Mario Williams – December 20, 2016 (Conference Call)
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Tuesday, December 20, 2016
Defensive End Mario Williams Conference Call
(Any thoughts about making a trip to a familiar place up here in Buffalo and facing your former team?) – “Not really. It’s not like … We played the first time already. I think the biggest thing is, my only thoughts that are going through my mind as well as everybody else’s is just trying to win one game.”
(Bills CB Nickell Robey-Coleman says they are a better team than you and they’re going to prove it Sunday. What do you think of that?) – “I don’t think anything of it.”
(What has the experience been like for you playing on a team now that is contending for a playoff spot?) – “The first and foremost things that I have experienced here is the players, the coaches, just the camaraderie and everybody being open and just having fun. I think the biggest thing is buying into the whole situation – the whole scheme – and just having fun with it and just getting after it. Like I said, it all boils down to just trying to win one game.”
(Is that to suggest that maybe it wasn’t fun last year? Or that people weren’t buying into everything?) – “No, I’m not suggesting that. I can’t suggest stuff for anybody else or even anything in the past.”
(Is it any different there? You seem to be upbeat about your situation in Miami. Is it any different there than it was in Buffalo?) – “Here in Miami, the biggest thing is it’s just a great atmosphere. It starts from the top to the bottom with our coaching staff all the way down to our players. We really enjoy coming into work every day and we enjoy being around each other and going out there and practicing and everything else that goes with it.”
(What can you put your finger on as to why your production hasn’t been maybe where it was in the past?) – “I think the biggest thing is starting off in the year, I had a concussion. I had this and that. I had certain things come up and dealing with things now, just like everybody does. That’s on me. At this point, I’m kind of in a position to where I have to push through to get out there and mix it up and try to help the other defensive ends and so forth – the defense – as far as going out there and playing a football game right now. It’s something that everybody has to deal with certain things throughout the season and this is just the situation I’m in.”
(How do you expect fans in Buffalo to react when you go on the field for the first time?) – “I have no idea. My biggest thing is I can’t expect anything or point my finger on what anybody’s going to do. That’s not me.”
(It seems that maybe you – you talked about it – you don’t feel that some of the personnel last year fit Bills Head Coach Rex Ryan’s scheme. Was there any rift between the two of you?) – “I can’t really recall any of that as far as a rift or whatever, because that situation is in the past, and I moved on from that a long, long time ago.”
(Is there any part of you going into this game … As you said, it’s important to get the one win, but a win here would eliminate the Bills from playoff contention, and whether you’re aware of it or not, Rex’s job is very uncertain. Would you take any pride in contributing to that – knocking the Bills out of it and possibly him out of a job?) – “No. I would take more pride in winning the game for us, for the Dolphins fans, for this organization, for the players who come out here and put in work. I’ve seen it with my own eyes the dedication that they’ve put into this whole thing. That’s’ the only thing I would like to see.”
(How excited are you at the prospect of playing a playoff game for the first time? How motivated are you by that possibility?) – “I’m motivated just as much as I would say I’m motivated to go to the playoffs the first game of the year, because in order for us to get there, we have to win the game we have right now. We have to take care of this one game, no matter who the opponent is. Like I said before, we want to win this one game and so do I.”
(What do you miss the most about Western New York?) – “I can’t really say. I’m engulfed in Miami and engulfed in what we’re doing down here.”
(So you’ve just cut Buffalo out of your mind? Any different than you would have when you left Houston?) – “Say that again?”
(So Buffalo is no more part of your life any more than what Houston was when you were with the Texans?) – “I can’t say that, but you’re asking me this question right now during football season. That’s not a time to sit there and think about something else. It’s like (asking), ‘How many ex-girlfriends have you had?’ Are you going to tell your girlfriend that? (laughter) ‘I miss that girl. I miss this girl.’ Come on, man.” (laughter)
(How many of the guys here do you keep in touch with?) – “Jerry (Hughes) and Marcell (Dareus) for the most part. Every now and then, I get a chance to talk to them and talk about life. Jerry and Marcell, they talk about their children and things like that.”
(You’re on the other side, but what do you make of the season. I don’t know how familiar you are with LB Lorenzo Alexander and what he has done for the Bills pass rush.) – “I have no clue.”
