Mario Wars Episode II

Long ago in a far away galaxy called One Bills Drive, a force so powerful arrived that he could shift the balance of power in the galaxy.

To be clear, I am not taking a shot at the Buffalo Bills or Mario Williams, but at the ridiculous media coverage of the Williams Saga.

Day Two of defensive end Mario Williams’ visit with the Bills started off like most other visits.  It was first reported that Williams took a physical at Buffalo Medical Group, then he went to the stadium for further discussions with the Bills.

After several hours of waiting to see if Williams signed or not, the media circus started getting crazy.

WGR 550, the flagship radio station of the Bills, encamped one of their reporters at Ralph Wilson Stadium at the beginning of free agency. Then word leaked out that Williams’ fiancée was coming to town, and all hell broke loose.

Multiple national news outlets started reporting that Williams was leaving Wednesday night, then word broke that Williams was staying Wednesday night and will return to the stadium Thursday.

Living near Ralph Wilson Stadium I pass it by a lot and many times I see a local news station truck parked outside the front of the stadium waiting to do a live report.  Today, there is a media throng outside the stadium, waiting for Williams arrival and the potential story on whether or not he will sign with the Bills.

This is unfamiliar territory for Buffalo, who has traditionally been quiet in the free agency market. The only thing that came close is when Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly first came to town after signing with the Bills in 1986.  It was a spectacle.  People were lined up at the airport awaiting his arrival, as well as in the streets along his route to the stadium.

If Williams does sign with the Bills, he will be greeted as a savior, and will likely be rewarded with the richest contract for a defensive player in NFL history.  An impact defensive player of Williams caliber doesn’t hit free agency very often.

And Williams may still turn out to be the biggest prize in free agency this year, although the media circus in Buffalo pales in comparison to what the Peyton Manning Final Four teams are seeing right now.