Great Mario Williams piece

[b0ng]

Throwing into traffic blog

“It looks like the dumbest sports decision of the past 25 years…and that’s before we find out Reggie Bush’s ceiling.”

- Bill Simmons on Houston selecting Mario Williams at #1 in 2006

One need only look at the way we react to people acting “out of character,” or our notorious aversion to change to see how unexpected occurrences and choices rub us the wrong way. This was certainly the case in the 2006 NFL draft, when, with Reggie “The New Gale Sayers” Bush and Vince “Quarterback Revolution #3394” Young available, the Houston Texans selected DE Mario Williams with the first overall pick. The backlash was immediate and overwhelming. At no point were any of the positives mentioned (Williams had a stellar college career, he would have CERTAINLY gone second if not picked first, and HUMAN BODIES THAT BIG ARE NOT MEANT TO DO WHAT WILLIAMS’S DOES)

I know Mario has gotten a ton of love this offseason, so. . . Here's some more!

I liked this article because the writer actually researched some opinions on the 2006 draft rather than just saying "The media hated on the Texans".

 

[Honoring Earl 34]

I would like to see a great year from Mario before I take another swig of battle red koolaid but I will say I have always been impressed on how well Mario handled himself throughout all the crap he took .

 

[3rd and Inches]

I would like to see a great year from Mario before I take another swig of battle red koolaid but I will say I have always been impressed on how well Mario handled himself throughout all the crap he took .

I agree.. I think he handled all the negativity with integrity and honor.. which just made me love him more in my opinion..

 

[barrett]

keep it coming! i love every single word of "oops" press he's getting! every single word! man it's a great off season to be a long time Texans fan!

 

[Lucky]

Free will is both something we cherish and something with which we’ll never be fully comfortable. On the one hand, we love the idea of free will as an abstract literary concept, allowing us to set the plot of our individual stories, thumbing our noses at the things we “should” do in favor of that which inspires our passions. Yet this abstract love affair is something we are less ready to accept as applied to reality. One need only look at the way we react to people acting “out of character,” or our notorious aversion to change to see how unexpected occurrences and choices rub us the wrong way.

That is so freakin' true. I've never read TiT, before. I gave it a bookmark and will keep reading.

Mario made KSK as the 8th seed in the Bracket of Pain, to determine the Heavyweight champ of the NFL. Speaking of KSK, you may or may not like Thursday's entry which has something on the Texans Travis Johnson. But, you definitely don't want to post it here.

 

[TexanSam]

<----Is what my face looks knowing the media made fools out of themselves

 

[ATXtexanfan]

nice find bOng, hopefully mario is the point of the sword this year

 

[Insideop]

So far I haven't tired of reading/hearing all the praise and apologies that Mario has been receiving from the press. I guess there was just so much crap dished out about him that it's going to take a long time for me to get tired of it. Heck, I may never forgive them! LOL!

 

[dc_txtech]

So far I haven't tired of reading/hearing all the praise and apologies that Mario has been receiving from the press. I guess there was just so much crap dished out about him that it's going to take a long time for me to get tired of it. Heck, I may never forgive them! LOL!

I feel the same way. There was nothing in that article that I haven't heard a hundred times before. But it was just as entertaining and satisfying as the first time I heard the media eat crow about Mario.

 

[CT CSTM]

I agree.. I think he handled all the negativity with integrity and honor.. which just made me love him more in my opinion..

I remember last pre-season, he and I were sitting in his driveway working on something,,,just hanging out BSing about nothing,,,he had been pretty down about all the negativity in the media so we were just talking about anything "not football",,,we hear a car drive by and the passenger yells out "Mario Sucks" as they drive by,,,we look at each other, he rolls his eyes and just kinda chuckles,,,we went back to our conversation without missing a beat,,,

Yeah the kid handled it like a seasoned veteran,,,

 

[Hooston Texan]

I feel the same way. There was nothing in that article that I haven't heard a hundred times before. But it was just as entertaining and satisfying as the first time I heard the media eat crow about Mario.

