egoprime II Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 It is rare that a player as talented as Mario Williams is available to the highest bidder...but it has happened before.In the early days of unrestricted free agency, back in the early nineties. Philadelphia was faced with losing All World DE Reggie White. I do not recall if the franchise label was available then...I do know White shopped around some. White ended up in Green Bay where he was very productive and was instrumental in leading the Packers to two Super Bowls, winning one.Right now Mario Williams is our era's Reggie White. Like White, Williams will not come cheap. Like White, Williams has to be specially game planned for or he can devastate an offense.If you look at the circumstances which are making Williams available, you might realize just how rare it is that such a player can be had at all. Jared Allen was traded for a first and third round picks. Our own Abraham was traded for a first round pick. Williams can be had for NO compensation at all when he hits the market.Teams spend high picks and a lot of time to develop pass rushers, hoping they will work out. We used, or rather wasted, the number 8 pick in the 2007 draft on Jamaal Anderson. Then the Falcons waited four years to see if he would develop, four very wasted years. Remember when McKay could have traded first second and third round picks that year to Detroit and we could have gotten Calvin Johnson? Instead we used those picks on Anderson, CB Houston and WR Robinson. That kind of decision making is what cost McKay his GM posting.In other words you can find average or above average players fairly easily. But elite talents you simply have to go after when they are available.Many on these boards keep saying we cannot afford to pursue and sign Williams. I say, we simply have to go after a player of his caliber and -hope- TD and Blank can land him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Falcon Jedi Knight Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 He's not coming here. His most likely landing spot is New England or Dallas. I'll be happy if we can get Robert Mathis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niels petersen Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 (edited) He's not coming here. His most likely landing spot is New England or Dallas. I'll be happy if we can get Robert Mathis.Why would he go to NE?? I don't see them breaking the bank for a pass rusher. Edited February 17, 2012 by niels petersen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Falcon Jedi Knight Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Why would he go to NE?? I don't see them breaking the bank for a pass rusher.Its already been reported that NE is expressing interest in him. They need DE help in the worst way, and losing another SB tends to open the wallets a little more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Falcon Jedi Knight Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 My money is that he ends up in Dallas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master Exploder Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 He's going to chase the money. Whoever throws the most money to him will get him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butudontseeme™ Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 My money is that he ends up in DallasD. Ware and Super Mario on the same team!? Talk about an amazing pass rush. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butudontseeme™ Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 He's going to chase the money. Whoever throws the most money to him will get him.I don't think so honestly. He probably wants to win and most teams that are in position to win, immediately, don't necessarily have the funds to throw around for just one guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dharma Initiative Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Does anyone else think that maybe, just maaayyyybe and actually most likely....the Texans are gonna franchise him and keep him? Or does that make too much sense? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niels petersen Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Its already been reported that NE is expressing interest in him. They need DE help in the worst way, and losing another SB tends to open the wallets a little more.I see.. But wouldn't he require soooo much more money that the Patriots usually dole out? That's not exactly the Patriot way they would be doing things? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butudontseeme™ Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Does anyone else think that maybe, just maaayyyybe and actually most likely....the Texans are gonna franchise him and keep him? Or does that make too much sense?I considered that but really, why would they after the pass rush they got this year. I think the franchise $ on him is like 18-20 mil. Why not save that if you're the texans and inves somewhere else you need it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isproab Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 I think you can sign him, without a doubt if you really want to. My real issue is that I don't believe that Mario walks free and clear from Houston. I'll be convinced when it happens. When Houston does not use the franchise tag and say to Mario, now go find a team that wants to trade with us for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butudontseeme™ Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 I think you can sign him, without a doubt if you really want to. My real issue is that I don't believe that Mario walks free and clear from Houston. I'll be convinced when it happens. When Houston does not use the franchise tag and say to Mario, now go find a team that wants to trade with us for you.Tag and trade isn't that common though. Im not exactly sure how it all works but if they traded him for draft picks, which is most likely, would t they still be on the hook for most of his tag salary? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niels petersen Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 (edited) Does anyone else think that maybe, just maaayyyybe and actually most likely....the Texans are gonna franchise him and keep him? Or does that make too much sense?Because using the tag on a DE/OLB will be a hefty amount to pay up. Even if they let him go, the Texans will still have one of the leagues best DL/LBs and a great pass rush.Tagging Williams will give him a salary of $22.9 million, which they can't fit under the 2012 salary cap (http://profootballta...bout-the-money/). Especially not when they also need to figure out the situation with Arian Foster, who is more likely to get tagged.Not enough money to go around in Houston to do that. Edited February 17, 2012 by niels petersen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butudontseeme™ Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Because using the tag on a DE/OLB will be a hefty amount to pay up. Even if they let him go, the Texans will still have one of the leagues best DL/LBs and a great pass rush.Tagging Williams will give him a salary of $22.9 million, which they can't fit under the 2012 salary cap (http://profootballta...bout-the-money/). Especially not when they also need to figure out the situation with Arian Foster, who is more likely to get tagged.Not enough money to go around in Houston to do that.Exactly. On another topic, I don't think I would tag foster if I were in Houston. Don't get me wrong, I like AF but behind that line, their other rb's had very good success also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niels petersen Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Exactly.On another topic, I don't think I would tag foster if I were in Houston. Don't get me wrong, I like AF but behind that line, their other rb's had very good success also.That is a good point. Their OL probably makes Foster seem a little better than he is. But when you have a guy that good and explosive, easily getting over 100 yards on Baltimores D in the playoffs, you just have to keep him. He has been playing well beyond his small salary for a long time now, and it is time he got paid what he deserves. He would probably prefer a long term deal, but if they can't reach it in time, I think the Texans would be wise to franchise him for a year.Their D is great, and will stay great next year. They have to have some kind of stability on offense if they want to be relevant in the playoffs again next year. IMO that means keeping Foster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butudontseeme™ Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 That is a good point. Their OL probably makes Foster seem a little better than he is. But when you have a guy that good and explosive, easily getting over 100 yards on Baltimores D in the playoffs, you just have to keep him. He has been playing well beyond his small salary for a long time now, and it is time he got paid what he deserves. He would probably prefer a long term deal, but if they can't reach it in time, I think the Texans would be wise to franchise him for a year.Their D is great, and will stay great next year. They have to have some kind of stability on offense if they want to be relevant in the playoffs again next year. IMO that means keeping Foster.The texans really have a good situation. They're young, theyre solid or good at practically every position and from the outside looking in, wouldnt appear to need to make cuts to be under the cap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconidae Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 It is rare that a player as talented as Mario Williams is available to the highest bidder...but it has happened before.In the early days of unrestricted free agency, back in the early nineties. Philadelphia was faced with losing All World DE Reggie White. I do not recall if the franchise label was available then...I do know White shopped around some. White ended up in Green Bay where he was very productive and was instrumental in leading the Packers to two Super Bowls, winning one.Right now Mario Williams is our era's Reggie White. Like White, Williams will not come cheap. Like White, Williams has to be specially game planned for or he can devastate an offense.If you look at the circumstances which are making Williams available, you might realize just how rare it is that such a player can be had at all. Jared Allen was traded for a first and third round picks. Our own Abraham was traded for a first round pick. Williams can be had for NO compensation at all when he hits the market.Teams spend high picks and a lot of time to develop pass rushers, hoping they will work out. We used, or rather wasted, the number 8 pick in the 2007 draft on Jamaal Anderson. Then the Falcons waited four years to see if he would develop, four very wasted years. Remember when McKay could have traded first second and third round picks that year to Detroit and we could have gotten Calvin Johnson? Instead we used those picks on Anderson, CB Houston and WR Robinson. That kind of decision making is what cost McKay his GM posting.In other words you can find average or above average players fairly easily. But elite talents you simply have to go after when they are available.Many on these boards keep saying we cannot afford to pursue and sign Williams. I say, we simply have to go after a player of his caliber and -hope- TD and Blank can land him.Wasn't a salary cap in 1993, signing White didn't cost the pack anything but money. Signing Williams will cost the Falcons 3-4 good players.What are you willing to pay him? If you start with anything less than 15 mil, you're being unrealistic. If you think the Falcons can/will pay that, you're being unrealistic.Sorry, would love to have Williams here, but, just like the Peppers signing, someone will pay more than the Falcons can/will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youngbloodz Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 You guys don't know what Mario is asking for. So stop pretending that you know how much it will take to get him. He might take $12 mil a year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dharma Initiative Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Because using the tag on a DE/OLB will be a hefty amount to pay up. Even if they let him go, the Texans will still have one of the leagues best DL/LBs and a great pass rush.Tagging Williams will give him a salary of $22.9 million, which they can't fit under the 2012 salary cap (http://profootballta...bout-the-money/). Especially not when they also need to figure out the situation with Arian Foster, who is more likely to get tagged.Not enough money to go around in Houston to do that.The Texans have a running system that makes any runningback look great. See Steve Slaton, Ben Tate, Arian Foster.They could get a lot more out of tagging Williams and trading him and making that work under their cap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrobinson3803 Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Does anyone else think that maybe, just maaayyyybe and actually most likely....the Texans are gonna franchise him and keep him? Or does that make too much sense?Actually it wouldn't make much sense at all. The Texans defense was lights out this year without Super Mario and tagging him would take up over 20 mil or so I hear. They have to resign Arian Foster and I'm sure they have a few other areas they would like to improve I just don't see them spending that much on him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phattywankenobi Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Does anyone else think that maybe, just maaayyyybe and actually most likely....the Texans are gonna franchise him and keep him? Or does that make too much sense? The tag on him will be just under 22M and the Texans only have 7.6M to work with under the cap. So I gotta go with no on this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phattywankenobi Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Williams is no where near White's level of talent. I think Mario is definitely one of the better players in the league but I think his greatest is terribly exaggerated because he is one of the top free agents this year. It happens every year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconidae Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 You guys don't know what Mario is asking for. So stop pretending that you know how much it will take to get him. He might take $12 mil a yearNo he won't, unless he takes a home town discount to stay with Houston. He's going to get PAID. Why would he take 12-15 mil less to sign somewhere? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psychic Gibbon Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 He's not coming here. His most likely landing spot is New England or Dallas. I'll be happy if we can get Robert Mathis.I know he did well under the 3-4, but a player like him is the most suited to play in the 4-3. He had reservations about shifting to the 3-4 before the season and at the end of the day I think he was only ok with it because Wade Philips is such a good coordinator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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