Please keep the Buccaneers and Mario Williams Apart
Mario Williams, a premier pass rusher in this league, has been released by the Bills. But, the Buccaneers should still look elsewhere.
The Buccaneers are in need of a pass rush off of the edge. Coincidentally, Mario Williams has been released by the Buffalo Bills. Over ten seasons in the league, Williams has averaged nearly ten sacks per season. He has been a dominant force in the NFL for a long time. Should the Bucs go after him? They certainly have the money.
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However, the answer is no. Stay away from Mario Williams.
Oh, there are a lot of good reasons to have “Super Mario” on the team. Take a look at his career stats:
Defense & Fumbles
| Games | Def Interceptions | Fumbles | Sacks & Tackles | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 7 | |||||||||||
| Career | 145 | 145 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 16 | 0 | 5 | 38 | 1 | 96.0 | 308 | 78 | 89 | |||||
| 6 yrs | HOU | 82 | 82 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 38 | 1 | 53.0 | 192 | 49 | 44 | ||||
| 4 yrs | BUF | 63 | 63 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 43.0 | 116 | 29 | 45 |
Three out of four years, Williams was dominant. Two years in Houston were dominant, and two were very good. Twice with the Texans, and twice with the Bills, Mario was selected to the Pro Bowl. Prior to his drop off in 2015, he had posted the following sack totals: 10.5, 13.0, 14.5.
For the first time in his career, Williams was released. The Bills were the first team to essentially “fire” Mario, and at only 31 years old, he has plenty of gas in the tank, and may be motivated to prove the Bills wrong by returning to form.
That sounds like a lot of positives. So why shouldn’t the Bucs go after Williams? Because when he doesn’t like what he is asked to do, rather than be a professional, he complains. After week six, Williams had this to say about his role:
"I think I probably set a record on dropping today, but that’s part of the scheme for us to go out and be put in a position to win,” Mario Williams said, via Syracuse.com.Whatever’s called you have to go out and do it. … The three guys you said, including myself, a lot is put on our shoulders as far as the amount given out to players on this team as far as income. I would assume, those four guys, a lot is on their shoulders to go after the quarterback or stop the run, be disruptive. Like I say, if the call is three-man this or that, dropping, things like that, that’s the call."
Those are not the words of a team player, ladies and gentlemen. Say what you want about Rex Ryan, but his success as a defensive coach is undeniable. He was part of a Super Bowl title with the Ravens, and he helped the Jets get to within one game of the Super Bowl on two separate occasions.
Ray Lewis swears by him, and he is a player that has more heart in his left pinky than Williams ever had. If a talent of that level believes in him, “Super Mario” could do the same, no? No, he whines and moans about having to drop into coverage? Aw, poor multi-millionaire football player. The Bills are paying you quite a bit of money, do your job. But no, Mario couldn’t do that.
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Who knows what would happen if he came to the Bucs. Mike Smith might line him up on the wrong side too often, and he will complain again. A guy complains once, there is always the chance he will to it again.
We don’t need that here in Tampa. Thanks, but no thanks.