Lots of talk on the Twittertubes about a forthcoming monster offer to Mario Williams from the Bills.
Sounds like they're ready to make him the highest paid defensive player in the NFL.
I don't know exactly how that shakes out over the course of a long contract, the highest I see is Richard Seymour at $15 million/year, but that expires at the end of the season.
Nnamdi Asimugha's big deal last year was 5/$60 with $25 guaranteed.
Remaining: 2012: $11 million, 2013: $15 million, 2014-2015: $12 million.
EDIT:Or, I could just let the experts spell it out:
The Bills want to make Williams the highest-paid defensive player in the league, with a deal better than the six-year, $91.5 million contract that Julius Peppers signed with the Bears in 2010. The Bills’ offer to Williams will apparently include more than $91.5 million in total money, more than the $40.5 million in the first three years that the Bears gave Peppers, and more than the $42 million guaranteed that the Bears gave Peppers.
BananaWorld cites Mike Lombardi indicating that the Bears are no longer pursuing, but I don't see that anywhere else.
EDIT 2:Except here:
Put the brakes on the speculation that Mario Williams would call Soldier Field home in 2012.
Chicago appears to have fallen out of the hunt for the star defensive end, with the cash-flush Buffalo Bills now appearing to have the upper hand.
After trading for WR Brandon Marshall earlier Tuesday, it’s unclear if the Bears can afford Williams, who’s expected to land a substantial contract.