The Chicago Bears had been linked to free agent defensive end Mario Williams prior to beginning of the 2012 NFL Free Agency period, but the Buffalo Bills have been far more aggressive in their pursuit of the pass rushing talent. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Williams and the Bills are "close to a deal," and the Bears will have to turn their search elsewhere for a suitable player to line up opposite Julius Peppers next season.
While the Bears were busy trading for wide receiver Brandon Marshall, the Bills front office managed to get Williams on a plane to Buffalo for negotiations. The young DE wasn't going to be a cheap addition from the start, but it is likely the Bills will be paying a premium if they do in fact close the deal. It's hard to figure out what would make the Bills more enticing than the Bears other than a couple extra dump trucks full of cash. Here is exactly what Schefter had to say, via Twitter:
Buffalo has met most of the conditions for a deal for Texans free agent LB Mario Williams and is "close to a deal." Answer "real soon."
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 15, 2012
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