he went to the Chargers.

3/12/2012 5:25:52 PM

^ Possibly, but Mario would have a better shot at the playoffs on the Chargers than the Bucs due to the AFC West being garbage (if Peyton signs with the Broncos, then that makes SD much less attractive). Plus playing for SD means he gets a chance to feast on no name QBs that Oakland and KC are running out there instead of chasing around Newton, Brees, and Ryan in the NFC South.

If he can't go to SD or Carolina, I hope he resigns with Houston.




[Edited on March 12, 2012 at 5:30 PM. Reason : sd]

3/12/2012 5:30:20 PM

Good player, but a bit overrated, IMO

Someone is going to overpay

3/12/2012 5:30:39 PM

I don't think he is overrated but I do think someone will have to overpay for him.

3/12/2012 5:50:55 PM

plz4williams2patriots

3/12/2012 6:07:54 PM

fuck the patriots

3/12/2012 7:57:26 PM

Quote :

"fuck the patriots"

3/12/2012 8:01:56 PM

Quote :

"fuck the patriots"

3/13/2012 10:40:00 AM

Sounds like Atlanta, Chicago, San Diego, New England and Seattle are the front runners so far

3/13/2012 10:45:28 AM

I reluctantly agree with Slave Famous. Mario, just like in college, is only dominate every other game or so, but when he's on it's ridiculous. The Maryland game alone in his final year got him drafted first overall.

He's still a hell of a player, and one of my favorites.

3/13/2012 11:00:43 AM

Quote :

"Mario, just like in college, is only dominate every other game or so, but when he's on it's ridiculous."

You just described every good pass rusher in football.

3/13/2012 11:07:06 AM

^
I was looking for a nice way to say he's inconsistent, in all aspects of his game.

3/13/2012 11:12:28 AM

All pass rushers are inconsistent. If you want to say he's more inconsistent than others I'd be up for hearing the argument, but I haven't seen any evidence of it.

3/13/2012 11:29:27 AM

Of course I'm comparing him to other pass rushers, but I'm not explaining myself any further because I can tell you're ready to go the distance. I'm not.

In summary:

He's one of my favorite players.
Very good pass rusher.
A tad bit overrated.

3/13/2012 11:41:09 AM

do the Action Cats have $?

3/13/2012 2:07:50 PM

Reports of him visiting Buffalo tonight. While I have a good friend that is a Bills fan, I really hope he doesn't sign there. If the does though I can wear a State jersey if we take another road trip there this fall.

3/13/2012 4:19:18 PM

^ Being a Bills fan, that would be such a massive signing for that team. Set him next to Kyle Williams and Marcel Dareus and they can wreak havoc on opposing QBs.

Everything I've seen on twitter from Michael Lombardi is saying that the Bills are offering more money than anybody else, so by all means get paid Super Mario.

3/13/2012 5:15:59 PM

if i'm mario williams i'm taking any pay cut necessary to avoid playing for the bills and to avoid living in buffalo.

3/13/2012 5:39:48 PM

Lol at mother fuckers calling him overrated. He has been double teamed pretty much nonstop since he was a sophomore in college.

[Edited on March 13, 2012 at 6:52 PM. Reason : He doesn't take games/seasons off like a certain julius peppers]

3/13/2012 6:51:18 PM

Good point, I forgot the oath we all take that we shall never ever ever speak ill of any State alum

I call it like I see it

3/13/2012 6:54:45 PM

Seattle just resigned red bryant to a 5yr/35mil....

already have clemmons....

ESPN Seattle said they could still be in the running and possibly switch to a 3-4 D and put williams and clemmons on the edge

3/13/2012 6:58:07 PM

I'm betting Super Mario gets like 6 years / $98 million.

Steep price to pay, but pass rush is critical in today's NFL. The fact that he's entering his prime gives him a slight premium. Would be cool if he gets $100MM just for the headlines.

Houston's defense was still top notch even after he went down so i dont blame them if they dont resign him. They've got a chance to be really good if they can ever stay healthy

3/13/2012 8:24:00 PM

Quote :

"Good point, I forgot the oath we all take that we shall never ever ever speak ill of any State alum I call it like I see it"

Please do tell how you think he is overrated.

Please, tell us.

He is one of 3 #1 picks in the last decade that has lived up to the hype.

