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Report: Mario Williams won’t sign tonight, will visit others

Pierre Thomas, Mario Williams

New Orleans Saints running back Pierre Thomas (23) is tackled by Houston Texans linebacker Mario Williams (90) in the first quarter of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

AP

The Buffalo Bills appear to have fallen short in their quest to make a big splash on the opening day of free agency with the biggest free agent contract ever given to a defensive player.

Instead, Mario Williams will not sign tonight and has scheduled a visit with at least one other team, Jason La Canfora of NFL Network reports.

So Williams, this year’s top free agent outside Peyton Manning, will continue to look around. What we don’t know is whether his decision to schedule another visit is an indication that he didn’t like Buffalo’s financial offer, that he didn’t like what he heard from the Bills’ football people, or that he simply wants to take his time and weigh other offers.

Among the teams that are reportedly still hoping to get an audience with Williams are the Bears and the Titans. Some team will almost certainly make Williams the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history, and that team might be the Bills. But it won’t be today.