Atlanta Falcons: Show Super Mario Williams the money?
Mario Williams (90) has posted 53 sacks over his first six seasons with the Houston Texans. (Dave Einsel, Associated Press)
We’ve heard the rumor that the Falcons are going to pursue Houston Texans defensive stud Mario Williams.
There is no way the Falcons can comment on it because that would be considered tampering and a hefty fine would be in order. The Falcons would end up in Commissioner Roger Goodell’s doghouse along with the New Orleans Saints if they commented on Super Mario.
But the rumor is starting to grow legs. At least three people with ties to the NFL Network have floated this scenario. All – Steve Wyche, Bucky Brooks and Jason LaConfaro – are our pals and highly respected members of the NFL media community. Here’s some of the speculation.
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With the negotiations for defensive end John Abraham and middle linebacker Curtis Lofton in holding patterns, the Falcons have to do something. They can’t lose arguably their two top defenders and not replace them with someone of similar or greater stature.
We have to look to some of general manager Thomas Dimitroff’s recent comments for guidance. In an exclusive interview with the AJC on Jan. 10 he provided some hints.
Q: Can this defense, as constructed, compete for the Super Bowl title?
A: “. . . Obviously, there are still areas that we can improve upon. We need to continue to pressure the quarterback. . . . With that said, I love the tenacity of this defense. I’m encouraged by the direction of this defense. Like I’ve said since the very beginning in 2008, we will always continue to look to see where we can upgrade our talent across the depth chart and specifically on the defensive side of the ball.”
The following day at the “Come to Jesus” press conference with Arthur Blank, Dimitroff was very clear about a few things.
“We know that we need to get better in many, many areas,” Dimitroff said. “It is my job to
John Abraham has 53.5 sacks in his first six seasons in the NFL with the New York Jets before the Falcons acquired him in a trade. (Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com)
make sure that I step back with Coach [Mike] Smith and obviously, Mr. Blank, and look at all aspects of the football operations and determine where we need to make changes and where we need to adjust going forward.”
Dimitroff noted that there would be no “sacred cows”on the roster. “I don’t care where we drafted them or how we acquired them in free agency,” Dimitroff said.
Now, finally at the NFL Scouting combine, Dimitroff gave us some more insight to the team’s offseason modus operandi after their third exit from the playoffs in four seasons. He knows they must get better and may have come to the realization that “hey, maybe the Cardinals, Packers and New York Giants were just better teams.” The Packers and Giants did go on to win the Super Bowl. The Cardinals were a miraculous Santonio Holmes catch away from winning?
Q: How do you all rate the quality of pass rushers in this draft?
A: The edge pass rushers are something that we covet. They are not always easy to come across. There is a good group of guys that get up the field and turn the corner athletically and burst to the quarterback. We are all searching for that and they come in all different kind of packages. They don’t all have to be 6-4 and 270 pounds or 265. They at times can be 6-1, 6-1 ½ 230 pounds. It depends on the system that you are playing and there are certain systems out there that allow some to rush out of a wide-tackle nine and be very productive. Those same players might not be very productive in another system.
Free agency is set to start at 4 p.m. on Tuesday and the Falcons almost have to make a major move or two.
After turning over the coaching staff, they must upgrade the talent. While they have the fifth-most regular-season wins in the league over the last four years, they can see that the Carolina Panthers, the Detroit Lions and the San Francisco 49ers are going to be factors in the NFC.
Other teams projected to be in the Super Mario sweepstakes are Chicago, Green Bay, Seattle, Dallas and Tennessee. In addition to the Super Mario chatter, some in the agent community believe the Falcons could also make a play for Miami defensive end Kendall Langford. He played for new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan. Here’s Langford’s bio.
Last season, before the Falcons signed defensive end Ray Edwards, they went after Charles Johnson, but the bidding got out of hand as Johnson received a six-year, $72 million deal. The bidding for Williams is expected to be reach the $100 to $110 million range and average more than $14 to $16 million per year.
Blank said the Falcons want to win rings and seems to know that he has to upgrade his talent after three playoff losses.
Should the Falcons go all Jerry Maguire and “Show Mario the money?” Will they blink at the sticker price? Could he be the perfect replacement for Abraham?
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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191 comments Add your comment
Falcon James
March 9th, 2012
11:34 am
Joe Tess- I think you and I finally agree on something. My biggest fear is that we pay Mario the money he think he worth and then he quit playing just like Dunta did. Dunta is about the worst move in the history of the Falcon franchise. Too bad we stuck with him for another year. What a waste of money.
JSS
March 9th, 2012
11:34 am
@ Sid…
Auto-correct.. And I’m doing narrations today, the “sacred” gets my apology…
Blame it on the Al-kee-hol! Poor Orson, what did he blow? I hope he was smart enough to ask for the blood test if he was just over the limit!
BIRDSFLYHIGH
March 9th, 2012
11:35 am
Falcon James, Akeem Dent will do just fine if Lofton has to go!
GB70
March 9th, 2012
11:37 am
Oline is soft and lost its edge when they let Dahl go to the Rams……Baker couldnt block a sick 80 yr old lady
Falcon James
March 9th, 2012
11:38 am
Agree wit you Birds! Didn’t think about Dent
Rod "straight outta Augusta"
March 9th, 2012
11:38 am
Super Mario is a great pllayer, but we cant go all in on this guy. Guys like Kendall Langford and possibly Kamerion Wimbley would be great fits for creating a pass rush.
Falcons 73
March 9th, 2012
11:42 am
The Falcons definitely need to infuse some REAL talent on the defensive side of the ball. If you were going to throw money around, I would say DE would be the most pivotal position on the field (considering how offenses are structured in the NFL these days). Look at the difference a healthy, productive DE can make on an overall defense as opposed to a CB, LB, or DL. One stud DE can change the whole complexion of a mediocre D.
With that being said, the Falcons could and should do all the restructuring they need to make Mario Williams a Falcon. The CAP will go increase massively in two years, so the only hit the Birds would take, would be the next few seasons (and if Williams is healthy and productive he will make them legit).
D. Orlando Ledbetter
March 9th, 2012
11:50 am
Greg Mendel — All of the OL jobs will be open for competition, but Coach Smith supported Baker when asked about him at the combine. He said he was fine if Baker were the starter and noted that they’ve won a lot of games with him. Smokescreen? Coachspeak? IDK.
mark
March 9th, 2012
11:55 am
this shot doesnt come every day! we need to show the money!!! this is an elite DE we really need this one bad!!!! if not its gonna be another 1 n out! let lofton n abraham walk, they cant compare to marios speed swagger motor, i hope thomas d pulls the trigger in this one!
The Real Falcon
March 9th, 2012
11:59 am
Sorry to be tardy for the party. Ugh. But if we can we must!
FalcFans.com » 2012 Falcons Free Agent Tracker
March 9th, 2012
12:01 pm
[...] Kendall Langford, Dolphins (Source: AJC.com) LB Lofa Tatupu, ex-Seahawks (Story) (worked out on 3/9) DE Mario Williams, Texans (Source: [...]
Joe Tess Fish House
March 9th, 2012
12:01 pm
Just so you no Marino Williams is from the same team as that looser Donta Roberson. This has truble write all over it.
abby normal
March 9th, 2012
12:02 pm
I realize the Falcons have to make a move or two but I’m always leery about signing free agents to these huge contracts. Just look at the Robinson and Edwards fiascos. I also realize Mario Williams is a terrific player, but 100 million? Can’t see it. Our primary need is to fix the OL.
**Frederick(Bailey)Douglass**
March 9th, 2012
12:04 pm
“Fine with the O-Line”
WHAT!?!?!? In what satellite reality??? The only other worse “roast-over” that I have ever seen on an NFL stage was when Jerry Rice toasted Charles Dimry for 4 TDs at the old statdium. What Trent Cole did to Sam Baker was very close to that…man against man and Baker was totally destroyed. I’ll say it plainly:
Sam Baker, #75 and #61 need to be reconsidered. Period. If TD/MS go into the 2012 season depending on any of these individuals to open running lanes or to adequately protect Ryan, they are out of touch.
Pat Hill is good…but he does not instill courage. You gotta bring that with you.
FBD
DJ Sniper
March 9th, 2012
12:13 pm
No matter what the coaches say, I’m sure that Sam Baker will not be a Falcon any longer. Rumor has it that they are going to take a look at Marcus McNeil once he’s released by the Chargers. If his health is fine, then they may try to sign him as the starting LT with Svitek as his backup. That’s some nice depth at that position.
For everybody who has been hard on Dunta Robinson, keep in mind that he’s been playing the past 2 years in a scheme that’s is NOT suited to his talents. Let’s see how he does under Nolan first.
Joe Tess Fish House
March 9th, 2012
12:24 pm
@ DJ sniper
And what scheme is that? It dont not matter what shceme he play in he has 2 cover and not get so many cheep shot penilties. Face it he is a horible player and it was a horible sighing 4 the Flacons.
bert & ernie
March 9th, 2012
12:30 pm
Considering Jennifer’s girth, I think heiffer deserves two “f”s
J.J.M.
March 9th, 2012
12:33 pm
lol nobody cares about matt ryan regular season record
Greg Mendel
March 9th, 2012
12:34 pm
@DJ Sniper: I agree regarding Baker. I’m also curious about the effect of the two new coordinators. I feel positive about those changes, and I hope they result in a couple of current Falcons making big contributions they couldn’t make because of previous schemes and the way personnel were used (such as Robinson).
D. Orlando Ledbetter
March 9th, 2012
12:34 pm
The Real Falcon – You’ve never tardy for our party!
D. Orlando Ledbetter
March 9th, 2012
12:36 pm
FBD – Maybe “fine” is too strong. They know they can’t come up short in short yardage situations. But they also know that they can’t fix all of their problems n the free agency era. Four of five of those guys have been good enough to win with. (Remember 43-21. They are not the Browns. IJS)
D. Orlando Ledbetter
March 9th, 2012
12:37 pm
Joe Tess Fish House — Perhaps a reunion with Mario would be a good thing for Dunta!
Northern Bird
March 9th, 2012
12:37 pm
They are not going to pursue him. The guy is obviously incredible but injury prone. The falcons won’t spend that kind of money to land him. D Led said it himself when referring to the pursuit of Charles Johnson last yr. When the price gets into the ‘crazy’ zone the Falcons get out.
I definitely see us going after OG Nicks to improve the OL but not 15 mil a season on super mario. It’s not realistic, though the very conversation does get me excited…
bigboo220
March 9th, 2012
12:37 pm
They should go for it. They have enough cap to sign him and resign Lofton. I would still like to see them free up some cap space and upgrade the OL. And what Nolan said was he would rather have 10 players with 4 sacks then have 4 players with10 sacks. That’s where his defensive scheme and blitz’s will come in to play but I’m sure he wouldn’t mind having 1 player with 10 sacks if the sacks are still spred around amongst the defense. Dunta should do a lot better under Nolan than he did under the vanilla zone we played the last few years.
life long bird
March 9th, 2012
12:43 pm
You guys are being a little tough on a couple of players. I have had the same surgeries Sam Baker and Ray Edwards have had. It is amazing they are able to play so soon after the procedure. I had both my inside and outside meniscus removed and while I was able to run within a couple of days I did not fully recover for close to a year. Sam Baker had a ruptured disk repaired and it takes all of your core strength away. Get these two guys healthy and I think we will see two different players.
As far as Dunta, let him play man coverage aggressivly and you will see a completely different player. The soft zones we have played for years were crap.
There is no way we should not win our division this year. Saints are done and I think Cam will have a litle tougher second year with film studies. Go Birds!!
D. Orlando Ledbetter
March 9th, 2012
12:43 pm
J.J.M. — You have to care about it. If you don’t win in the regular season, there are no trips to the playoffs. Football 101!
Falcon Fan
March 9th, 2012
12:44 pm
hey DLed, any chance, if Williams becomes too high of an asking price, that the Falcons pursue Dwight Freeney? Heard he might get the chopping block…
DJ Sniper
March 9th, 2012
12:45 pm
I keep hearing people say that Mario is injury prone. The guy has missed 14 games in 6 seasons, and 11 of those games were last year. Injury prone is not the term I would use for him.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
March 9th, 2012
12:51 pm
Falcon Fan — Freeney turned 32 on Feb. 19. I don’t think they’ll pursue him, but you never know.
Kramer
March 9th, 2012
12:55 pm
Show him the money and let Lofton go. Start the Dent era and go from there. Without a pass rush it does not matter in this league how good your DB’d and LB’s are in pass coverage. Any solid NFL QB with enough time will find an open receiver.
