Press Coverage

By Tim Graham

Buffalo Bills pass-rusher Mario Williams mentioned committing suicide and taking narcotics -- and his ex-fiancee found the threat credible enough to plan an intervention -- the Houston Chronicle has reported.

The eyebrow-raising allegations were made by Erin Marzouki's attorney, Anthony Buzbee, who released texts purportedly sent by Williams to Marzouki in November, when Williams was playing some of his best football for the Bills.

Williams is suing Marzouki for the return of a 10.04-carat diamond engagement ring estimated to be worth $785,000. A mediation hearing was held today, but the parties were unable to reach an agreement.

And the saga got uglier for Williams today.

Continue reading "Report: Mario Williams texted about suicide, narcotics use in November" »

By Tim Graham

Still looks strange to see a player in a Buffalo Bills uniform pictured among the richest athletes in the United States.

Yet that's where we find pass-rusher Mario Williams for a second straight year.

Williams ranked 18th among American professional athletes on Sports Illustrated's annual Fortunate 50 list. He was down five slots from the previous year but still ahead of mainstream superstars such as Derek Jeter (19th), Calvin Johnson (29th), Albert Pujols (46th) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (49th).

Sports Illustrated calculated Williams' earning at $25 million, with another $150,000 in endorsements.

Sports Illustrated wrote:

Many called Williams, 28, one of the worst investments of 2012: After Buffalo signed him to a six-year, $96 million free-agent deal, which included a $19 million signing bonus, he was criticized for lack of effort. (He had been playing with an injured wrist.) Williams has modest endorsement deals with Verizon and MuscleTech.

Drew Brees, Peyton Manning and Vincent Jackson are the only NFL players ranked ahead of Williams. Only one New York Yankee made more than Williams.

Unbeaten boxer Floyd Mayweather ranked first at $90 million.

By Tim Graham

In the three years Buddy Nix was general manager, the Buffalo Bills significantly enhanced their depth at almost every position.

The club didn't scrimp on backups as much. Gone were a bunch of special-teamers who couldn't play a regular position.

The results, though, didn't reflect the added talent.

Under new guidance, the Bills have decided to start over while trying to focus on young talent that could turn into something later. They've gotten rid of veteran starters and are willing to take a chance on inexperienced players hopefully on the make.

Look up and down the roster, and you will see a lot of positions that are dependant on emerging youth.

In Tuesday's video report from One Bills Drive, we glimpsed how capricious the team is at wide receiver behind Stevie Johnson. In this morning's paper, Mark Gaughan wrote about Buffalo's youth at cornerback.

With that in mind, I want to ask who you think the most indispensible Bills player is for 2013.

Which player's absence would provide the most trouble for the team's success?

If you click the "Other" option, please take a moment and jot the name of the player you'd vote for in the comments section below.

Buffalo Bills pass-rusher Mario Williams goes through a drill at today's voluntary workout in Orchard Park. (Photo: Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News)

By Tim Graham

Throughout the offseason, there have been references to "playing like a Bill."

The Buffalo Bills' new leaders have made a concerted effort to establish a philosophy of what's expected of each player whenever he snaps his chinstrap.

Bills pass-rusher Mario Williams was the latest to make a reference. So I asked last year's star offseason acquisition how much the definition of a Bill has changed from last year.

Continue reading "Mario Williams explains what being a Bill is supposed to mean" »

By Tim Graham

Buffalo Bills pass-rusher Mario Williams fired the first public salvos against his ex-fiancee, essentially calling her a gold-digger in a lawsuit seeking to recover a 10.04-carat engagement ring worth $785,000.

It was only a matter of time until we heard what a lout she thinks he is.

Erin Marzouki has filed a legal response and counterclaim in Harris County, Texas.

"This is a stupid lawsuit because it has no legal merit, and it's a stupid lawsuit because it's not going to be good for his career," Marzouki's attorney, Anthony Buzbee, told the Houston Chronicle.

Continue reading "Mario Williams' ex-fiancee pushes back with court filing" »

You can argue whether the Bills should have drafted a running back with the ninth overall pick in 2010, but you can't dispute Nix selected a good one in C.J. Spiller. (James P. McCoy/News file photo)

By Tim Graham

How will we remember Buddy Nix's tenure as Buffalo Bills general manager? With the help of beat reporter Mark Gaughan, we look back on the past three seasons and four drafts under Nix.

