Super Mario visits Texans
DE Williams visits Houston as draft approaches
Associated Press
HOUSTON -- Mario Williams was forced to twice answer questions from reporters about whether the Houston Texans are serious about their interest in him on his visit there on Monday.
The questions were no doubt prompted by the supposition that the Texans will use the No. 1 pick in the draft on USC running back Reggie Bush, who visited the team last week.
Mario Williams
AP
Mario Williams has been impressive in pre-draft NFL workouts.
But Williams, a hulking defensive end who is the top rated defensive player in the draft, isn't concerned about those predictions.
"It's obvious that they are open still or they wouldn't have flown me out here," he said the second time he was asked the question. "As far as everybody saying this about Reggie and Vince [Young], like I said, nothing has happened yet and they don't even know."
Just like Bush on his visit and Young on his the following day, Williams said he feels good about the prospect of being the top pick.
"It's just like any other player, I feel like I have a great chance just like they do," he said. "I'm really not worried about all the 'Mario coming in for what or just because.' I know they're serious and I'm serious about coming here."
Williams had 14.5 sacks and 24 tackles for a loss as a junior last season at North Carolina State.
The Texans have lacked a pass-rushing threat the last two seasons as the health and productivity of two-time Pro-Bowl defensive end Gary Walker declined. The team recently released the 11-year veteran.
But Houston may have already filled that need by signing former Baltimore defensive end Anthony Weaver last month. Weaver had 117 tackles and 14.5 sacks in his four-year career with the Ravens.
The 6-foot-7, 295-pound Williams is often compared to Carolina's Julius Peppers, one of two players he said he models himself after.
"Julius Peppers and Dwight Freeney [are] both defensive ends that make a lot of plays and have great hands and leverage," he said. "I watch them and try to pick up on things they do."
Williams had just arrived in Houston when he addressed the media, but planned to visit with Houston officials Monday afternoon and evening. He has already visited Detroit and has six more trips planned in the next two weeks.
He said he uses the meetings as a chance to learn about the teams as much as the teams use them to check him out.
"Just like they ask me questions about trying to see how I am," he said. "I ask questions about where I fit in or how the program is and the teammates as well as just basically getting to know the teammates and getting to know them."
I don't see the Texans taking him, but boy would that throw a wrench into draft day
|
Super Mario visits Texans
Linear Mode
