Archives for March 15, 2012

‘The Bills’ offer eclipses the six-year, $91.5 million deal that Chicago gave defensive end Julius Peppers in 2010, a source has told The News. Peppers got $42 million guaranteed, and the package made him the league’s top earning defender. It’s believed Williams’ decision will not be solely based on financial considerations. He wants to feel comfortable with his new team and have a good chance to win.’

‘The best guess is the Bills ran into the usual problems that come with luring the top players to Buffalo. For years, they have been hesitant to come here because they don’t believe the Bills are serious about winning.’

‘Reports indicate the Bills were prepared to make Williams the highest-paid defender in the league – a contract that would eclipse that of Julius Peppers of the Chicago Bears, who earns $15.25 million a year. The top five defensive ends in the NFL earn an average of $10.6 million.’

‘Clearly Williams was part of the solution in Houston and not part of the problem, and his unselfish shift to outside linebacker helped kickstart the Texans’ 2011 drive to the playoffs in a big way. But you can at least see the point that he was proven to be anything but indispensable in Houston’s defense, and if you’re the game’s highest paid defender, shouldn’t that come with some degree of indispensability? In addition, the bottom line says his sack total has decreased in four consecutive years: From his career-high 14 in 2007, to 12 in 2008, to nine in 2009, to 8.5 in 2010, to five in last year’s injury-shortened season.’

‘A business not far from Ralph Wilson Stadium had “Welcome Mario Williams” flashing on its electronic sign. A couple of fans dressed in Bills jerseys waited to greet Williams after his dinner on Tuesday. And several fans have showed up in the parking lot of the Bills facility hoping to get a glimpse of Williams the past two days.’

‘Free agent defensive end Mario Williams has not yet made a decision on whether the Bills will be his new NFL team, but he’ll be sleeping on all that Ralph Wilson’s organization has presented to him in Buffalo tonight. After the pass rusher’s arrival Tuesday evening stretched into Wednesday, Williams will spend another night in Western New York.’