Chances of Mario Williams’ stay at Houston Texans hang in balance in face of free agency-NFL News
The chances of linebacker, Mario Williams, staying with the Houston Texans are hanging in the balance, as the management is reportedly unsure about either releasing the player or giving him a new contract, while the free agency nears.
With just two days left in the free agency market, which will open on March 13, 2012, Williams is hoping to hear something positive from the team.
It is certain that the player is not going to be assigned the franchise tag, as the team had already discarded that option. Most importantly, the franchise tag deadline is already over.
In case of receiving the tag, Williams could have earned $10.605 million in 2012.
It remains difficult to ascertain if he will be able to make that much amount in a year on signing a deal with any team in the league.
The player has played immense role in the team’s wins during six years since joining in 2006.
Unfortunately, he missed most of the 2011-12 National Football League (NFL) season due to torn pectoral muscle that he had suffered in the week 5 of the season, and that was the only noted dismal time of his career.
Texans’ defence performed well despite Williams’ absence, mainly due to the extensive training and development by their new defensive coach, Wade Phillips, who took the defence from its 28th position a year earlier to be the second best on the
league in the last season.
It was for the first time in their franchise history that the Houston Texans made it to the playoffs and won the American Football Conference (AFC) South division title. They lost the race to the Super Bowl after being defeated by the Baltimore Ravens.
Both achievements had come despite the team’s struggling offence, as their star quarterbacks, Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart, were out for most part of the season due to their respective injuries.
Texans management was reported to be interested in maintaining a balanced squad for the next season and keen on retaining players like Williams.
If a positive decision does not come from Texans in the next two days, the player will hit the unrestricted free agency.
He is considered to be one of the bright spots on the agency due to his performance, which includes 53 overall sacks.
With increasing prospects of free agency, there is no word from the player himself or his agent with regard to their future option or if they have been in contact with any team interested in signing the player.
An atmosphere of uncertainty and confusion prevails around the player’s future in the meantime.
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