Bills release Williams; Ferguson as his replacement?

By Connor Byrne  |   Friday, February 24, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

Buffalo Bills
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Thursday, new Buffalo Bills GM Marv Levy made his first major roster move by releasing offensive tackle Mike Williams. The fourth overall pick in 2002's NFL draft, Williams' era in Buffalo was riddled with injuries, portliness, and inconsistency.

Williams was scheduled to make $10.8 million in 2005. Obviously, had the Bills wanted to retain Williams, restructuring his contract would have been a requirement. By releasing Williams, the Bills save $5.6 million on their 2006 salary cap. With that extra money, they may be able to make a run at left guard Steve Hutchinson of the Seattle Seahawks, or center LeCharles Bentley of the New Orleans Saints.

Williams came to Buffalo with incredibly high expectations but never lived up to them. He was a star right tackle at Texas, where he protected southpaw quarterback Chris Simms' blindside. Williams was drafted by the Bills with the anticipation of being a bookend left tackle for veteran quarterback Drew Bledsoe. Unfortunately, he struggled mightily at that position and was moved back to right tackle early in his career. He was quickly considered a disappointment because right tackles are not supposed to be paid left tackle money.

From 2002-2004 Williams appeared in 42 games and started in all of them. After a lousy rookie season, he showed improvement in 2003, and came into his own as a right tackle late in 2004. Many, including myself, expected Williams to take some major strides in 2005 and become a Pro Bowl-caliber right tackle. However, he appeared in just nine games and started in only six. Williams lost his starting job to undrafted second-year man Jason Peters, and then tried to play left guard, but that turned into a disaster.

Drafting Williams with such a high pick proved to be one of former Bills GM Tom Donahoe's most crucial errors. Donahoe left first-round tackles Bryant McKinnie of the Vikings and Levi Jones on the board to select Williams. He also left star Dallas Cowboys safety Roy Williams, Jacksonville Jaguars stud defensive tackle John Henderson, and Indianapolis Colts stellar defensive end Dwight Freeney on the board. Despite those facts, it probably isn't fair to blame Donahoe for the selection of Williams. Everyone within league circles expected the 6'6, 360-pound monster to dominate opposing defenses. Often times, the NFL draft is a game of Russian roulette; alas, Donahoe shot himself with the selection of Williams.

Williams' downfall in Buffalo can mainly be attributed to his lackadaisical attitude toward football. He was never serious about staying in solid physical condition, and he was just too nice. Great linemen need to have a mean streak in them. Williams doesn't possess one. Whatever team Williams ends up with should be wary of him and sign him to either a minimum contract, or incentive-laden deal. After all, if Bills offensive line coach Jim McNally couldn't get through to the "dancing bear," then who can?

The release of Williams may imply the Bills' interest in Virginia left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson. At 6'5, 296 pounds, Ferguson is somewhat smallish in weight for a left tackle, but he more than makes up for that with his tremendous quickness.

The Buffalo Bills have the eighth overall selection in April's draft, so they may have to move up a couple of spots to get Ferguson, one of the highest-rated prospects in the draft. If the New York Jets pass on him with the fourth overall pick, the Bills might not have to move up since the Green Bay Packers, Oakland Raiders, and San Francisco 49ers are all unlikely to select Ferguson from 5-7. Therefore, he may fall right into the Bills' laps.

When Levy was named the GM of the Bills, he talked about the importance of character in his football players. You would be hard-pressed to find a player in this draft with more character than Ferguson. He has gained the utmost respect from NFL scouts for his tremendous attitude. If the Bills do get "Brick," they would be getting their best lineman since Kent Hull's days at center during the '90s.

-Connor Byrne can be reached at cbyrne@realfootball365.com.
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