And only slightly less entertaining and satisfying has been the "Maybe it really WAS David Carr's fault . . . " redemption pieces for the Texans offense. But the Williams story probably gets the edge because nobody, NOBODY in the media was willing to do anything but bash the pick at the time. I forget whose column it was that posited that we should build a giant middle finger in front of Reliant stadium, but I fervently hope that Mario takes the next step and dominates everyone next year. I'll never tire of it.

 

[The Pencil Neck]

I remember last pre-season, he and I were sitting in his driveway working on something,,,just hanging out BSing about nothing,,,he had been pretty down about all the negativity in the media so we were just talking about anything "not football",,,we hear a car drive by and the passenger yells out "Mario Sucks" as they drive by,,,we look at each other, he rolls his eyes and just kinda chuckles,,,we went back to our conversation without missing a beat,,,

Yeah the kid handled it like a seasoned veteran,,,

Does he know that there's a hardcore group of us that have been behind him since the start? (Or at least as soon as the shock of the pick wore off but before the first training camp.) ? And that it's not a small group? Or did he feel that everyone was against him?

If he doesn't know, please tell him for us.

 

[ChampionTexan]

I'm waiting for the full page ad in the Chron from Mattress Mac admitting that he doesn't know jack-crap about football.

I am however quite satisfied with the way Richard Justice is using his column to demonstrate that very thing on a regular basis.

 

[ATXtexanfan]

I'm waiting for the full page ad in the Chron from Mattress Mac admitting that he doesn't know jack-crap about football.

I am however quite satisfied with the way Richard Justice is using his column to demonstrate that very thing on a regular basis.

true, true, very true

 

[CT CSTM]

Does he know that there's a hardcore group of us that have been behind him since the start? (Or at least as soon as the shock of the pick wore off but before the first training camp.) ? And that it's not a small group? Or did he feel that everyone was against him?

If he doesn't know, please tell him for us.

He knows everyone loves him now!

He never had anyone in public come up and be rude to him, he said everyone treated him very good and respectful,,,at least to his face,,,

 

[3rd and Inches]

He knows everyone loves him now!

He never had anyone in public come up and be rude to him, he said everyone treated him very good and respectful,,,at least to his face,,,

Not surprising.. I'm about his size and it's always amazing how nice people are to your face and as soon as your back is turned.. they start the frenzy of talkin' about you.. lol..

I think he's wise beyond his years.. I'm really glad Houston has him.. Grade A Quality Person IMO

 

[barrett]

there was one snipit in the article that i didn't know about. it was that he maintained a pretty high GPA throughout college as well. that's great! 3.8 or something.

 

[TheRealJoker]

And only slightly less entertaining and satisfying has been the "Maybe it really WAS David Carr's fault . . . " redemption pieces for the Texans offense. But the Williams story probably gets the edge because nobody, NOBODY in the media was willing to do anything but bash the pick at the time. I forget whose column it was that posited that we should build a giant middle finger in front of Reliant stadium, but I fervently hope that Mario takes the next step and dominates everyone next year. I'll never tire of it.

The only big name nat'l media writer that backed the Mario pick from the start as far as I know was Michael Smith who hulked up on Around the Horn the day after the draft when everyone was bashing the pick.

 

[b0ng]

The only big name nat'l media writer that backed the Mario pick from the start as far as I know was Michael Smith who hulked up on Around the Horn the day after the draft when everyone was bashing the pick.

Yes, there was another writer named Bomani Jones that wrote for the sports illustrated. I forget what the piece was titled, but one of the quotes was that the entire sports media owed Mario Williams an apology. I haven't seen an artickle in SI by him since (Although I really haven't looked)

 

[Lucky]

The only big name nat'l media writer that backed the Mario pick from the start as far as I know was Michael Smith who hulked up on Around the Horn the day after the draft when everyone was bashing the pick.

Smith actually was behind the pick before the Texans announced Mario would be taken #1.

Let me begin by assuring you that, to my knowledge, I never have suffered a head injury, not even a minor one. I've never used/abused recreational or prescription drugs. And it has been well over a week since I last consumed any alcohol. Also rest assured that when I wrote the following, I did so with a straight face.


