Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Williams didn't record a sack or a quarterback pressure on New York Jets signal-caller Mark Sanchez.
In fact, the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history was regularly handled by journeyman and former practice-squader right tackle Austin Howard. But it wasn't Williams' fault, according to Williams.
"Pass blocking doesn't consist of illegal hands to the face just about every play, which, when somebody tells you that, and you're five yards away from it, and you walk away like you don't see him telling you you're getting punched in the face every time, then that dictates somebody like myself having to take care of that on my own," Williams said after the Bills' 48-28 loss to the Jets, according to ESPN New York.
Williams went on to explain that he pointed out the issue to the refs but that the refs just ignored him.
"It's not something that's really going to dictate something, but what are you going to about it?" Williams went on. "You're getting off the ball and getting punched in the face, literally -- not by accident -- just about every other time, and that's a penalty, last time I checked, unless they changed it with the new CBA or something. Last time I checked, that's a penalty."
Howard was reportedly later informed of Williams' comments, to which he responded, "If that was an issue, I think they would've thrown some flags. I didn't see any flags out there."
Whatever the case, the Jets needed Howard to step up after the departure of the struggling Wayne Hunter, and Howard did that in a big way.
As for Williams, he'd probably be better off keeping quiet and focusing on proving to Bills fans that he's worth the ridiculous money Buffalo is paying him.
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