BIG Z Section 238
March 9th, 2012
12:55 pm
Mario Williams is exactly what the falcons need. Here are several reasons why we HAVE TO GET HIM.
1. We don’t have a player on our defense or maybe even on our team that people fear and must account for at all times.
2. He is an explosive player that TD has beening talking about the past 2 seasons.
3. WE don’t have to pay a first or 4th round pick this year. That should freen up cap space.
4 We can cut, restucture, give contract extention or not resign several players to make room ie Matt Ryan, Abraham, Ovie, Baker, Robinson, Lofton.
5.He will make our defense better because they will have to worry about him and over look other players.
6. He will make our secondary better because QB’s will be rushing to get the ball out quicker.
7. Julio Trade. If TD thought we were that close to a SB last year way not go for the gusto AGAIN. Its clear the AB wants a Championship right now and we are just to close not to go for it ALL.
8. Pass rush has been missing from our defense since CHUCK SMITH!!!!
Must I go on???
Mave2124
March 9th, 2012
12:55 pm
Forget Super Mario…CARL NICKS! O-line!
falcons relax
March 9th, 2012
1:10 pm
WE WILL NOT TARGET ANY O-LINEMAN IN FA. We’ve brought in a new o-line coach and invested too many picks on o-line. You have to groom the talent then evaluate it. Carl Nicks? Nicks is quoted saying he expects to get a better deal than Evans. Thats like 50 mil. We just gave blalock 40 mil. GO ALL IN ON SUPER MARIO.
Simple as that, we finished 12th with BVG, imagine what will happen if we have mario and nolan calling the shots. NFL Network Jason La Caforna said it, Seattle and Atlanta are the front runners. WE don’t have a first round pick and TD and Blank have expressed being agressive in FA. They will go hard at Mario, especially after going after charles johnson last year and Abe being a FA this year. WE HAVE TO GET MORE PRESSURE. Mario brings all of that plus more.I can’t wil til tuesday
welikebaseball2
March 9th, 2012
1:10 pm
Hey D-Led, think we might go after the Colts’ DE Mathis? He’d cost a lot less than Williams, who I’d love to have, & has put up almost identical numbers as Abraham. He might not be a step up over Abraham but, if we can’t afford Williams, he definitely wouldn’t be a step down. Plus, if doesn’t hurt that he’s a couple years younger. Also, am I missing something or is Langford’s sack numbers pretty much non-existent? In no way is he an adequate replacement for #55. Not by ANY stretch of the imagination.
Michael
March 9th, 2012
1:14 pm
I am all for going after Mario. I know that TD has talked about not breaking the bank and risking the future in the past, but one’s outlook on “the future” tends to change after 3 playoffs exits (2 of which were absolutely embarrassing). I think this regime knows they need to make major steps forward in the postseason or else there may not be much of a “future” for them to prepare for.
Mario Williams is THE best option out there to upgrade our pass rush. Having a legitimate pass rush will make this whole defense better. I love Lofton and Abraham but they epitomize what the Falcons have been as a team the past couple of years: Solid and Consistent overall, but not able to MAKE THE BIG PLAYS WHEN THE MOMENT DEMANDS A BIG PLAY. With Williams, we would have a PLAYMAKER on every level of the defense (Spoon @ LB, Grimes in the secondary assuming we finalize his deal)
I would love Carl Nicks too, but I think a pass rush is more important to this team at this point than a guard. Carl Nicks was a 4th round pick, you can find guards in the draft or you can give the one you drafted in the 3rd round in 2010 a legit shot (Mike Johnson, the guy paved the way for Ingram during his Heisman year)
Michael
March 9th, 2012
1:15 pm
Oh yeah, and trading for Freeney makes no sense. If you want to pay over 8 million for a DE who’s on the other side of 32 with declining sack numbers then you should just resign Abraham. @WeLikeBaseball2, Mathis resigned with Indy already.
MGibby
March 9th, 2012
1:17 pm
It’s funny how everybody hates on Dunta. NEWSFLASH: Good CBs cost money. Even in the loose zone scheme we’ve been running, he’s been a solid corner and as far as being a cheap shot artist, GTFOH! The 2 nasty hits he’s been involved in were not cheap shots, just a victim of the BS defense-less receiver rule.
