NFL Rumors: Miami Dolphins Signing Mario Williams, Releasing Cameron Wake

NFL rumors have swirled around the Miami Dolphins defensive line because they are overpaid and under performing. When that combination exists, changes usually follow. According to NFL, the Dolphins are set to sign Mario Williams to a two-year contract. Management hopes that his horrible season with the Buffalo Bills was just a one time thing. They’re willing to get rid of Cameron Wake to see if Williams can rejuvenate himself.

Mario Williams had the worst season of his NFL career last year. He wasn’t happy with all of the changes that were going on with the Buffalo Bills. New head coach Rex Ryan installed his version of the 3-4 defense, and it did not sit well with Williams. Mario was required to drop back into coverage. He prefers to viciously chase the quarterback. Since Ryan wasn’t going anywhere, the Bills determined that it was time to part ways with Williams.

The Miami Dolphins threw a ton of money at their defensive line. It took $114 million to convince Ndamukong Suh to leave the Detroit Lions. Cameron Wake was given $32 million a couple of years back. Earl Mitchell received $16 million. Dion Jordan was signed to a $20.5 million contract, and there’s a good chance that he’s out of the NFL. The return on investment has not been kind to the Dolphins, as the defense simply could not even crack the top 10.

Fortunately for the Miami Dolphins, the NFL is one of those sports where you can turn your fortune around quickly. A couple of intelligent free agent signings combined with a well chosen draft class, and you can find yourself in the NFL Playoffs. There’s a lot of time from now until the start of the regular season. When all is said and done, the Dolphins defensive line could finally become an asset and a weapon for Miami.

The first step for the Miami Dolphins is signing Mario Williams. When he is happy and utilized in the right defensive scheme, Williams is capable of providing 10 sacks in a season. Mario was doing that for the Buffalo Bills when Jim Schwartz was the defensive coordinator. Schwartz loves to attack the quarterback, so his defensive linemen were always going forward instead of stepping back into coverage.

If Mario Williams is motivated again, then the possibilities are endless. Ndamukong Suh is still a beast at defensive tackle, so he can occupy guards and centers. That would enable Williams to go one on one with offensive tackles. Mario has defeated some of the best blockers in the NFL, and he can tear up the average guys. The combination of Williams and Suh should cause opposing offensive coordinators to lose some sleep.

The next step is figuring out what to do with Cameron Wake. The 34-year-old defensive end is set to count $9.8 million against the salary cap, a figure that is too high for someone his age and coming off of serious Achilles tendon injury. Wake and the Miami Dolphins are reportedly trying to negotiate a new deal, one that would be much more feasible. However, it is being said that the two sides are very far apart in the negotiations, so a release could be coming soon.

Reclamation projects are among some of the best stories told in the NFL. Randy Moss turned things around and went to a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots. Pacman Jones turned his life around with the Cincinnati Bengals and is now one of the top free agents available. Mario Williams is now getting his chance to tell the story, and he gets to do it in South Beach.