Well over a month after joining the Buffalo Bills as the biggest defensive free agent since Reggie White, Mario Williams still doesn’t have a number.
He has worn No. 90 throughout his NFL career, but Chris Kelsay has that number in Buffalo. According to Mark Gaughan of the Buffalo News, Kelsay doesn’t play to give it up.
“The team told us something would need to be decided on fairly soon,” Kelsay said. “I spoke with Mario. I actually brought it up to him, he didn’t bring it up to me. He completely understood.”
Technically, the teams hold the rights to the numbers. The Bills can, if they choose, rescind the number from Kelsay and give it to Williams. Rarely does that happen, except when the Redskins summarily stripped No. 10 from receiver Jabar Gaffney and gave it to Robert Griffin III, only days before cutting Gaffney. The Bills prefer to let the players work it out among themselves.
“I’ve worn it my entire career here,” said Kelsay. “A lot of times in a situation like this, the guy will buy it from you. But I’m not really interested in that.”
The Bills currently have no unassigned numbers between 90 and 99. Williams also can wear any unassigned number between 60 and 79.