Mario Williams won't get tagged?

[BINGO]

More on Mario

10:40AM ET

Mario Williams | Texans | Interested: Titans?, Buccaneers?, Rams?, Seahawks?, Jaguars?, Bills?

Defensive end Mario Williams is poised to make a lot of money with a sparkling new contract this offseason. For the Houston Texans to use the tag on him, the payout required would be a cap-crippling $22.9 million, and we've yet to find anyone who believes that the club will travel down this path. In order to hang on to him, therefore, they'll need to work out a long-term contract at a more acceptable rate.

According to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, the Texans will be able to give Williams a "great offer," but are unlikely to be able to ink him unless he's willing to offer a bit of a hometown discount.

The reason for this is that Williams falls into the realm of that scarce NFL commodity: an elite pass-rusher, around whom other defenses must game-plan. Accordingly, several teams stand poised to make him the NFL's highest-paid defender this offseason. As the March 13 date approaches -- and with it, the start of unrestricted free agency -- tension will run high in Houston as this process plays out.

- Tim Kavanagh​

 

[Ray_Dogg]

Mario Williams - LB - Texans

The Houston Chronicle's John McClain expects the Texans to make free agent DE/OLB Mario Williams "a great offer."
However, McClain doesn't believe Williams will be back in Houston unless he's willing to offer a "hometown discount." With Williams widely expected to become one of the league's highest-paid players if he hits the open market, that's unlikely. SI.com's Don Banks recently listed the Bills, Jaguars and Bucs as Williams' most likely suitors.
Source: John McClain on Twitter
Feb 13 - 8:41 AM

 

[NinerSickness]

Someone needs to make sure that man doesn't go to the Lioins. That would be scary.

...just like it would be scary if he went to the '9ers.

 

[DoobieKeebler]

Don't Mario & Aldon play on the same side?

 

[NinerSickness]

Don't Mario & Aldon play on the same side?

Aldon plays all over the place, so I don't know.

What I do know is that they're probably 2 of the 6 or 7 most talented pass rushers in the NFL.

 

[Smalls]

So would people be willing to break the bank for Mario? Or do you want to, I guess I should say.

A deal between Ware and Peppers is what I'd expect. I'm not sure.

 

[CalamityX11]

Adding Mario would be freakin awesome, but I'm not necessarily turning the ship around to chase him. So far, there's been no link or interest from either side for one another, so nothing to get hopes up for.

It's a dream/offseason fantasy perception ATM.

And I wouldn't break the bank on Mario. Megatron, yes. I would break the bank and sell the souls of the SportsHoopla board.....

 

[Ray_Dogg]

So would people be willing to break the bank for Mario? Or do you want to, I guess I should say.

A deal between Ware and Peppers is what I'd expect. I'm not sure.

I would be very interested in breaking the bank for Mario. You can pretty much use the coin that would go to Brooks and Rogers on Mario instead and our D is probably better.

 

[MHSL82]

Considering the defense we already have we need to look at the difference between what defense we'd have with him (subtract all the guys that we couldn't resign that knew our system and was improving) and the deffense we'd have without him. Then, look at the cap difference between those two scenarios + the players we would have added to offense, etc. (opportunity cost) to see if that amount is worth the difference.

(With him) - (without him) >-< (Cap space lost/opportunity cost)

Obviously you guys knew the formula already. You guys know more than I do about the value. Do you think this formula produces an easy decision or a hard one?

 

[CalamityX11]

Considering the defense we already have we need to look at the difference between what defense we'd have with him (subtract all the guys that we couldn't resign that knew our system and was improving) and the deffense we'd have without him. Then, look at the cap difference between those two scenarios + the players we would have added to offense, etc. (opportunity cost) to see if that amount is worth the difference.

(With him) - (without him) >-< (Cap space lost/opportunity cost)

Obviously you guys knew the formula already. You guys know more than I do about the value. Do you think this formula produces an easy decision or a hard one?

 

[NinerSickness]

So would people be willing to break the bank for Mario? Or do you want to, I guess I should say.

A deal between Ware and Peppers is what I'd expect. I'm not sure.

Yeah a deal between those two sounds reasonable. Probably closer to Peppers because the cap's been raised.

I'd be interested if the Niners don't go after Peyton. If to my surprise they actually sign Peyton then they probably wouldn't have the room to sign Mario too.

If the Niners go with Kaepernick, however, I'd absolutley be interested in signing Mario. Not only can he play OLB, but he can move to LDE on passing downs while McDonald moves to NT and a pass rushing specialist kind of backup OLB moves to Mario's position. That would mean they'd have to block:

J. Smith, McDonald, Aldon, Mario & a pass rushing OLB (maybe they retain Brooks?). I can't remember the last time a defense would have such a tenacious pass rush. Maybe the '02 Buccs?

 

[I_am_1z]

MARIO WILLIAMS IS OVERRATED. The Texans fans say he makes one big play then takes the rest of the game off. I rather see the same unit last year than wasting money on Williams.

 

[NinerSickness]

MARIO WILLIAMS IS OVERRATED. The Texans fans say he makes one big play then takes the rest of the game off. I rather see the same unit last year than wasting money on Williams.

Mario Williams is overrated? Name a coulple defensive lineman / OLB who are better than he not named Ware, Allen or Peppers.

 

[I_am_1z]

Mario Williams is overrated? Name a coulple defensive lineman / OLB who are better than he not named Ware, Allen or Peppers.

I honestly rather have All Done, Miller, Chris Long, Suggs, Abraham(-minus injuries), Freeney, Mathis, Hali, Matthews, and Trent Cole... All over Williams.

