Mario Williams Heads To Florida
March 5th, 2016
The courting begins
Perhaps Joe’s prayers to the football gods got mixed up a little.
Free agent pass rushing beast Mario Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, headed to Florida for a visit, but it’s for the wrong team.
Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Williams is en route to the Dolphins this afternoon for what likely is a wooing session.
What makes that even more interesting is that the Dolphins have a poor salary cap situation and Williams likely is to command more than $10 million per season. Allegedly, the Dolphins will re-work Ndamukong Suh’s contract to give them some relief. Perhaps Suh could be nudged by the arrival Williams and what they could accomplish together?
The Dolphins also just slapped a giant-money transitional tag on DE Olivier Vernon. Are the expecting a team (the Bucs?)to exceed that offer to Vernon.
Remember, Bucs general manager Jason Licht referenced Vernon by name last month.
March 5th, 2016 at 10:18 am
LOLOL!
March 5th, 2016 at 10:18 am
Honestly though…how can they afford him?
March 5th, 2016 at 10:19 am
I agree. There’s no money for him there. Send the jet to Miami.
March 5th, 2016 at 10:28 am
Join the bucs mario
March 5th, 2016 at 10:30 am
Don’t want him
March 5th, 2016 at 10:35 am
The fish are trying to gauge what kind of money a pass rushing FA DE will cost.
They need it to know whether if they can afford to match Vernon or what kind of cap room his replacement will cost them. Makes total sense.
Interesting that both Jags and Bucs have dumpsters full of cash and not even window shopping.
Michael Johnson was given the quitter label. Now Mario too. Looks like the Bucs aren’t putting a line in the water. Yet.
March 5th, 2016 at 10:37 am
Rather vernon and JPP! draft hargrave. trade back up for nimidchki
March 5th, 2016 at 10:40 am
It’ll be interesting to see where we are when training camp opens. If we don’t pursue Williams and begin the preseason with no DE’s again, then I think it’d be fair to question whether the Glazers are still being cheap.
March 5th, 2016 at 10:42 am
Word around the N.F.L. is player”s do want to play for this coach or G.M. If one do come, they will have to over pay. Ask D.Martin the real reason why he has not resigned.
March 5th, 2016 at 11:12 am
There is one Buccaneer site reporting not to look for the Bucs to make an offer for Mario Williams and suggested they might take DT Sheldon Rankins in the first round of the draft. They also said not to expect the team to do much in free agency about their defensive line with all of the talent at both defensive end and defensive tackle in the upcoming draft and if Doug Martin is not re-signed look for us to draft RB Ezekiel Elliott at nine. With so many teams interested in Jason Pierre-Paul and Olivier Vernon it would be difficult to lure them to Tampa without a huge offer from Jason Licht, which just is not going to happen. I just hope we can sign maybe Sean Smith or Eric Weddle at this point. I think the comment above is right, that the owners are just cheap.
March 5th, 2016 at 11:14 am
If you have a lot of money you spend a lot of money, of course except for the Bucs attempting to snag a desired player. Clueless cheapskates.
March 5th, 2016 at 11:16 am
ED you sound extremely dumb homeboy. Money talk please at ease wit that none since. But anyway I’m on the Vernon wagon. That happened once someone pointed out he lead the league in hurries or what I call pressures. At stat I personally feel is more important than sack.
March 5th, 2016 at 11:17 am
For those who think the Glazers may choose to be cheap, keep in mind the NFL requires every franchise to spend 89% of the Salary CAP, which is $155,000,000.00 for 2016… That means the Bucs need to allocate another $50,000,000.00, thats 50 million to reach approximately $137, 500,000.00.
Stop the skepticism, negativity and doubting… Our best bet is doing the only thing we have a choice in… Trusting the Front Office under the direction of a talented Jason Licht.
March 5th, 2016 at 11:33 am
Well d@$! how did they ever get Vincent Jackson to come here??? An enquiring mind like to know 37..