With the first pick of the 2006 NFL draft, the Houston Texans should not select running back Reggie Bush of Southern California. And my reason has nothing to do with the recent report that his family allegedly accepted extra benefits during Bush's junior season.


And sorry, Houstonians, this isn't another plea for the Texans to pass over Bush in favor of University of Texas quarterback (and hometown hero) Vince Young.

They shouldn't trade down, either, or they might miss out on the player they should take. Mario Williams, the North Carolina State defensive end, should be the Texans' pick.

I remember reading the article and thinking Smith had made some good points regarding taking Mario. But there was no way that it would happen. Especially after giving Anthony Weaver a big contract to play LDE. Surprise!

 

[Lucky]

Yes, there was another writer named Bomani Jones that wrote for the sports illustrated. I forget what the piece was titled, but one of the quotes was that the entire sports media owed Mario Williams an apology. I haven't seen an artickle in SI by him since (Although I really haven't looked)

Bomani Jones actually writes for ESPN's Page 2. Here's a link to the Jones piece on Mario.

And for that reason, the majority of the football universe owes Mario Williams a sincere apology.

You may remember Williams from one of many choice jokes from a fellow fan or your favorite sportswriter (or this sportswriter). He's also known as the top pick of the 2006 draft. But he's best known as the man the foolish Texans chose instead of taking Bush.

Now, we should call him a promising pass-rusher. He's also the only defensive lineman in Houston who shouldn't wear a mask on payday.
And, this season, Williams has been a better player than Bush.

That doesn't necessarily mean he will have a better career than Bush, but it does indicate that the Texans weren't hittin' the hooch when they passed on the Heisman Trophy winner.

A lot of people owe Williams some sort of mea culpa. To turn him into Sam Bowie before he played an NFL down was inhumane. And making Bush into Michael Jordan in April has proven to be a bit hasty.

Gutsy, because Jones penned that in 2006, not last season.

 

[barrett]

i like these lines from the michael smith article linked above:

The choice of Williams comes down to whether the Texans want to sell tickets now or distribute Super Bowl tickets later.

The question is: What are the Texans trying to build? Short-term excitement or a title contender? Was owner Bob McNair sincere when he told the Texans' brain trust not to concern itself with selling tickets but, because winning fills seats, to select the best football player for the team long term?

so much class. i couldn't be more proud to be a Texan. i'm soooooooo excited!

can one have an organization crush instead of the oft stated "man crush"?

 

[Insideop]

Smith actually was behind the pick before the Texans announced Mario would be taken #1.

I remember reading the article and thinking Smith had made some good points regarding taking Mario. But there was no way that it would happen. Especially after giving Anthony Weaver a big contract to play LDE. Surprise!

You know, I remember reading that article too. I think it came out about a week before the Draft, and at the time, I hadn't heard much about Mario except his Combine workout. I remember thinking, after reading this article, that I hope the Texans do draft Mario because I never really liked Bush and thought he wasn't a good fit for the ZB system that I thought Kubes was going to install at that time. Besides, I always thought, like some, that it is better to build a team from "the trenches out."

Of course, like most, I had resigned myself to thinking we were going to pick Bush and there was nothing anyone could do about it. Then about Wednesday of that week, stories started coming out about the Texans breaking off talks with Bush's agent and heating up talks with Mario's. Most, at the time, including Mario's agent, thought it was a ploy to get Bush to sign before the Draft, but in reality, Kubes and Casserly had decided to pick Mario. I was very happy at that time they picked Mario, even with all the negative press that came out. But, I'm even more happier now that Mario, over time, has proven to be the right pick. Here's to more success as a player and as a team!

 

[Chance_C]

But, I'm even more happier now that Mario, over time, has proven to be the right pick.

He has definately proven to be the right pick. Could you imagine what it would be like if we had drafted RB or VY? I mean the missing on two #1 picks in 4 years would have really been catastrophic to this franchise.

 

[Insideop]

He has definately proven to be the right pick. Could you imagine what it would be like if we had drafted RB or VY? I mean the missing on two #1 picks in 4 years would have really been catastrophic to this franchise.

