I like Mario Williams. I have liked him since he was drafted back in 2006.
↵I like the Texans. I've been following them since the days of the expansion draft.
↵Those two facts make the situation over Mario's season-ending injury and his contract status all the more difficult. On the one hand, I don't want to see the Texans lose their most iconic defender. He hasn't been as flashy a player as Julius Peppers, but Mario has definitely been one of the best defensive players in the league and has the talent/skills to make plays no one else can.
↵Also, for purely selfish reasons, I don't want to have to buy a new jersey.
↵On Mario's side, I'm upset that the Texans would put Mario's contract situation so up in the air, risking losing him at some point. If he feels disrespected, he could flee for greener pastures like Peppers did. Also, his injury now affects his market value and may make it harder for him to find a new home.
↵On the Texans side, Mario has already made a lot of money and will continue to make a lot of money after the injury heals. By not signing him to a long-term deal before now, the Texans will not be hurt by having an injury-prone player given lots of money. After all, Mario has been dealing with various injuries lately, including a shoulder problem, etc. By waiting, they could get him at a lower price than before.
↵Mario has proven he can play in Wade's system and will likely still be a Texan. His presence will be sorely missed on this team and I'm not sure the defense will recover. I like Brooks Reed, but he won't provide the same kind of impact as Mario. At least, not yet.