March 5th, 2016 at 11:38 am
Joe also openly prayed for Johnny Manuel. Glad you’re not the Bucs GM lol. Mario would be money I’ll spent. Mark my words.
March 5th, 2016 at 11:39 am
Autocorrect FTW but you get my point. Mario Williams would not be a good investment. So calm down.
March 5th, 2016 at 11:40 am
For a reasonable salary sure I’m all onboard.
March 5th, 2016 at 11:41 am
Mario is looking for more lottery money and good nightlife, not to help a young team.
March 5th, 2016 at 11:46 am
Spending money hasn’t been the problem the last few years, its spending on crappy players other than vjax who has been a successful free agent we have signed? This is especially true with lichts free agent signings but he’ll get a pass assuming lovie made most of those signings, which makes sense since most of those were for the Tampa 2old defense
March 5th, 2016 at 11:46 am
After my and me have him come here. This stadium and facilities and young and up-and-coming team is so much better
March 5th, 2016 at 11:46 am
Ed please don’t post anything again. It makes us all but dumber after reading your post.
Bring on Williams and draft like last year
March 5th, 2016 at 11:46 am
Before free agency is over, Bucs will sign at least 1 DE, 1 Safety and possibly 1 CB, 1 DT, 1 LB and an Olineman. The need is there, the money’s there, and Bucs have to spend most of it.
March 5th, 2016 at 11:47 am
@ShutTheBucUp
Who knows? Joe might one day still get Johnny…as a 3rd string backup! BIG MAYBE!
March 5th, 2016 at 11:49 am
JWBUCS Says
“For those who think the Glazers may choose to be cheap, keep in mind the NFL requires every franchise to spend 89% of the Salary CAP, which is $155,000,000.00 for 2016… That means the Bucs need to allocate another $50,000,000.00, thats 50 million to reach approximately $137, 500,000.00.”
I was going to point this out, but you beat me to it.
One corrections though…they had over $7m freed up last week that rolled over from last year. So they actually arr over $57m under the cap.
March 5th, 2016 at 11:51 am
No to Mario.
Throw the book at JPP. He’s going to come back this year, and he is young enough to play here for 5+ years.
Mario is a 1-2 year fix…and would probably be gone next year because he’s lazy.
March 5th, 2016 at 11:57 am
SIGN SUPER MARIO !!!
March 5th, 2016 at 11:58 am
Even Before JPP blow off his hand – I would take Mario Williams over JPP.
March 5th, 2016 at 11:59 am
Bucs won’t be big spenders in FA as they are 1-2 years alway from being a decent team and they will try to build like the Pats rather than like the big FA spending teams
March 5th, 2016 at 12:06 pm
Tampa Tony
Lol, folkz have forgotten that back in 2001. The Pats signed 18 free agents to their roster. Follow that up by another 15 in 2002. Bill said there wasn’t enought talent on the roster – so IT HAD 2 BE DONE.
Screw next year, or the year after. Seattle was super aggressive in building their Championship roster. You only have so much time before Jameis, rookie contract is up.
March 5th, 2016 at 12:10 pm
The Bucs are fortunate that many of their star players are on cheap rookie contracts……QB, RB, TE, WR (Evans)…..MLB…..OT, OG
This will help with cap space for several years….
That being said….I don’t think the Glazers are cheap at all….but they have been burnt, and badly, even by their current GM.
I think we need to spend….but spend smartly on younger up and coming players….and they will be the most expensive.
March 5th, 2016 at 12:11 pm
This is like same argument we had a couple years ago. Everyone was so geeked up,
about signing Michael Johnson over Juluis Peppers.
Like, just because a guy’s younger – he will out play a vet. I’ll take 2 or 3 good years over average.
March 5th, 2016 at 12:21 pm
Automatic Upgrade:
LDE Mario Williams | William Gholston
LDT Gerald McCoy | Clinton McDonald
RDT Tony McDaniel | Akeem Spence
RDE Jacquies Smith | Howard Jones
March 5th, 2016 at 12:23 pm
Meh, I’ve had suspicions all along that the Bucs FO has reasons for not getting the deal with Martin done by now.
