Marcell Dareus

Trainer tend to Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus (99) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins in Landover, Md., Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015. (AP Photo/Mark Tenally)

(Mark Tenally)

Orchard Park, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills had to get rid of Mario Williams. His $19 million cap hit and public complaints about Rex Ryan's defense made the marriage one that never stood a chance.

That doesn't mean, however, Williams' loss won't be felt on and off the field. Just two years ago, three of the Bills' four starting defensive linemen were going to the Pro Bowl. Now Kyle Williams is working his way back from injury, and Mario Williams is gone. One of the most dominant defensive lines in recent NFL history now looks a lot different. That fact isn't lost on Marcell Dareus, who is now the highest paid player on the defensive line.

"I mean, he's a big deal to me," Dareus said when asked about his reaction to Williams leaving. "He's a real close friend of mine. I wish we could have did something, but at the same time, hey, it's a business. They're going to do what they have to do. It hit us all different ways, but that's how it is."

When asked to expand, Dareus didn't feel much like elaborating.

"It's a business," Dareus said. "How I feel really doesn't matter."

In the end, he's right. It was tough for the Bills to keep Mario Williams for financial reasons. It also would have been tough for Rex Ryan to keep Mario Williams and still run his defense.

"I think first off that guys really, Mario really was you know a friend of many people on this team," Ryan said. "So that is never an easy deal, obviously a talent as he making like $16 million or whatever it was. So that is a talent certainly, you put that behind you, you move on. I think guys are working extremely hard, and in this league you can't keep everybody you wish you could for whatever reason. I know one thing I am excited about it. We are getting everything we want out of the guys. You mention an IK (Enemkpali), you mention different guys a Corbin Bryant. Whoever it is they step in and we move on we don't look back."

For now, the Bills aren't looking back. They are buying into Ryan's defense and hoping the scheme helps turn the defense around. If the defense disappoints again, there may be some second guessing about why one of the most talented pass rushers on the team was cut loose.