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Dolphins Meeting With Free Agent Mario Williams

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MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) — The Miami Dolphins have reached out to former Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Williams, according to sources.

The free agent was to meet Saturday with the Dolphins, a person familiar with the situation said. The person confirmed the meeting to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Dolphins had not commented.

Long one of the NFL's top pass rushers, Williams had only five sacks last year for the Buffalo Bills, who released him Tuesday.

The Dolphins are interested because they may lose defensive end Olivier Vernon in free agency, and the status of defensive end Cameron Wake is also uncertain.

On Tuesday, Miami placed a $12.734 million transition tag on Vernon, allowing him to negotiate with other teams. The Dolphins have the right of first refusal to match any offer.

Wake is 34 and coming off a torn Achilles tendon, and the Dolphins have been negotiating to lower his $9.8 million salary cap hit.

Williams, 31, has 96 career sacks, but his production fell last year under new Bills coach Rex Ryan. At times, Williams complained about his role.

Selected No. 1 overall in the 2006 draft, Williams spent his first six seasons in Houston. He has made the Pro Bowl four times, most recently in 2014, when he had 14½ sacks.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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