It might not have to due with money or inconsistency at all.
If you really want to keep a guy and can afford him, the ink one the paper would be dry. They might have just low balled him.
Trust your eyes and nose.
March 5th, 2016 at 12:26 pm
@BuccaneerBonzai he’ll be doing the money sign from the AFL. Or possibly from prison! lol
March 5th, 2016 at 12:37 pm
vernon sucks
March 5th, 2016 at 1:21 pm
Somebody here said, Trust our front office under the talented GM Licht. PLEASE SIR!! The last time I trusred a front office, I almost lost my hard earned retirement pension! Trust results people. Trust what..You see!!
The Bucs are experts at letting difference makers, game changers..get away.
March 5th, 2016 at 1:21 pm
Nick, Why does Vernon suck? I’ve not seen much of him at all. Just curious.
March 5th, 2016 at 1:22 pm
BUCBONZAI
I don’t get the lotion if NOT signing Mario if they can. Yes they need to go young, but even signing a young DE(if there are any) and a rookie will not be an immediate fix. Mario helps them win now while those players mature.
He hated the system and coach. I don’t like the way he handled it, but the guy is 10 to 12 Sacks a year for the next 2 to 3 years, and he has a chip on his shoulder.
Sign JPP too if they can. Why not? The money is there. JPP basically has one hand. That’s never changing. He may get better with it but he is never going to be as good as he was, plus he was already declining a little.
March 5th, 2016 at 1:24 pm
They need to sign a de. An OL. A LB. A WR. A DB.
Basically one of every group except RB. They just need Doug back.
March 5th, 2016 at 1:29 pm
I was living in Galveston when Houston took MW with the No.1 pick. He was a cancer in that locker room. Then he moved on to Buffalo and was a cancer there. What makes you think he is going to be a cure here. The fresh Tampa air???
March 5th, 2016 at 1:44 pm
Can we stop the Mario Williams updates, Joe? He’s not coming to Tampa. The Bucs don’t need loafers right now. They need highly motivated, energetic players with a winning mindset, not some overpaid prima donnas.
March 5th, 2016 at 1:59 pm
Tells me Vernon is in our cross hairs.
March 5th, 2016 at 2:01 pm
I agree Nole…something is telling me this is the route we’re taking..
March 5th, 2016 at 2:10 pm
Looks like JPP is a no-go for Tampa..Giants worked out a one year contract…
March 5th, 2016 at 2:19 pm
I think Mario is motivated….but I still don’t trust him for some reason.
March 5th, 2016 at 2:21 pm
@87………I have never been able to give you proper credit for telling us how good Jameis would be for our team.
Mucho props bro.
March 5th, 2016 at 2:51 pm
No problem GatorBuc, but it was a no brainer as I’m sure it was for the Bucs front office as well. The kid has charisma dripping off of him. It all came down to one thing for me. 1 thing through all the controversy and the 50 million other things I posted about the kid on here.
The one thing is and I knew this was the clincher that they were going to draft him. It’s when fans were in here saying things like “how can we make this guy the face of this franchise?” So it got me thinking long and hard about that question. I just kept coming back to that one thing over and over again. Oh the thing…
Everyone that ever comes into contact with Jameis Winston comes away impressed. They end up really liking the kid. Not going to get into the whole FSU events and who liked or disliked him there.
As far as knowing that he was going to be a good one. He’s not even close to what we are about to experience in my opinion. He did play beyond my expectations for a rookie though. I’m really just waiting for Jameis Winston 2017 not 16 , but it will be fun to watch him grow in the meantime. Jameis is going to make a Super Bowl run in 2017, hold onto your hats Bucs fans. That’s RIGHT I said it.
As far as Mario goes. I’d go after him….IF he wants to be here. Not for the money. We all know how many players WANT to play in Tampa? Not many, it takes lots of $$$. So I’d bring Mario in for a chat that’s for certain. No need to let him be in the state without having a chat. If he wants to BE here, then we play him GOOD money that’s he’s worth. The time to build is NOW and I don’t say that too often. I’m more about waiting to spend big money on FA’s only when the team is a contender. This team is GOING to BE a contender and in short order.
So bring Mario for a chat. Building through the draft is going to take 2 more years. Jameis won’t wait for that. So build now. Spend away. Whatever works, works. If not , throw it away like the the usual lately. The Glazers don’t like money to begin with and they HAVE to spend it anyways. People wonder why the Glazers are always so cheap. I’m not one of those people. I think I know why. It’s because they always have money tied up in ex-coaches contracts year in and year out. Gruden was a good chunk of change if I remember right. Lovie’s is a good chunk too.
So get spending soccer brats. You have a QB that’s going to have the cannons bursting fans eardrums left and right. Get spending.
March 5th, 2016 at 3:31 pm
87 I tell both my big brothers all the time we’re going to and winning the superbowl in 2017. Not that eye popping of a statement to me bro. And I mean that chit.
March 5th, 2016 at 3:59 pm
Look at the sack totals the last 5 seasons for any of the DE we are reported to be looking at signing. I believe we should try and sign the one with the best average of sacks during his previous four seasons.
Mr. Williams 15-5.0, 14-14.5, 13-13.0, 12-10.5 11-5.0 = total of 48
Mr. Vernon 15-7.5, 14- 6.5, 13-11.5, 12-3.5 11 not yet drafted = total of 29
Mr. J.P-Paul 15-1.0, 14-12.5, 13- 2.0, 12-6.5 11-16.5 + total of 38
As it looks to me with these totals we should take the player with the most sacks in their last 5 nfl seasons. We need all the sacks we can get. I like any of them on our team.
March 5th, 2016 at 4:03 pm
My nine year old daughter reading over my shoulder ask “Doesn’t Biff know Dolphins are not a fish, they are a mammal” I wished I could tell her with some certainty that he did and was just being funny.
March 5th, 2016 at 4:13 pm
Buc87…that was an awesome post..bought a tear to my eye!
March 5th, 2016 at 5:40 pm
LOL Stan………….Awesome times in a father’s life. My 8 yr old told me the other night that he can’t go to sleep because he is turning Marsupial.!.! You can’t buy stuff like that.
March 5th, 2016 at 6:59 pm
LOL, LOSE LOVIE just got hired as Illinois head coach. Poor schmucks don’t know what their getting themselves into.
March 5th, 2016 at 10:24 pm
Looks like Miami restructured Suh’s contract and let go Greg Jennings..wonder if it means they are making a deal with Mario????
March 6th, 2016 at 12:09 am
Mario skipped the Bucs and headed straight for Miami. HE knows we are labeled the CHEAPONEERS. Miami is making room for him. WHY? cause they want him. WE..won’t even pay our Bell cow.
March 6th, 2016 at 2:18 am
^^ You’re dumb.
March 6th, 2016 at 8:07 am
You got Charles Johnson, Tamba Hali, JPP (if he didn’t resign with giants), Super Mario, and Olivier Vernon($till availible but not cheap).
Hopefully one of those guys will be a Buccaneer. Any one of them CAN and WILL make this team better. We cannot just depend on Jac Smith and a rookie to solve our pass rushing problems this year. As much as I like Smith he only has one move wich is the speed rush. (Try to run around the tackle). And he’s a liability against the run. He’s more of a 3rd down edge rusher than a 3 down DE. I’m not knocking him because I do think he will become a double digit sack guy, I just think we need a veteran pass rusher to complement him and the rookie we draft this year.
And I’m really starting to like the idea of having SHELDON RANKINS paired with G-MAC. If the top tier guys are gone when we are on the clock he’s the next best option in my opinion. Best pass rushing DT in the draft, and lives in the backfield.