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A lot has been said and written about Mario Williams since the end of the football season, and I’ve quite frankly had enough. Let me preface what I’m about to say with this: Did Mario look disengaged at times? Yes. Could he have given a better effort at times? Yes. Did he look at times like he didn’t care? Yes. However, I’m about to squash the narrative given to you by local media insiders. I don’t have the access or contacts of those who cover this team and I’m sure there is something to this piece written by Tyler Dunne and the one video breakdown by Pete Prisco.
I’m here to tell you the facts, facts you already know, but they’re facts none the less. In March 2012, the Bills made a huge free agency splash by kidnapping Mario Williams and not letting him out the door until he signed. Did the Bills overpay? Probably, but a small market team in 2012 with no direction, a terrible owner, no franchise QB, and a no playoff appearances have to do that. He kept a refrigerator at his locker, went through a terrible breakup with his fiance, who accompanied him to Buffalo on his visit and helped him make one of the most important business decisions of his life, and the local media made him aware of all of those things. I know they have a job to do and report the news and report such things, but goodness, give the man his room and let him recover.
My favorite thing as of late is that “Mario loved his toys more than football” OH MY GOD..GOD FOR DAMN BID HE HAS A PASSION OTHER THAN FOOTBALL!! FOOTBALL IS HIS JOB. HE IS ALLOWED TO HAVE A HOBBY OR TWO THAT TAKES HIS MIND OFF OF THE GRIND. Y’all didn’t mind his “toys” when it was he who plowed the Kelly’s driveway during that snowstorm in November of 2014. I guess #KellyTough didn’t have snow plowing company on lock. Y’all didn’t mind his “toys” when he was driving around Orchard Park delivering groceries to people who were stranded. Y’all forgot about that didn’t you?
Through all of that he still showed up on Sundays. He showed up on Sundays despite playing under four defensive coordinators (Dave Wannstedt, Mike Pettine, Jim Schwartz, and Rex Ryan/Dennis Thurman), three average to below average head coaches – Chan, Marrone, and Rex. With all of that, he finished his Bills career 5th all-time in sacks (43). He was worth every penny of that contract. EVERY DAMN PENNY.
Was it Mario Williams’ fault this team didn’t draft or develop a quarterback? Was it Mario Williams fault that this franchise totally mismanaged the 2013 QB situation of Kevin Kolb, EJ Manuel and Jeff Tuel? Was it Mario William’s fault that Doug Marrone took his $4M and went home? Mario Williams was brought in to do a job and he did it very well.
One of my day to day duties at my job is to hire and manage personnel. You wouldn’t believe the amount of people who come to where I work looking for work because people were promised things at their previous job and their boss failed on such promises. Which leads me to this:
After Marrone took his $4M ball and went home, the Bills and new ownership had to get their next hire right. They held onto Jim Schwartz and his contract as a safe keep and fall back plan. The Bills interviewed NUMEROUS head coaching candidates, and turned them all down, including Hue Jackson who they reportedly liked a lot, and who reportedly would’ve kept Jim Schwartz, the same Jim Schwartz who led the Bills to a 4th overall team defense ranking. Williams finished 2014 w/ 14.5 sacks, numerous QB pressures, and you can make the argument that he beat The Green Bay Packers by himself that December day.
So, here it is, everything seemingly falls into the hands of the Bills brass. Hue Jackson, he can build the offense and develop a QB, you retain Jim Schwartz, and you keep continuity. You know, continuity? The word that Russ, Whaley, and every other suit there likes to preach but don’t actually practice? But instead, Bills brass take a meeting with Rex Ryan, aka Lyle Lanley. The Bills fall in love with Rex and the monorail and are promised a service of goods that have Bills fans singing and chanting “MONO-RAIL..MONO-RAIL” 4th place in defense?? PFFFFFFFFFFT says Coach Blowhard…. WE’RE BETTER THAN THAT….. right. The Bills defense was sold as a pile of goods and were promised a lot of things, and nothing was delivered. Why does this surprise anyone that Mario was frustrated? He did one thing for 3 years, and now was asked to drop into coverage on occasion, something that just didn’t feel right for him. So I don’t blame him for being frustrated. Some hide it better than others, and obviously that was the fall here for Mario. He just didn’t hide it well.
Mario Williams wasn’t the only one who was upset with how the defense was. Dareus and Hughes also vented frustration and Nigel Bradham just said the same thing after bolting for Philly. Oh and don’t forget Mr. Buffalo himself, Jim Kelly, sounded off on this defense, because as you know, we must always hear from the man who never met a camera or microphone he didn’t like. Media idea for 2016 Buffalo Bills season: STOP ASKING JIM KELLY HIS THOUGHTS ABOUT THE BILLS. It does nobody any good.
Instead of creating a scheme that fit his players, Rex forced a scheme that didn’t fit the players. How is any of this or any of that Mario Williams’ fault? The Bills had to release him to clear the cap, and I agree with that move. He wasn’t going to take a discount, despite his comments. And at the end of the day this is a business and the Bills made a business decision. But in no way, no way at all was Mario Williams a bust or a failure in his 4 years.
The Bills organization was and is the bust and they’re the ones who continue to fail.
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