Dolphins Mario Williams, 94, Ndamukong Suh, 93, and Cameron Wake, 91, warm-up at the Miami Dolphins training facility in Davie, Florida, Aug. 23, 2016. CHARLES TRAINOR JR
ctrainor@miamiherald.com
The Mario Williams of Miami looks, and sounds, nothing like the Mario Williams of Buffalo.
Williams’ first training camp as a Dolphin was a holiday from drama. He kept a low profile off the field, and worked hard on it.
Contrast that with his time with the Bills — complicated and, in his final days there, acrimonious.
And the rancor went public.
It’s beyond rare for a head coach to say what Rex Ryan did about his ex-defensive end to
Monday Morning Quarterback in March:
“Do I wish him well? Not really. But, he’s on Miami. If he would have gone somewhere else, maybe.”
Ryan’s saltiness wasn’t without cause —
Williams questioned Ryan’s scheme in 2015, and his place in it, hastening his departure after the season.
Now try to square that picture with the Williams who said this after a steamy August practice:
“If everybody is doing what they’re supped to be doing and we all believe in one another, therefore if I believe in you, you’re not going to let me down. And if you believe in me, you’re not going to let me down.”
And how about this from linebacker Koa Misi?
“He practices hard. He’s a good player. A leader-type guy. Somebody that guys can look up to,” Misi continued. “He’s an older vet. Just look at the way he practices. A lot of people say he’s older, but he doesn’t practice like it. Strong. Just some of the things he does in practice is crazy to see how he moves.”