Vick is debatable honestly.

Manning is the best.

3/14/2012 2:42:18 AM

SI_PeterKing Peter King
RT @ByTimGraham: Mario Williams spotted leaving Buffalo Medical Group office this morning. That would seem to be a physical, folks.

3/14/2012 10:15:12 AM

Quote :

"SEATTLE JUST RESIGNED"

3/14/2012 11:23:31 AM

Where he was drafted is immaterial to the argument at hand. Williams is valuable because he can line up on either side of the defense and he often draws double teams. But in the games he played last year, Williams was no bigger difference-maker than J.J. Watt, Connor Barwin, or even Antonio Smith.
He's racked up sack totals over the years, but I’m not convinced he’s the every-down difference maker that he should be considering he’s likely to become the game’s highest paid defensive player. This isn’t Reggie White or even Julius Peppers in his prime.



He may not be a top-five defensive end.

3/14/2012 12:00:16 PM

this article completely sold me on his value (even with the disclaimer):

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/18601/free-agent-hype-chronicles-mario-williams

[Edited on March 14, 2012 at 12:06 PM. Reason : looks like he's about to sign with the Bills]

3/14/2012 12:04:30 PM

Can't see him being a Buffalo Bill, being a Panther would be better!



[Edited on March 14, 2012 at 12:26 PM. Reason : V really??]

3/14/2012 12:19:49 PM

the one that got away, eh?

3/14/2012 12:24:08 PM

Looks like his finace just flew into Buffalo. You'd think she'd want to be there for the announcement

3/14/2012 12:57:56 PM

That article is intense

3/14/2012 1:02:10 PM

The fucking Bills? Really??

3/14/2012 9:26:04 PM

who needs to win super bowls when you can do 200+ down I-40 in 7 different lambos of 7 different colors!?!?

3/14/2012 10:03:24 PM

always a Mario fan, but going to be increasingly difficult to pull for him in fucking Buffalo.

Fuck Buffalo.

3/14/2012 10:04:41 PM

Finally, a happy marriage of my love for hometown teams Buffalo and NC State. I really, really hope it goes through. This is the kind of marquee signing the likes of which the Bills haven't had in many years.

[/fingers crossed]

3/14/2012 10:30:29 PM

If I was making $1 million per game I'd want to go to a team who doesn't make the playoffs too.

It's like working Chinese overtime x 10 to play for a good team.

Think about it. $16 million to play 16 games or $17 million to play 19-20 games.

It just doesn't make sense unless you care about your legacy (only really matters for QB's) or you are a free agent (guys coming off championships usually get huge deals).

Now I wouldn't want to play for a cold weather team, small market, or a city that sucks to live in. Or for a bad defense where you're on the field for long drives.

I'd take a discount to play for a team with a good location and low taxes, but not for a winner. Not in football anyway. Basketball I would because losing is just too frustrating.

[Edited on March 14, 2012 at 10:44 PM. Reason : a]

3/14/2012 10:43:58 PM

HALLELUJAH

HALLELUJAH

HALLELUJAH

HALL

EH EH

LU

YA

3/15/2012 12:57:23 PM

Moving to back to a 4-3, probably a DE again. He deserves this contract though, and I am glad that he proved everyone wrong that was pissed he was taken #1 overall.

3/15/2012 1:03:16 PM

Williams lined up next to Dareus and Kyle Williams instantly gives the Bills the best front 4 in the NFL

3/15/2012 1:05:32 PM

Why in the would he want to go there? fuck. Its not like they were the only team offering him big money. And there were a lot better teams who wanted him too. And not to mention he now has to live in Buffalo for the good part of the year.

3/15/2012 1:35:26 PM

i feel bad for mario's cars.

3/15/2012 1:36:33 PM

^^ so he doesn't have to play in the playoffs for free is my thinking.

also, the bills said theyd make him the highest paid defensive player in the league

Quote :

"I'm betting Super Mario gets like 6 years / $98 million. Steep price to pay, but pass rush is critical in today's NFL. The fact that he's entering his prime gives him a slight premium. Would be cool if he gets $100MM just for the headlines."

Man, I nailed that one. 6 years, $100MM, $50MM guaranteed.

[Edited on March 15, 2012 at 1:44 PM. Reason : a]

3/15/2012 1:40:51 PM