Mario Labeled A Quitter
March 4th, 2016
National columnist slams free agent DE Mario Williams.
One of the harshest things anyone can throw at an NFL player is calling the guy a “quitter.” It is considered a slur in the world of the NFL.
However, one national columnist is hinting free agent defensive end Mario Williams is just that.
Prickly Pete Prisco took to his keyboard and blasted Williams after reviewing film of the Buffalo Bills. Williams tanked plays, so Prisco wrote for CBS Sports.
To be blunt: Williams dogged it last year. It’s hard to believe this was the same player the Bills saw in the first three years after signing him to a $100-million contract in 2012.
Williams rolled up 38 sacks in his first three seasons with the Bills, showing that perhaps that mega-deal he signed to leave Houston was worth it. But last season his sack number fell to five and his reputation took an even bigger fall.
It’s clear to anybody who watched the Bills’ tape from last season that Williams wasn’t the same player. Yes, he was asked to do some different things in Rex Ryan’s defensive scheme, but not much. He dropped out maybe once or twice a game into coverage, yet his on-field demeanor for much of the season was awful. The body language was bad.
Of course, Williams was asked to do different things playing in a 34 defense. Williams was a total beast in a 43 defense. You don’t need a calculator to do the math here.
It just seems like Capt. Lou Albano in Buffalo is one of those coaches hellbent on running his beloved scheme instead of utilizing the talent he has on the roster (sound familiar?).
Why you would have a double-digit sack guy drop back into coverage is beyond Joe.
March 4th, 2016 at 9:07 am
need to sign him before Sunday, the price will go way up. Put him in a 4-3 and he will give you 2 10 sack seasons. Bad fit/ frustrating year for him last year.
March 4th, 2016 at 9:16 am
I don’t care I wouldn’t wana play for that moron coach either in buffalo :/
March 4th, 2016 at 9:18 am
the more of this stuff that i’m hearing, i have to admit it’s making me hesitant on wanting him to come here. it’s not like the defense has an establish, veteran, alpha dog type that those types of things will not be tolerated. McCoy and David are the supposed leaders, but McCoy is too much of a nice guy, and David seems to more of a leader by example and not very vocal. Kwon seems to be more of the vocal type, but really what kind of established veteran such as Mario is going to listen to a 21 or 22 year old kid?
all i know is they are obviously desperate for DEs that can get to the QB. but if you risk poisoning the team and potentially setting a bad example for whatever DE they draft (there will be at least 1 DE drafted, guaranteed), i don’t really think it will be worth it.
March 4th, 2016 at 9:19 am
He probably has 3 damn good years left.
He would be in a 4-3 and would have a chip on his shoulder.
SIGN HIM
March 4th, 2016 at 9:21 am
When you become fabulously wealthy playing football where do you find that inner drive to excel beyond that financial standing? This Mario guy seems to be just coasting on his past laurels.
March 4th, 2016 at 9:21 am
Bucs fans are so Desperate for a Pass Rush that they are pining for an over the hill malcontent at any price. SMDH.
March 4th, 2016 at 9:38 am
News flash: This team is desperate for a pass rush, not just the fans. He’s 31. Simeon had 15 sacks at age 31. He also was labeled as having attitude issues coming from the Cardinals.
There’s not a lot of great options. He might be the best of what’s out there. We only need him for a few years until someone can be developed.
March 4th, 2016 at 9:38 am
Major turnoff here after reading the Prickly Pete piece.
Williams has ample tread on the tires to give you 30 productive snaps, but the attitude…
Regardless of scheme, Coach, whatever, you go full tilt on every play.
March 4th, 2016 at 9:42 am
Cats just released Charles Johnson. Anyone think we pounce???
March 4th, 2016 at 10:08 am
@NOSBOS No, Bucs should have learned already with the free agent Johnson they brought in, but the Cats also have $88M cap space, same temptation of no state tax for free agents, similar roster holes, and a young franchise type QB to build around making them a strong contender for every free agent us Bucs On Sunday fans want in Tampa. Should be a real interesting in-state battle when the free agency bell rings.
March 4th, 2016 at 10:22 am
When a player is playing out of position, they have to do things that isn’t natural. Its frustrating and many times confusion and hesitancy is misconstrued as laziness. I have seen this a bunch as a coach. We have seen this a bunch as Buc fans. Williams would be my lone target, outside of the current team, for free agency. I would really try to sign Martin for that 3 year contract at a team friendly price or a front loaded 4 year deal with the first two seasons guaranteed, then add him as well.
My other concern is Mankins. Fans we all saw the difference in a motivated vs unmotivated Mankins. If he really is leaning to retiring, then he needs to retire. Him just showing up and pulling a check will be more like year 1 than 2.
March 4th, 2016 at 10:28 am
His own teammates publicly criticized him for quitting on plays and for not putting in the work between games.
You guys hear a big name and are all over it every year. The Bucs go after players with well known names…and the players do not work out.
Mario is aged. Mario is a quitter. Mario wants to nail a big contract with one more team so he can get injured and finally sit on his couch.
I hope to God the Jags get him. I don’t want him.
Our best opportunity at DE in free agency is a gamble…and that’s JPP.
He is young. He is proven. He played with a club last year and although he was a force to be reckoned with, he had some trouble grappling. He got surgery to fix that when the season ended.
The man has proven that he is determined to become better than he ever was.
This, my friends, is an opportunity. IF the surgery was successful, the team that gets him will have their next Simeon Rice.
That should be us.
Jason Licht…if you sign JPP, you will look like a genius come next season.
March 4th, 2016 at 10:30 am
I remember when Drew Brees was a free agent years ago. Only me and maybe two others here wanted to Bucs to sign him.