^ Impact players known for their motor

 

[mufasa76]

More on Mario

10:40AM ET

Mario Williams | Texans | Interested: Titans?, Buccaneers?, Rams?, Seahawks?, Jaguars?, Bills?

Defensive end Mario Williams is poised to make a lot of money with a sparkling new contract this offseason. For the Houston Texans to use the tag on him, the payout required would be a cap-crippling $22.9 million, and we've yet to find anyone who believes that the club will travel down this path. In order to hang on to him, therefore, they'll need to work out a long-term contract at a more acceptable rate.

According to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, the Texans will be able to give Williams a "great offer," but are unlikely to be able to ink him unless he's willing to offer a bit of a hometown discount.

The reason for this is that Williams falls into the realm of that scarce NFL commodity: an elite pass-rusher, around whom other defenses must game-plan. Accordingly, several teams stand poised to make him the NFL's highest-paid defender this offseason. As the March 13 date approaches -- and with it, the start of unrestricted free agency -- tension will run high in Houston as this process plays out.

- Tim Kavanagh​

Wow

 

[NinerSickness]

I honestly rather have All Done, Miller, Chris Long, Suggs, Abraham(-minus injuries), Freeney, Mathis, Hali, Matthews, and Trent Cole... All over Williams.

All Done? Maybe; he's CRAZY talented.
Miller? Maybe, but I think Mario is far more talented.
Chris Long? No. Mario is EASILY better than Long.
Suggs? Maybe.
Abraham? No way (even healthy)
Freeney? HELL no.
Mathis? Maybe a couple of years ago.
Hali? Mario is better in every aspect of the game.

Matthews? I honestly don't watch him enough.

Trent Cole? You've gotta be kidding me.

Even with this list of those you like better you have him just below the top 10 pass rushers in the NFL. That's still really good.

 

[I_am_1z]

All Done? Maybe; he's CRAZY talented.
Miller? Maybe, but I think Mario is far more talented.
Chris Long? No. Mario is EASILY better than Long.
Suggs? Maybe.
Abraham? No way (even healthy)
Freeney? HELL no.
Mathis? Maybe a couple of years ago.
Hali? Mario is better in every aspect of the game.

Matthews? I honestly don't watch him enough.

Trent Cole? You've gotta be kidding me.

Even with this list of those you like better you have him just below the top 10 pass rushers in the NFL. That's still really good.

Williams is more talented than all the players I just listed, but Williams doesn't have a motor. That's why I believe he's overrated.

 

[TheNinerMind]

I agree. Overrated. Mario Williams has only played 18 games the last 2 years. His last season with 10+ sacks was 4 years ago. I'd actually rather have Ahmad Brooks fill that spot. Brooks had 7 sacks last year and was a pro bowl alternate. Brooks can drop into coverage, rush the passer, or play the run. If he signed as a D-lineman, maybe.

 

[BINGO]

Can the Texans keep Mario?

10:53 AM ET
Mario Williams | Texans

Fans of certain NFL teams have been dreaming about seeing impending free agent DE/OLB Mario Williams wearing their team's uniform in 2012, while the folks that run those teams have been weighing the risks and rewards of making an offer to the man who could become the NFL's highest-paid defender in the coming weeks. But before any of that happens, the Houston Texans have an exclusive negotiating window with the N.C. State product, and much of the rumoring up to this point has been on whether they'll be able to keep him, and whether they should do so.

In a wide-ranging interview with Texans reporters Thursday, Williams touched base on a number of topics -- favorite XBox games? Battlefield 3 and Gears of War, per Nick Scurfield of HoustonTexans.com -- including, of course, his thoughts on his upcoming free agency.

"Well, you know, I mean, I love it here," he said, per Scurfield. "We've got everything we need here. The team is obviously right where it needs to be at, and we were a couple plays away from getting to the Super Bowl, I feel like. So I definitely -- the pieces fit, but once again, you know, it's part of the business, so whatever happens, happens."

As for becoming the highest-paid NFL defender, Williams notes that he's already been paid handsomely thanks to his draft pedigree. "I'm not worried about that," Williams confirmed. "Money is money at the end of the day, and it's really not that big of a deal for me. Whatever best fits for myself and the team, whichever it may be, then so be it. I'm not focused on telling my agent (Ben Dogra), 'Hey, do this or do that because I want to be the highest paid player, blah blah.' You know, I was the first pick, so I've had everything I've ever really wanted already, so my biggest thing is just being in a good position, being in a good fit, being in a good scheme or system and just being able to continue my career and progress. ... My goal isn't to go and say, 'I want to be this and that' or say, 'I want this and that.' It's just whatever's out of respect for the position and whatever you bring to the team I feel like is adequate."

He didn't come out and say the words "hometown discount" specifically, but it seems like if the Texans are willing to offer him a reasonably fair deal, he might place them above any other outside alternatives. If that's the case, there could be some movement on this front prior to the March 13 opening of free agency, taking a big chess piece off the board.

- Tim Kavanagh​

 

[clyde_carbon]

All Done? Maybe; he's CRAZY talented.
Miller? Maybe, but I think Mario is far more talented.
Chris Long? No. Mario is EASILY better than Long.
Suggs? Maybe.
Abraham? No way (even healthy)
Freeney? HELL no.
Mathis? Maybe a couple of years ago.
Hali? Mario is better in every aspect of the game.

Matthews? I honestly don't watch him enough.

Trent Cole? You've gotta be kidding me.

Even with this list of those you like better you have him just below the top 10 pass rushers in the NFL. That's still really good.

Miller is one of the most talented pass-rushers I've ever watched in college. I've NEVER seen a quicker first step or closing speed than Miller's.

And I think you're underrating Hali by a lot. I'd rather have Hali than Williams, to be honest.