So Mario Williams will hit open market

[ghz in pittsburgh]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1091666-nfl-free-agent-rumors-where-will-mario-williams-land

Yes they mentioned Bills. But they stack against the names of Cowboys and Patriots. If nothing else, the Bills could push his price tag real high, especially front load money.

[Mahdi]

Bleacher report is a site for fan articles I think... good opinions there at times but in terms of reporting inside info its not accurate.

[Skooby]

The writer is a pats homer.

[Mahdi]

To comment on the situation though, I just can't see Williams coming here unless we offer him insane amounts of money.

It would take about 14-15 mil plus 40 mil guaranteed to get him here.

[tampabay25690]

To comment on the situation though, I just can't see Williams coming here unless we offer him insane amounts of money.

It would take about 14-15 mil plus 40 mil guaranteed to get him here.

Yea you are right...
That would be insane though wouldn't it...

[Raptor]

To comment on the situation though, I just can't see Williams coming here unless we offer him insane amounts of money.

It would take about 14-15 mil plus 40 mil guaranteed to get him here.

More like 16-17 with 50 in guarantees, we have to go north of the peppers deal

I bet he signs with Atlanta, he won't go to any 3-4 team

[clumping platelets]

A visit wouldn't hurt

[Mahdi]

More like 16-17 with 50 in guarantees, we have to go north of the peppers deal

I bet he signs with Atlanta, he won't go to any 3-4 team
He's going to the Pats, Eagles or Giants. Dark horse would be Panthers. IMO.

[Raptor]

He's going to the Pats, Eagles or Giants. Dark horse would be Panthers. IMO.

Pats not happening because they still play some 3-4 and he really doesn't like that D from a lot of reports. Plus Brady only has so many years left

Eagles don't have the cap room nor the Giants and have enough DE's and $$$ tied up in that DL

Panthers Maybe but thats a long shot at best considering what they have at DE already

Atlanta is by far the favorite

They have
-The cap room
-The need
-A defense he likes and would excel in
-A Young franchise QB
-Solid Owner
-Recent playoff apperances

[Mahdi]

Pats not happening because they still play some 3-4 and he really doesn't like that D from a lot of reports. Plus Brady only has so many years left

Eagles don't have the cap room nor the Giants and have enough DE's and $$$ tied up in that DL

Panthers Maybe but thats a long shot at best considering what they have at DE already

Atlanta is by far the favorite

They have
-The cap room
-The need
-A defense he likes and would excel in
-A Young franchise QB
-Solid Owner
-Recent playoff apperances
I think the Falcons are a good choice but I don't know that the Falcons would pay that much for a FA.

The Patriots are almost 100% 4-3 now. Mark Anderson and Carter were their DEs last year and they are letting Anderson walk. They also have enough cap space to sign Williams. That combined with the fact that Williams has been on a losing team for years. He will want to go to a SB team.

The Eagles are good with their cap so they can always make something happen. They weren't happy with the DL last year and will want an upgrade opposite Cole. I think they will go for it with Vick getting older, Asamogha in his 30s, Cole etc. This is their time to win.

Giants, I guess they're in a bit of a cap jail so they won't make it.

[elltrain22]

I think we'll kick the tires, but he's way too big of a price tag for us. We have too many needs to address, and if we sign him, we've allocated pretty much all of our FA money to one player. I'd be happy two or three 2nd tier FA's as opposed to only 1 big 1st tier FA.

[DraftBoy]

More like 16-17 with 50 in guarantees, we have to go north of the peppers deal

I bet he signs with Atlanta, he won't go to any 3-4 team

Try over 20 a season, his tag would of been worth 22 by itself.

[Ickybaluky]

Try over 20 a season, his tag would of been worth 22 by itself.

His tag was that much because his last contract had so much money in the last year. That is why they didn't tag him.

He isn't getting that. Peppers contract was 6 Yrs/$84M (14M per season), $42M guaranteed with $40.5M in the first 3 years.

Brady and Manning both were paid $18M per season on their last contracts, you think he is going to blow that away? No way. He is a great player, but he isn't getting QB money.

[Mahdi]

I think we'll kick the tires, but he's way too big of a price tag for us. We have too many needs to address, and if we sign him, we've allocated pretty much all of our FA money to one player. I'd be happy two or three 2nd tier FA's as opposed to only 1 big 1st tier FA.
I would be happy to get only Mario in FA. He completes our DL and we can address #2 WR in a good WR draft and CB in a good CB class.

[Philagape]

We have too many needs to address, and if we sign him, we've allocated pretty much all of our FA money to one player.

That would be fine with me. A proven elite player at the biggest need would transform the team more than 2-3 Brad Smiths, so to speak.

[Mr. Miyagi]

I don't even know him but this has a definite LaBron James feel to it. Very good player way hyped. It's already getting annoying.

[Skooby]

I don't even know him but this has a definite LaBron James feel to it. Very good player way hyped. It's already getting annoying.

Mario would fill our biggest need position (IMO), so I cannot see how it wouldn't be a priority to get him. Then we could draft for the O-line & other needs on defense.

[Mski]

I don't even know him but Living under a rock?

[Yasgur's Farm]

The only trouble I see in going after Mario is the fact that he'll most likely choose somebody else... Meanwhile, while we're dickin' around with him, we'll miss out on the 2nd and 3rd option.

We gotta either hit it loaded for bear (which would be great), or step aside and look elsewhere IMO.

[EDS]

I think the Falcons are a good choice but I don't know that the Falcons would pay that much for a FA.

The Patriots are almost 100% 4-3 now. Mark Anderson and Carter were their DEs last year and they are letting Anderson walk. They also have enough cap space to sign Williams. That combined with the fact that Williams has been on a losing team for years. He will want to go to a SB team.

The Eagles are good with their cap so they can always make something happen. They weren't happy with the DL last year and will want an upgrade opposite Cole. I think they will go for it with Vick getting older, Asamogha in his 30s, Cole etc. This is their time to win.

Giants, I guess they're in a bit of a cap jail so they won't make it.

Eagles problem is not their pass rush.

[don137]

Panthers are against the cap and have to cut players to get under the cap. They do not have the coin to go after him nor do they go after big name FAs.

[OpIv37]

I'd love for the Bills to sign Mario Williams.

I'd also love for someone to give me a free Acura ZDX with Vida Guerra in a bikini in the passenger seat and $2 million in non-sequential unmarked bills in the trunk, but that isn't going to happen either.

[NOT THE DUDE...]

we are not getting mario...

we will most likely target

anthony spencer
turk mcbride
kroy bierman
kamerion wimbley-if cut
mark anderson
william hayes
dave tollefson
jermey mincey

i predict we will get one of these and then draft curry in rd 2

we have kelsay and moore to play lde

merriman is nothing and cant be counted on so we literally have nothing at rde...

[Ickybaluky]

Panthers are against the cap and have to cut players to get under the cap. They do not have the coin to go after him nor do they go after big name FAs.

The Panthers spent big last year, so they aren't likely to spend big again.

However, in terms of the cap they can clear the space if they feel there is someone worth going after. they have several players with big salaries like Chris Gamble ($8.75M), Jordan Gross ($8.5M), Charles Johnson ($4.75M), Travelle Wharton ($5.7M), DeAngelo Williams ($5.25) and Steve Smith ($7.75M). All are core players. A simple restructure or extension for Smith would lower their cap number significantly and create room if needed. They have the flexibility built in to allow them to do what they want to do.

The question for them is after spending big a year ago to keep their own key players if they want to go out and sign someone to a big-time contract. That seems different from the way they have built their team, which is drafting and spending big to keep their key players.

[ddaryl]

Cincinnati Bengals $58,956,072
*Kansas City Chiefs $50,174,846
Denver Broncos $48,496,681
Tampa Bay Bucs $48,129,583
Jacksonville Jaguars $46,394,754
Washington Redskins $41,254,554
Tennessee Titans $37,371,515
San Francisco 49ers $35,937,002
Buffalo Bills $32,866,496
Seattle Seahawks $31,535,388
Chicago Bears $27,865,700
Cleveland Browns $27,199,464
New England Patriots $26,841,497
Atlanta Falcons $22,520,714
Philadelphia Eagles $19,045,787
Miami Dolphins $13,641,221
New Orleans Saints $12,867,177
Baltimore Ravens $12,511,371
San Diego Chargers $12,145,267
Arizona Cardinals $10,262,234
Dallas Cowboys $10,238,767

this is an old list and doesn't account for Franchise tags and recent signings like Johnson, Lynch, etc...




Of the above teams who would shoot their wad on Mario, and which of those teams have FA's they are still trying to sign, and needs at other positions besides DE. Which teams run a 4-3 as well, since Mario I believe mentioned a preference to a 4-3

it's going to come down to guaranteed money and money in the 1st 3 years...

I don't think it will happen, but I am not shooting it down either. I still maintain some dream in me

[ddaryl]

http://www.spotrac.com/top-salaries/nfl/buffalo-bills/

If we want to clear another $10 million real quick it wouldn't be hard to do either.

<table><tbody><tr><td class="logo even" style="width: 20px;"><center>1</center></td> <td class="logo even"> http://www.spotrac.com/assets/images/thumb/buffalo.png (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/) </td> <td class="player even"> Shawne Merriman (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/shawne-merriman/) at Linebacker </td> <td class="playerinfo even"> $4,000,000 </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="logo " style="width: 20px;"><center>1</center></td> <td class="logo "> http://www.spotrac.com/assets/images/thumb/buffalo.png (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/) </td> <td class="player "> Drayton Florence (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/drayton-florence/) at Cornerback </td> <td class="playerinfo "> $4,000,000 </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="logo even" style="width: 20px;"><center>2</center></td> <td class="logo even"> http://www.spotrac.com/assets/images/thumb/buffalo.png (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/) </td> <td class="player even"> Dwan Edwards (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/dwan-edwards/) at Defensive Tackle </td> <td class="playerinfo even"> $3,600,000 </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="logo " style="width: 20px;"><center>3</center></td> <td class="logo "> http://www.spotrac.com/assets/images/thumb/buffalo.png (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/) </td> <td class="player "> Chris Kelsay (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/chris-kelsay/) at Defensive End </td> <td class="playerinfo "> $3,500,000 </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="logo even" style="width: 20px;"><center>4</center></td> <td class="logo even"> http://www.spotrac.com/assets/images/thumb/buffalo.png (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/) </td> <td class="player even"> Spencer Johnson (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/spencer-johnson/) at Defensive Tackle </td> <td class="playerinfo even"> $3,000,000 </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="logo " style="width: 20px;"><center> </center></td> <td class="logo "> http://www.spotrac.com/assets/images/thumb/buffalo.png (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/) </td> <td class="player "> Nick Barnett (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/nick-barnett/) at Linebacker </td> <td class="playerinfo "> $3,000,000 </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="logo even" style="width: 20px;"><center> </center></td> <td class="logo even"> http://www.spotrac.com/assets/images/thumb/buffalo.png (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/) </td> <td class="player even"> Kyle Williams (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/kyle-williams/) at Defensive Tackle </td> <td class="playerinfo even"> $3,000,000 </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="logo " style="width: 20px;"><center>5</center></td> <td class="logo "> http://www.spotrac.com/assets/images/thumb/buffalo.png (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/) </td> <td class="player "> Ryan Fitzpatrick (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/ryan-fitzpatrick/) at Quarterback </td> <td class="playerinfo "> $2,800,000 </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="logo even" style="width: 20px;"><center>6</center></td> <td class="logo even"> http://www.spotrac.com/assets/images/thumb/buffalo.png (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/) </td> <td class="player even"> Tyler Thigpen (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/tyler-thigpen/) at Quarterback </td> <td class="playerinfo even"> $2,500,000 </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="logo " style="width: 20px;"><center>7</center></td> <td class="logo "> http://www.spotrac.com/assets/images/thumb/buffalo.png (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/) </td> <td class="player "> Brad Smith (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/brad-smith/) at Wide Receiver </td> <td class="playerinfo "> $2,250,000 </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="logo even" style="width: 20px;"><center>8</center></td> <td class="logo even"> http://www.spotrac.com/assets/images/thumb/buffalo.png (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/) </td> <td class="player even"> Fred Jackson (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/fred-jackson/) at Running Back </td> <td class="playerinfo even"> $1,830,000 </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="logo " style="width: 20px;"><center>9</center></td> <td class="logo "> http://www.spotrac.com/assets/images/thumb/buffalo.png (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/) </td> <td class="player "> George Wilson (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/george-wilson/) at Safety </td> <td class="playerinfo "> $1,725,000 </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="logo even" style="width: 20px;"><center>10</center></td> <td class="logo even"> http://www.spotrac.com/assets/images/thumb/buffalo.png (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/) </td> <td class="player even"> Erik Pears (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/erik-pears/) at Tackle </td> <td class="playerinfo even"> $1,600,000 </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="logo " style="width: 20px;"><center>11</center></td> <td class="logo "> http://www.spotrac.com/assets/images/thumb/buffalo.png (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/) </td> <td class="player "> Brian Moorman (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/brian-moorman/) at Punter </td> <td class="playerinfo "> $1,425,000 </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="logo even" style="width: 20px;"><center>12</center></td> <td class="logo even"> http://www.spotrac.com/assets/images/thumb/buffalo.png (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/) </td> <td class="player even"> Terrence McGee (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/terrence-mcgee/) at Cornerback </td> <td class="playerinfo even"> $1,350,000 </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="logo " style="width: 20px;"><center>13</center></td> <td class="logo "> http://www.spotrac.com/assets/images/thumb/buffalo.png (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/) </td> <td class="player "> Leodis McKelvin (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/leodis-mckelvin/) at Cornerback </td> <td class="playerinfo "> $1,318,750</td></tr></tbody></table>

[ghz in pittsburgh]

we have kelsay and moore to play lde

merriman is nothing and cant be counted on so we literally have nothing at rde...

Like it or not, Kelsay is an OK DE in 4-3. If have someone better that Kelsay cannot make the team in 4-3, we'd really have something in D-Line.

Merriman at this point has to accept being the 3rd down rushing specialist, probably for his health and career as well.

[Ickybaluky]

If we want to clear another $10 million real quick it wouldn't be hard to do either.

While I agree the Bills could clear room if needed, just posting salaries doesn't say much.

Cutting a player leads to bonus acceleration and clearing a spot in the Top-51, so the effect can be muted depending on the contract. In Merriman's case, $3M of his salary is guaranteed.

The easiest way to clear room is to restructure a deal, lowering the cap number. This is done with core players who have high salaries and years left on their contracts. That allows the hit to be spread into the future and the cap hit managed.

[ddaryl]

While I agree the Bills could clear room if needed, just posting salaries doesn't say much.

Cutting a player leads to bonus acceleration and clearing a spot in the Top-51, so the effect can be muted depending on the contract. In Merriman's case, $3M of his salary is guaranteed.

The easiest way to clear room is to restructure a deal, lowering the cap number. This is done with core players who have high salaries and years left on their contracts. That allows the hit to be spread into the future and the cap hit managed.
My money says Edwards and Spencer don't have huge amortizations in their contracts, nor does Thigpen


Here is the list of franchised players that takes a bite out of a few of those teams with cap cash

http://nfl.si.com/2012/03/05/nfl-franchise-tag-deadline-roundup/?sct=nfl_wr_a2

[Mr. Miyagi]

Living under a rock?
I mean personally. Do you hang out with him or something?

[Philagape]

ProFootballFocus.com ‏ @ProFootbalFocus
Imagine a D-line with Mario Williams, Kyle Williams and Marcel Dareus on it. Any one of you could make up a 4th man and it would still kill

:drool:

[Mski]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset">ProFootballFocus.com ‏ @ProFootbalFocus
Imagine a D-line with Mario Williams, Kyle Williams and Marcel Dareus on it. Any one of you could make up a 4th man and it would still kill</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

that would make Kelsay have a career year :ill: