Buffalo Bills: Rex Ryan Accuses Mario Williams of Being Selfish

Mario Williams may no longer be in Western New York, but Rex Ryan can’t resist having a dig at the defensive end, saying he wasn’t much of a team player during the Buffalo Bills’ 2015 campaign.

After three excellent seasons with the Buffalo Bills – including two Pro Bowl selections – Mario Williams came crashing back down to earth last year. With just five sacks, it helped highlight his poorest season since his rookie campaign. (He also had just five sacks in 2011, but he only played in five games due to a torn pectoral muscle.)

Williams lack of production coincided with the transition to Rex Ryan’s 3-4 defense. As certain players struggled to adapt, the defense saw their ranking for yards allowed drop from fourth-best in 2014, all the way down to 19th last season.

The 2006 first overall draft was one of the more vocal critics of Ryan’s defensive schemes, using the media as a way to publicly question the strategy. Accused in some quarters of quitting on the Bills as the 2015 campaign wound down, he argued that dropping him into coverage was a waste of his skillset.

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Now, the Bills head coach has taken the opportunity to fire back, while speaking to Jenny Vrentas of Sports Illustrated’s MMQB. As you’d expect, there were a lot of interesting quotes to take away from the interview.

While discussing Williams, Ryan said: “Now look, with some of the comments (he made), do I wish him well? Not really.”

In fairness to the 52-year, he say he thinks the 2014 First-Team All-Pro is a good kid. Part of the reason for not wishing him well, purely comes down to his joining the Miami Dolphins, who are a divisional rival.

Regardless, Ryan soon went back to criticizing Williams: “The Terrell Suggs, Jarrett Johnsons of the world. I screwed them, too; I had them drop (into coverage), too. Not one of them bitched.

Von Miller (dropped into coverage) in the Super Bowl. Why? Because that’s what’s asked of him; that’s what his job is.”

While the former New York Jets head coach makes some good points, Williams frustrations were understandable, even though he shouldn’t have been so public in his criticism. Certainly, the team having the second-fewest sacks in the NFL, after leading the league the previous year doesn’t make for good optics, even if this is only one aspect of the effectiveness of a defense.

With two games against the Bills in 2016, the one guarantee is that Williams will not be lacking for effort. Ultimately though, no matter whose side you’re on – if either – a parting of the ways was probably for the best.

Next: Make or break season for Cyrus Kouandjio?

What are your thoughts on Rex Ryan’s remarks about Mario Williams? Whose side are you on, or are you just ready to move on from the whole saga? Let us know in the comments section below.