BuffaloRush Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 (edited) In an earlier thread, I got into a very interesting discussion about the Bills signing of Mario Williams. I consider the signing as decent but ultimately unsuccessful as I don't feel Mario's play justified making him the richest defensive player in NFL history. I also don't feel that Mario was a true impact player at DE that completely took over games like I've seen J Watt or Khalil Mack do. So I'm wondering - Was Mario Williams A Good Signing For The Bills? The Money In 2012, the Bills signed Mario to a whopping 6 year $100 million contract ($49.5 guaranteed). At the time it was the richest NFL contract for a defensive player. If you recall, this was a very exciting time for Bills fans and most of the fan base was super pumped. Some even made comparisons that he would be the "Bruce Smith" of this era for the Bills. The national media was largely negative on the signing, believing that we overpaid badly. Texans fans said the same nothing that Mario was a "good" DE but not a player worth that contract. PR Mario's signing definitely was big from a PR standpoint for the team. At the time, there was a very negative perception of the franchise and a belief that FA's would not want to go to Buffalo. Landing the biggest free agent of the off-season certainly did disprove that - though it came at a cost. Numbers From a statistical standpoint, Mario's numbers were certainly on par with his performance in Houston over the first three years. He had a career high in sacks in 2014, playing on a strong defense alongside other great pass rushers including 2014 versions of Marcel Dareus, Kyle Williams and Jerry Hughes. Year Age Tm Pos No. G GS Int Yds TD Lng PD FF Fmb FR Yds TD Sk Tkl Ast Sfty AV 2006 21 HOU DE 90 16 16 0 0 0 0 4 1 0 1 0 0 4.5 35 12 6 2007 22 HOU DE 90 16 16 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 1 38 1 14.0 43 16 10 2008* 23 HOU DE 90 16 16 4 0 0 0 0 12.0 44 9 9 2009* 24 HOU DE 90 16 16 0 0 0 0 3 2 0 1 0 0 9.0 38 5 11 2010 25 HOU DE 90 13 13 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 8.5 22 6 5 2011 26 HOU lb 90 5 5 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 5.0 10 1 3 2012 27 BUF DE 94 16 16 0 0 0 0 4 2 0 2 0 0 10.5 37 9 7 2013* 28 BUF DE 94 16 16 0 0 0 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 13.0 28 10 13 2014*+ 29 BUF DE 94 16 16 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 14.5 36 6 18 2015 30 BUF DE 94 15 15 5.0 15 4 Defensive Impact Mario on his own didn't have much of an impact on the Bills defense. The unit was 26th in 2012 and 20th in 2013. The 2012 Bills defense under Dave Wannstedt was so bad, it essentially cost Chan Gailey his coaching job. It wasn't until 2014, when the Bills improved to 4th overall thanks in part to a great scheme by Jim Schwartz and a line of talented pass rushers. In 2015, Mario had literally no impact on the Bills defense. The End Rex Ryan's scheme spelled the end for Mario Williams. The Bills released him in 2015, eating the final two years of his record breaking deal. Mario appeared to be unmotivated in 2015, some acused him of copping an attitude both on and off the field. He was a complete non-factor in 2015 - some might argue he hurt the team. Mario played just one more season for Miami, where he again, was a non-fact raking up a meager 1.5 sacks in 13 games. Quite the fall from grace considering he set a carer record in sacks two years earlier. imagine how Bills fans would have reacted if they heard Mario's career would last the duration of the 6 years we signed him. My take = Mario was not a good signing: Yes Mario had a few good years from a statistical standpoint, but I don't feel his play warranted being the highest paid defensive football player in the NFL. I can remember a game where Mario completely dominated and was a huge factor in a victory. I also remember Mario disappearing during key stretches of games. His play during the 2015 season was straight up embarrassing. The Bills got rid of Mario before his contract even ended, which speaks volumes to how the signing went. Edited March 25, 2018 by BuffaloRush 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bag of Milk Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 (edited) What year is this? Is there not enough angst and pain without reaching back into history? Edited March 25, 2018 by Bag of Milk 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Hooks Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 (edited) Oh... by “great debate” do you mean no one cares at all about this anymore? Edited March 25, 2018 by Bobby Hooks 5 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
26CornerBlitz Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 Just now, Bag of Milk said: What year is this? Have a little sympathy man. Being stuck in a time warp is no fun at all. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jr1 Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 he was fine the first 3 years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bing Bong Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 awe come on, Rex Ryan ruined him but if we had some semblance of a QB.. (I find Orton very overrated on this board). I think there could have good a good possibility Chan, Ryan Fitz, and Schwartz doing his knockout job knowing we have the best DE in the leage.. we could go 10-6 that year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloRush Posted March 25, 2018 Author Share Posted March 25, 2018 1 minute ago, Bobby Hooks said: Oh... by “great debate” do you mean no one cares at all about this anymore? Nope, I mean it's sure to stir up some interesting conversations as Bills fans have strong feelings on the topic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rad Likes The Bills Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 He was fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bangarang Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 When we’re done here, can we please talk about Jordan Palmer’s time with the team. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D. L. Hot-Flamethrower Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 No because you don't spend that kind of money on a defensive lineman. It was to big of a cap hit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloRush Posted March 25, 2018 Author Share Posted March 25, 2018 1 minute ago, jr1 said: he was fine the first 3 years Yeah that wasn't what I was asking. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bing Bong Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 1 minute ago, Bag of Milk said: What year is this? Is there not enough angst and pain without reaching back into history? it's the off season want do you want to talk about. I was going to start a thread about how Eric Moulds has been my favorite player growing up. Can I get your permission? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloRush Posted March 25, 2018 Author Share Posted March 25, 2018 Just now, Rad Likes The Bills said: He was fine. So I guess "fine" constitutes the highest contract for a defensive player 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KDIGGZ Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 Rex destroyed our defense. They were killing it with Schwartz. Hiring him was the mistake 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloRush Posted March 25, 2018 Author Share Posted March 25, 2018 1 minute ago, Bangarang said: When we’re done here, can we please talk about Jordan Palmer’s time with the team. ...or we can take 8 pages discussing a unfound rumor on the Bills trading for the #3 pick, shared by WGR's B-Team weekend DJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Hooks Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 Just now, BuffaloRush said: Nope, I mean it's sure to stir up some interesting conversations as Bills fans have strong feelings on the topic We’re neck deep in the wildest free agency that’s ever been. We have two picks in the top three rounds of the draft with three viable qb options. Mario Williams? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloRush Posted March 25, 2018 Author Share Posted March 25, 2018 1 minute ago, PetermanThrew5Picks said: it's the off season want do you want to talk about. I was going to start a thread about how Eric Moulds has been my favorite player growing up. Can I get your permission? You have my permission. It's fun to talk Bills history 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bing Bong Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 6 minutes ago, BuffaloRush said: From a statistical standpoint, Mario's numbers were certainly on par with his performance in Houston over the firs three years. He had a career high in sacks in 2014, playing on a strong defense alongside other great pass rushers including 2014 versions of Marcel Dareus, Kyle Williams and Jerry Hughes. l got yo back. although I disagree haha. Let's have fun reminiscing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irv Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 Who's Mario Williams? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rad Likes The Bills Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 Just now, BuffaloRush said: So I guess "fine" constitutes the highest contract for a defensive player You have to pay market value. And at the time we were (just now shedding this) a dumpster fire. So yes for what we paid and the production we got from him, he was fine. He has the most sacks in a season of anyone not named Bruce Smith! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts