NFL

Look Out, AFC East Quarterbacks: The Bills Have Signed Mario Williams

The Buffalo Bills’ attempt to become a factor in the AFC East just took a huge step forward: they’re holding a press conference announcing they’ve signed defensive end Mario Williams away from the Texans. According to Adam Schefter, Williams will receive a six-year deal that will be worth up to $100 million, with $50 million guaranteed.

Williams missed all but five games last season with a torn pectoral muscle, but when he’s healthy (and the Bills made him pass a rigorous physical, we’d imagine), he’s a force. He racked up five sacks in those five games in 2011, he’s a two-time All-Pro, and his elite combination of size (6-6, 283 pounds) and athleticism ensures he’ll have to be accounted for by blockers at all times, potentially freeing up teammates to make plays themselves. Plus, he’s only 27, so several of his best years should still be ahead of him.

All of this is excellent news for the Bills – who, despite their late collapse in 2011, did show more promise early in the season than they had in a while – and not so good news for AFC East quarterbacks. Have fun, Tom Brady, Mark Sanchez, and maybe-but-probably-not-at-this-point Peyton Manning: you’ve got this guy hounding you two games a year now. (Well, Manning already did in Indy, but that’s beside the point.) Last year it was the uniform update, this year the addition of a premier pass rusher: no one can say there aren’t positive changes afoot in Buffalo.

Cal Sport Media photo, by Andrew Richardson, via