NC State Wolfpack: Mario Williams Released by Miami Dolphins
Mario Williams once prowled the field for the NC State Wolfpack. Now he is looking for a new team to call home.
Former NC State Wolfpack football player Mario Williams was one of several cuts made today by the Miami Dolphins. Williams had one year remaining on his two year deal with the team. He made a guaranteed $12 million over the life of the contract.
Williams was cut for being too expensive and not living up to expectations with the Dolphins. Tackle Branden Albert was one of three other players cut by the team.
Williams was brought in last year as part of a huge makeover for the Dolphins defense. The hope was that the infusion of veteran defensive talent would turn the Dolphins into playoff contenders alongside Ndamukong Suh. They reached the first round of the playoffs and Miami is clearly trying to retool to make a deeper run next year.
More from North Carolina State Wolfpack
- NC Colleges Provide Coronavirus Results from Athletic Departments
- Four North Carolina players selected in first round of MLB Draft
- N.C. State basketball announces staff changes
- N.C. State Football: Wolfpack lands Top 10 quarterback in 2021
- Should N.C. State fans be mad at Doeren over Will Shipley?
Williams’ sack output fell precipitously last year. He only collected 1.5 sacks on the season although he did not play in three games. This continues a downward slide that started for him in his last season at Buffalo.
Being cut by the Dolphins will enable Williams to sign with a team where he might have a better fit. He still has the size to be an every down defensive end in the NFL, but does have any doggedness left to him? If so then the Carolina Panthers would be a team that would be interested in him, although the Panthers might be more interested in the services of Albert if he is healthy enough.
It is weird to think of the days of Williams and Manny Lawson terrorizing the conference as twelve years ago. Both of them are still kicking around the league and have even been teammates on the occasion. Either would like to be Jacoby Brissett, who now owns a Super Bowl ring after a career at State.