Here are his five biggest hits:

Continue reading "Looking back: Buddy Nix's five biggest hits as Bills GM" »

By Mark Gaughan

Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Williams is suing his former fiancee in order to get back a $785,000 engagement ring, according to court documents in Texas.

Attorneys for Williams filed a lawsuit Friday against Erin Marzouki, his former fiancee, in Harris County, Texas, state district court.

Marzouki appeared with Williams in Orchard Park the day he signed his $100 million contract with the Bills in March 2012.

Sought in the suit is the return of a 10.04 carat diamond ring. The attorneys are asking the court to obtain the ring from Marzouki and hold it until the suit is resolved, according to the petition to the court. Several Houston media outlets reported the suit earlier today.

The lawsuit contends that Marzouki “unilaterally terminated” the engagement on Jan. 21, 2013, and has refused Williams’ request to return the diamond engagement ring, which she had promised to do if the engagement ended. The petition also contends she never intended to marry Williams and used the relationship as a means to acquire money and gifts.

The petition further states that Williams provided Marzouki with an American Express credit card to use to pay her living expenses, and that she incurred more than $108,000 in charges on it from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2012. He also purchased additional gifts for her worth in excess of $230,000, his lawyers report.

WIlliams' contract with the Bills contained $50 million in guaranteed money. He is entering his second season with the Bills.

In March 2012, Mario Williams brought his fiancee, Erin Marzouki, with him to sign his contract with the Buffalo Bills. Their engagement has since ended, and Williams is suing for the return of a $785,000 engagement ring, according to court documents in Texas. (John Hickey/Buffalo News)

By Mark Gaughan

The Buffalo BIlls could give their defense a big boost and give themselves some needed draft flexibility if they can reach a deal with free-agent linebacker Karlos Dansby.

The Bills announced this morning Dansby is in town for a visit. He's a 31-year-old, nine-year NFL veteran who has been an impact linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins released him in March, although he started the previous three seasons for them.

Dansby can play inside or outside linebacker. If he came to terms with the Bills, then he would step in immediately as a starting inside linebacker. But he also could back up at outside linebacker in the 3-4 defense, and the Bills need some security behind outside starters Mario WIlliams and Manny Lawson. Currently, Arthur Moats probably ranks as the top backup to Lawson on the strong side of the defense.

The Bills enter the draft with needs at quarterback, receiver, guard, cornerback, strong-side linebacker, tight end and perhaps safety. That's seven spots. They have six picks.

The Dolphins released Dansby in order to get younger at linebacker. They made a high-profile addition by signing Dannell Ellerbe from the Baltimore Ravens. Dansby, however, has been a big nuisance to the Bills' offense in games against the Dolphins over the past three seasons.

By Jay Skurski

Mario Williams is unsure of even what position he's playing in the Buffalo Bills' new defensive scheme – and he couldn't sound happier about it.

"It's all over the place," Williams said Thursday, as the Bills finished up their third day of voluntary minicamp. "It's definitely something that puts different matchups out there on the field and puts us in different positions, have guys free and be aggressive."

Williams checked off the attributes of the defense when asked for his first impression.

Continue reading "Upbeat Mario Williams embraces changes on Bills' 'D'" »

By Mark Gaughan

The hope offered by a new coaching staff is a cycle that repeats itself on every NFL team whenever a new regime takes over. The new staff is bound to be an improvement over the old staff.

The Bills, not surprisingly, expressed enthusiasm over the tone set by Doug Marrone's new regime on the first day of offseason conditioning.

Said running back C.J. Spiller on new offensive chief Nathaniel Hackett: "I just love his enthusiasm. He’s very energetic, he kind of reminds me of Dabo Swinney back at Clemson, a guy that has a lot of energy and that kind of feeds onto your players. Even though it’s the professional level, you still get that sense of feeling when the offensive coordinator’s excited about what’s going on, when he’s getting excited about drawing up a play."

Said defensive end Mario Williams of Doug Marrone: "My first impression is expectation. I think he's definitely an advocate of changing the tempo, the whole demeanor of how things have been here the last however many years. Just trying to get us upbeat and focused on expecting to do better, and more accountability."

Said defensive tackle Marcell Dareus: "They bring a little more upbeat to the organization. I'm kind of excited about it and can't wait to see what they've really got for us."

Here's how the cycle has repeated in Buffalo the past dozen or so years:

Continue reading "Thoughts on Bills' hope, enthusiasm and a new defense " »