“He’s washed up!”
“He’s past his prime!”
Those are the sorts of things people around here were saying. The Saints took a chance. Look how it paid off.
The Bucs need to forget Mario and take a chance on JPP.
March 4th, 2016 at 10:31 am
Some people here actually called Drew Brees a career backup back then.
March 4th, 2016 at 10:41 am
everyone has such a hard on for Simeon Rice, they keep mentioning people in the same breath and saying “______ can be the next Simeon.” JPP is NOT Simeon Rice. Mario Williams is not Simeon. Noah Spence, Joey Bosa, Leonard Floyd, or anyone else in the draft will not be Simeon.
just like Sabby wasn’t Lynch, Miles Killebrew won’t be, Iosefa wasn’t Alstott. stop with the comparison game. i understand everyone is desperate for the team to be relevant again, but why does everyone have to be in the mold of someone who saw success for the team in the past? JPP can be JPP and still have an impact. let guys have their own legacy for Christ sake.
March 4th, 2016 at 10:44 am
Bonzai- I hear you man, but for the same reasons you used for Brees also apply to Williams. The so-called big names we pursued didn’t have a third of the credentials this guy has. Williams is a cautionary tale to be sure but just think about other “older”, whiny, FAs that have come and gone; Julius Peppers, DeMarcus Ware, Dwight Freeney, Jared Allen. While some may not have been labeled certain things they all faced similar criticisms about age and effectiveness only to go out and outplay their younger counterparts.
I’m not 100% on Williams but it certainly couldn’t hurt to see where his mind is at. Nothing ventured nothing gained.
Who the heck called Brees a “career back-up”? Insanity!
March 4th, 2016 at 10:56 am
@ Bucsfanman
you are right on the money. i’m getting a little discouraged hearing all this stuff about Mario, but if Licht & company do their homework and decide he’s the right fit, i’m all for it.
March 4th, 2016 at 10:58 am
We know JPP got surgery. Do we actually know that it worked, and that he can grip better?
March 4th, 2016 at 11:04 am
I’ll say it again. I live in upstate NY and heard all season long about how he was a cancer in the locker room. The Bucs don’t need a guy like that. You think he’ll come down on a big pay day and give his all? Youre smoking something.
March 4th, 2016 at 11:07 am
This may be below the belt, but if JPP got a hook, it’s destiny!
March 4th, 2016 at 1:03 pm
PROSPECT WATCH: OLB/DE NOAH SPENCE – PRO DAY IS TODAY
RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky will hold its football pro day on Today, March 4. Former Colonel and potential NFL first round draft pick Noah Spence is expected to attend.
EKU’s pro day is expected to start between 1:00 and 1:30 p.m. Pro day activities will be held in the weight room in the Moberly Building and on the field at Roy Kidd Stadium.
Expecting Spence to improve his 40 time – Expecting a sub 4.7 time
NOAH SPENCE
HEIGHT: 6’2″ | WEIGHT: 251LBS.
ARM LENGTH: 33″ | HANDS: 10 3/4″
• 40 YD DASH: 4.80 SEC ()
• BENCH PRESS: 25 REPS
• VERT JUMP: 35.0 INCH
• BROAD JUMP: 121.0 INCH
• 3 CONE DRILL: 7.21 SEC
• 20 YARD SHUTTLE: 4.35 SEC
*NFL COMPARISON (ROBERT QUINN)
ROBERT QUINN
HEIGHT: 6’4″ | WEIGHT: 265LBS.
ARM LENGTH: 34″ | HANDS: 10 1/8″
• 40 YD DASH: 4.70 SEC
• BENCH PRESS: 22 REPS
• VERT JUMP: 34.0 INCH
• BROAD JUMP: 116.0 INCH
• 3 CONE DRILL: 7.13 SEC
• 20 YARD SHUTTLE: 4.40 SEC
March 4th, 2016 at 5:55 pm
****PROSPECT UPDATE: OLB/DE NOAH SPENCE
Source: Tony Pauline
Eastern Kentucky DE Noah Spence improved his forty time at his Pro Day on Friday.
Scouts from 24 teams were on hand for Spence’s workout, according to draft expert Tony Pauline. Spence ran in miserable conditions but still clocked a forty in the high 4.6 to mid 4.7 range. That’s far better than the 4.80 he recorded at last week’s Scouting Combine. Spence faces some off-field question marks after failing two drug tests during his time at Ohio State, but he should have his name called in the first round.
March 4th, 2016 at 11:02 pm
Noah Spence’s actual 40 time was 4.75. Better but not great. I am fine with either Spence, Shaq Lawson, Deforest Buckner, Sheldon Rankins or my favorite Leonard “the freak “pretty boy Floyd. One analyst compared him to the Vikings Anthony Barr but more explosive off the line with the best counter move in the draft. The freak is taller, faster, can jump higher and jump farther than Spence and no red flags. I don’t care what people say about Mario Williams, if we can get him to come to Tampa, we should jump and ask him “how high”. Problem is this..if you were already rich and 31 years old would you go to Tampa or Carolina or Seattle? There is slim and none chance he signs with us.
March 4th, 2016 at 11:26 pm
Agreed love and Warrick
Sign Mario and a DE in round 1 or 2 this year. If need be we might still have to sign a DE round 1or 2 next year but… I guess that’s buc ball
March 5th, 2016 at 9:26 am
I would be fine with signing Mario Williams, Tamba Hali, Charles Johnson or JPP. Any one of those guys can and will make this team better. We need a guy for a year or two until we develop our young DE that we take in the draft. (Hopefully).