Mario

[woodbuck27]

Bills, Mario “getting closer to a deal”

Posted by Mike Florio on March 15, 2012, 10:48 AM EDT

In Buffalo, there will be white smoke at some point on Thursday. The question is whether it will be coming from the chimney at the team’s facility (if, you know, it has a chimney) or from the jet that will be carrying Mario Williams to his next destination.

For now, the smart money is on the chimney.

A source with knowledge of the negotiations tells PFT that Williams and the Bills are “getting closer to a deal.”
Stay tuned.

[woodbuck27]

It's being reported that Mario Williams was sighted at the airport in Buffalo. He was there to meet his 'Lady' on her expected arrival. So what's that mean!? I think it means that Mario Williams wants his Lady present when he announces that he will become a Buffalo Bill.

[TheRaven]

It seems to be looking that way. The guy is a great player, though I am a little concerned with the amount of games missed the last two years. Despite that, Buffalo needs something like this to help turn that franchise around.

[KYPack]

Christ! The SOB finally signed with the Bills.

Talk about much ado over very little!

[Fritz]

My guess is that before His "Lady" showed up, Nick Barnett took Mario Williams to the kinds of places where he could find the company of a different kind of "lady."

Thank goodness they were attractive.

[pbmax]

Its like the Bills were pulling the auto salesman trick of not letting you leave because they had your drivers license.

Rodgers just Tweeted (and Stafford retweeted) congratulations to Williams for signing and thanks for going to the AFC East.

[Fritz]

Glad he's out of the way. Now we can get down to the serious business of seeing who signs Chris Myers - then Wells will follow. I think Wellsy is visiting the Titans then St. Louis.

And the Titans have offered P Manning a huge deal, apparently. Scott Wells can have a very rich man's hands between his legs if he signs with Tennessee.....

[MadScientist]

Its like the Bills were pulling the auto salesman trick of not letting you leave because they had your drivers license.

Rodgers just Tweeted (and Stafford retweeted) congratulations to Williams for signing and thanks for going to the AFC East.

I'm guessing Matt Flynn didn't re-tweet that one.

[Fritz]

Not if he ends up in Miami, at least!

[ND72]

NFL Network via Chris Myers agent said Green Bay has not contacted him.

[woodbuck27]

Heard that too. God, I hope he gets a deal with Buffalo. Williams and Peppers is just outright insane!

Comment woodbuck27: Just as it seemed to be shaping up. The Bills get Mario Williams.

Mario gives Bills legitimacy, stout defense

Posted by Mike Florio on March 15, 2012, 1:25 PM EDT
Getty Images

In 1993, the Packers made a huge move toward their first Super Bowl title in 30 years by persuading defensive end Reggie White to come to Green Bay. Nineteen years later, the Bills have taken a similar step in the direction of legitimacy by persuading defensive end Mario Williams to choose Buffalo.

For Bills fans, an excruciating two days ended with good news, thanks to a full-court press launched by the organization when Williams arrived on Tuesday for a visit. Other teams wanted a shot at him, but the Bills did just enough to keep Williams around long enough to get the deal done.

Giving Williams a record contract was a given, but Williams easily could have taken a little less to play for a team that he believes to be a true contender. (He already has made nearly $60 million in six years.) So perhaps it’s no stretch to conclude that, after two days in Buffalo, Mario believes the Bills will be a true contender.

The offense has been moving in the right direction.

With Mario Williams lined up next to Kyle Williams and Marcel Dareus — and with Shawne Merriman hopefully returning to the field and also to form — the Bills’ defense could be much better in 2012. Which would make the team much better. Which could make the Bills Mafia much happier.

More importantly, the decision of the first overall pick in the 2006 to choose the Bills could make other free agents choose the Bills. Which could make the Bills even better. Which could make the Bills Mafia even happier.

It’s been too long since this franchise has been truly relevant. The fans in Western New York deserve it. Until the games start, they’ll get the next best thing.

Genuine hope.

[swede]

NFL Network via Chris Myers agent said Green Bay has not contacted him.

Not contacted him yet...

[pittstang5]

Not contacted him yet...

Not surprised. Has TT ever been a player in the 1st week of FA.

[woodbuck27]

Not surprised. Has TT ever been a player in the 1st week of FA.

Notes on Free Agency are flying all over the classroom. (-:

[woodbuck27]

Mario Williams signs, Bills schedule press conference to announce

Posted by Michael David Smith on March 15, 2012, 12:33 PM EDT
Getty Images
The Bills have scheduled a press conference to make it official: Mario Williams won’t be leaving Buffalo without a contract in place.

Williams has signed a six-year contract and will join Bills officials to formally announce that his deal with the Bills is done, as ESPN’s Chris Mortensen first reported.

The deal will make Williams the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history, and it fulfills the Bills’ promise to make a big splash at the outset of free agency. For the first time in a long time, it’s beginning to look like the Bills are building a winner in Buffalo.

Williams arrived in Buffalo on the first day of free agency, and although there were reports that he had other visits scheduled, the Bills were able to keep him in town and keep the hard sell on him for nearly 48 hours, and it worked:

Buffalo fans can celebrate, as Mario Williams is a Bill.