Everybody always talks about how they love grimes, but tell me this, why is it that you never see Grimes covering the opposing number 1 receiver? This coaching staff has no problem benching players. The reason you never see it is because Dunta is a better corner.
Add Super Mario and solidify the O-line!
ROD
March 9th, 2012
1:26 pm
Yes, yes, yes. He’s younger than ABE, and he will help in Mike’s Nolan defense. If they wouldn’t have signed that inconsistent Kroy B, maybe they would have had some money left over. We need some pressure on the QB, because we are not getting it from Edwards. SO, YES, YES, YES!!!! They should have cut Dunta Robinson, he can’t cover. Bring in Champ Bailey!!!!!
dirty 4 life
March 9th, 2012
1:26 pm
Since the Falcons love to talk about how they want to win a super bowl NOW, then do it. Trade Matty “i cant throw an accurate pass longer than 25 yards” Ice for a top 5 draft pick, get one of the best defensive ends in the draft with it, drop fat boy Turner, and go get Peyton RIGHT NOW! Snelling and Rogers will be just fine with Peyton in town. Hes won with worse.
welikebaseball2
March 9th, 2012
1:27 pm
@Michael: Thanks for the update. Don’t know how I missed that. Bummer. I really like Mathis & thought he would be the perfect replacement for #55. A younger, affordable DE with solid sack numbers. Oh well, sign me up for the We-Want-Mario movement!
mark
March 9th, 2012
1:31 pm
Mario would be a beast in Nolan’s system plus if Edwards stays healthy with Mario it should give us a great outside push. Dled what do you think our odds are? Also do you think we let Lofton walk? Keep up the great work, I love this time a year it is my only fix before the season starts.
welikebaseball2
March 9th, 2012
1:31 pm
@MGibby: I agree with you on most of your post…except saying Grimes is not as good as Dunta simply because he doesn’t cover the #1 receivers. The Falcons don’t play the matching game. Our CB’s cover whatever WR is on their side of the field. I do agree that Dunta is not the garbage everyone says he is & has indeed been solid. However, Grimes has proven to be the better cover corner between the two.
dirty 4 life
March 9th, 2012
1:35 pm
Peyton with Roddy, Julio, and Tony! We would be unstoppable. Thats a better recieving corps than he ever had in Indy. If the Flacons really want a ring now, they’ll do it. Peytons got at least 3 great years left.
bigboo220
March 9th, 2012
1:37 pm
MGibby …. have to agree with you. The reaso you hear so much about Grimes is because he has been one of the most targeted db’s in the NFL. The reason he has been targeted is because Dunta is covering the #1 receiver pretty well. I love Grimes but he gets beet a lot. But all the db’s will look a lot better if we are getting consitent pressure on the qb. I think Mario will help that a lot. Not to mention Nolan should get a lot more out of some of these guy you hardly ever see like Sidbury. If our defense is actually getting off the field on these 3rd downs our offence will have more chances to get in a groove with all these weapons we have.
take bad with good
March 9th, 2012
1:39 pm
One of the Birds true fans are here just checking in for the season I got one ? were the HE– is [seen yall before} bounty f–l!!!!
SeenThisBFalcon
March 9th, 2012
1:42 pm
TRADE FOR OSI UMENYIORA
Jason LaCanfora
March 9th, 2012
1:46 pm
Scooped!
http://blogs.nfl.com/2012/03/09/ex-seahawks-lb-tatupu-looked-good-in-falcons-workout/?module=HP11_headline_stack
Flo=Ri-Duh
March 9th, 2012
1:47 pm
I would rather replace LT & LG with two All Pro OL that are under the age of thirty and sign them to 6 year contracts. The OL was terrible in key situations last year.
DJ Sniper
March 9th, 2012
1:49 pm
Robert Mathis has already re-signed with the Colts, so he’s not coming here. Also, Matt Ryan is NOT going anywhere. Does he have his faults? Of course he does, but the guy has done pretty well during his 4 years here. Now that he’s no longer shackled by Mike Mularkey’s system, let’s see what he does under a new OC.
Jason LaCanfora
March 9th, 2012
1:51 pm
Ledbetter…You’re the beat writer for the Falcons, yet I just beat you to the punch on Tatupu’s work out. What gives?