Personally, I think both of them would've been busts if they had come to this team. I think Kubes knew VY would not fit what he wanted to do, and since he thought he could mold "you know who" into a good QB, he never gave VY much of a thought. Bush, on the other hand, seemed destined to be a Texan. I'm not sure what Kubes thought of Bush and how he would fit into the ZB system, but I think the more he looked at film and the more research he did of Mario, I think he realized that's who we really needed. And the rest, as they say, is history!

 

[b0ng]

I think that people really aren't going to debate who was right in a year or two, but that's just how it is. I think if Williams really puts together something really solid this season from start to finish, everybody is probably going to call the Texans "geniuses" for awhile (Which will be nice), and quietly try to put the fact that entire networks were calling him the biggest bust since ______ behind them.

I was tired of it the minute the pick was made, and listening to all of the VY supporters in Houston has made me think half of the population of this huge city is sniffing glue.

 

[barrett]

or oil.

 

[Maddict5]

Gutsy, because Jones penned that in 2006, not last season.

another gutsy pre-season article from last year that i remembered

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10195551

'Mistake' Williams will be a pass-rushing force
May 24, 2007
By Pete Prisco


Oh, he's that guy.

Mario Williams will always be the guy the Houston Texans picked first in the 2006 NFL Draft, instead of taking the electrifying Reggie Bush or hometown hero Vince Young.

No matter what he does the rest of his career -- only in its second year -- Williams will always be targeted as the blown pick by the Texans, passing on a star runner and a freakish quarterback.

That just isn't fair.

While Bush and Young had nice rookie seasons, with Young winning the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award for the Tennessee Titans and Bush part of the New Orleans Saints' feel-good season. Williams saw his game picked apart on a regular basis. It didn't help when Young ran 39 yards for a touchdown in overtime to give the Titans a 26-20 victory over the Texans in his return to Houston last season.

But give Williams time. He will be a pass-rush force and five years from now Williams will be known for more than just being that guy.

You will be penciling in All-Pro next to his name. For now, he has to hear the talk of how he's the player the Texans shouldn't have drafted.

"I don't worry about it," Williams said this week. "I can't dwell on it. You have to take the bad with the good. Nobody likes defensive linemen anyway and when I came out with the skill people I did in the draft, they weren't excited about me being picked. That's the way it is. I understand it. I hear it. But it's not a big deal."

Highlight programs loved showing off Young last year. And they loved showing off Bush. Williams? His game was mostly scrutinized in a negative way.

Where were the sacks?

Williams started all 16 games and finished with 4½ sacks. When he got his first in the first week in October against Miami, a big deal was made of it -- almost mockingly, in fact. The headline of the story when he got one was this: Finally.

What people didn't know was that Williams played with a painful foot condition known as plantar fasciitis all season. He wouldn't practice during the week because of the pain, yet played all 16 games.

"I was taking two shots on game day for the pain and it still hurt," Williams said. "But I'm the type of person who can't stand to sit out. I didn't want to be standing and watching and cheering. But it was tough."

 

[threetoedpete]

Personally, I think both of them would've been busts if they had come to this team. I think Kubes knew VY would not fit what he wanted to do, and since he thought he could mold "you know who" into a good QB, he never gave VY much of a thought. Bush, on the other hand, seemed destined to be a Texan. I'm not sure what Kubes thought of Bush and how he would fit into the ZB system, but I think the more he looked at film and the more research he did of Mario, I think he realized that's who we really needed. And the rest, as they say, is history!

I think once Kubiack saw VY on film he knew there was no way he could ever change the mechanics. No one could. His trowing motion is ingrained and there is no going back. He is what he is...the stag running from the hounds and the hunter. There is only one way that story can end.

 

[Texans_Chick]

Throwing into traffic blog





I know Mario has gotten a ton of love this offseason, so. . . Here's some more!

I liked this article because the writer actually researched some opinions on the 2006 draft rather than just saying "The media hated on the Texans".

LOL. I think some of the things in that article were researched from things I wrote in 2006 and 2007. I'm glad someone is paying attention.