By Tim Graham
If anybody has said anything about him, Buffalo Bills
defensive end Mario Williams claimed today he hasn't heard it and doesn't care.
Williams has come under fire from analysts for his lackluster play in Sunday's season-opening loss to the New York Jets. Williams, the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history, had one tackle and no sacks.
ESPN's Damien Woody said Williams was "pathetic" for his performance and then complaining about the replacement officials afterwards. NBC Sports analyst Rodney Harrison bashed Williams for choosing Buffalo in a money grab.
"I didn't hear it," Williams told reporters today at his locker stall. "I don't watch TV, man. Never have, never will. I think I've said that about a million times in my last seven years.
"Everybody's going to have something to say regardless, good or bad. I can't control somebody else's opinions. But I will do what I'm supposed to do here and perform. I'm not going to worry about it after the first game."
Asked by Buffalo News columnist Jerry Sullivan if the comments were insulting, Williams shrugged.
"I'd probably be angry every day," Williams said, "if I actually paid attention to what everybody else said."
Williams admitted he didn't do enough Sunday, adding "by any means necessary, that's going to change. I don't care what has to happen. This is one game, and I appreciate everybody pointing fingers -- they should be -- but true colors will show."
As for his postgame comments about the officials, Williams suggested they were blown out of proportion. Williams complained Jets right tackle Austin Howard kept putting his hands in Williams' face and the officials wouldn't call a penalty.
"I wasn't saying that was anything about holding me back," Williams said. "If it's going to be like that, then we'll find different ways. I was just talking directly to the officials. I was just getting my point across.
"As for me playing, I've got to do better than that. I've got to make hits. ... If I get close, it's got to be a sack."
Williams also confirmed he's playing with a wrist injury that Bills coach Chan Gailey first mentioned Monday. Williams called it "a freak deal a couple weeks ago, unfortunately right before the regular season."
