• Follow us on Twitter @buckeyeplanet and @bp_recruiting, like us on Facebook! Enjoy a post or article, recommend it to others! BP is only as strong as its community, and we only promote by word of mouth, so share away!
  • Consider registering! Fewer and higher quality ads, no emails you don't want, access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Even if you just want to lurk, there are a lot of good reasons to register!

Ricky Williams (official thread)

Jump to latest Follow Reply
Sort by date Sort by votes
LINK

5/23/05
MIAMI -- Ricky Williams will report to Dolphins training camp in July, according to his agent, Leigh Steinberg.

Steinberg told the Palm Beach Post on Friday that Williams "absolutely" plans to rejoin the Dolphins after retiring prior to last season. "Ricky's made the decision he wants to play again," Steinberg told the paper.

Williams' strong rapport with new Miami Dolphins coach Nick Saban is part of the reason why the running back is contemplating a return, Steinberg said Friday.

Williams and Saban have had "some steady dialogue in the last 10 days," said Steinberg, who would not discuss specifics or detail what would have to transpire in the coming weeks for the NFL's leading rusher in 2002 to rejoin the Dolphins.

"Ricky has expressed a desire and excitement about returning to the Dolphins and playing football this season," Steinberg said. "He's keeping in shape and has been involved in a rigorous training program."

Williams, however, did not sound as certain about his return in an online chat with a Sports Illustrated reporter on Wednesday night, saying, "I honestly do not know [about playing football again]."

Williams retired unexpectedly last July, shortly before the Dolphins opened training camp and began their tumult-filled season. Without him, Miami went 4-12, coach Dave Wannstedt resigned after nine games and the Dolphins averaged just 17.2 points and 275 yards per game -- their worst production since 1969.

The leading Dolphins rusher in 2004, Sammy Morris, had 523 yards -- well off Williams' total of 1,372 in 2003 and his NFL-best 1,853 from 2002.

Saban, who has continually remained open to the prospect of Williams returning, said Thursday the sides are "in the process of evaluating" some issues that could lead to a comeback.

As recently as February, when he was in South Florida for a hearing in a paternity case, Williams told reporters he was "enjoying retirement" and unsure if he'd ever return to football.

If Williams returns, he'd likely have to wait until July to un-retire. Otherwise, he would face a one-year suspension for his violations of the NFL's substance-abuse program.

"He owes a four-game suspension provided he comes back after the one-year anniversary of his retirement," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Friday.

The Williams saga had numerous twists, including his acknowledgment shortly after retiring that he failed drug tests and faced a suspension for testing positive three times for marijuana. A court later found him in breach of contract by retiring and ordered him to repay the Dolphins $8.6 million.

"I think he will come through this and be very productive as a player and be a good role model once again," Steinberg told Game Night on ESPN Radio. "We've seen so many situations in this world where people go through troubles and come back and are usually productive. There are players in the NFL who are involved in murder and involved in situations who are now doing endorsements. There are players who are involved in very serious situations where they hurt other people and somehow they are accepted. Ricky Williams was mostly destructive to himself."

Williams spent much of the last year traveling to places like India and Australia but, according to some close to him, continued to follow football and the Dolphins. He also enrolled at the California College of Ayurveda in Grass Valley, Calif., studying holistic medicine.

"I don't think he has ever lost his passion of the game of football," Steinberg told ESPN Radio. "The only question is whether or not he felt he could exist within the parameters of the NFL. He's been going to the school to help him heal from the drug use. All of that has led him on the path that has made him miss the NFL more and more and more and led him again on a path, which is sort of a more natural path and away from the substances that may not work in the NFL. Right now, the Dolphins is an exciting place to be."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Click to expand...
I guess owing all that money will make you unretire.....:wink2:
 
Upvote 0
".......and be a good role model once again," Steinberg told Game Night on ESPN Radio..................Ricky Williams was mostly destructive to himself".

"A good role model once again". Yea right, first of all he was never a good role model and I doubt that he will magically turn into one now.

"Ricky Williams was mostly destructive to himself", at least Steinberg go that one right!!!
 
Upvote 0
From the Sportspickle:

Does anyone else think that it’s a coincidence that in the week after it was discovered one could purchase a product online called “The Original Whizzinator” to help beat drug tests that Ricky Williams announced plans to come back to the NFL? Neither do I. But I hope Ricky is smart enough to order a Whizzinator specially outfitted with shrunken testicles – a nifty side effect of heavy marijuana use – so as not to raise suspicions with league testers..
Click to expand...
 
Upvote 0
I was talking with Rick Spielman about this yesterday. He feels that Ricky has a strong desire to return. Maybe its the $8M he owes the fins, but who knows.

The guy is a fantastic runner, my concern is how Jason Taylor and the other vets will treat him.

I am excited that Mich Weekend, the fins are playing the browns, a great double header weekend. I will give up my "wine and cheese" tickets to be sitting (standing) in the dawg pound for that one....
 
Upvote 0
Ricky Williams arrives at Dolphins camp

Williams arrives at Dolphins camp

Associated Press
Posted: 2 hours ago

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/3772886

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) - Running back Ricky Williams reported to Miami Dolphins training camp on Sunday morning, nearly one year to the day after he told the team he was retiring from football.

Williams, driving a blue sport utility vehicle, arrived at the team's training facility around 8:45 a.m. He did not comment to reporters waiting outside the complex. The team's first formal training-camp media availability is scheduled for Monday.

The 2002 NFL rushing champion decided to seek reinstatement after sitting out last season, saying at the time he'd lost the urge to continue playing. Williams faces a four-game suspension at the start of the season for violating the league's substance abuse program, yet likely will be able to play in preseason games.

Williams acknowledged shortly after retiring that he failed drug tests and faced a suspension for testing positive three times for marijuana.

Williams rushed for 3,225 yards and 25 touchdowns in two seasons with the Dolphins. He informed former coach Dave Wannstedt of his retirement plans last July 23, one week before the start of training camp - a move that stunned teammates, and played a role in Miami's downward spiral. The Dolphins were 4-12 last season.

A court later found the 1998 Heisman Trophy winner in breach of contract by retiring, and ordered him to repay the team $8.6 million. The team has not yet sought to collect the settlement, and new coach Nick Saban offered Williams another chance to play for the Dolphins.
 
Upvote 0
saw this on profootballtalk.com....too funny.


149354037658.jpg


" I came back because I need money to buy shoes."

:slappy:
 
Upvote 0
How many carries will Ricky Williams have tonight?

Hall of Fame game today...featuring neither teams greedy drafted unsigned running back.

Leads me to the question, I have a bet with a friend, I'm calling that Ricky Williams gets at least 11 carries in the game.

Its rare for a (once pro bowl) RB to take that many carries in the FIRST week of preseason but I just think they have to because......

1. The dolphins suck, who knows the next time they'll be put on T.V., the public wants it so they'll give it to them.

2, Help Saban see just how rusty Ricky is; also help him get back into game shape.

3. See if worked real hard if he shows signs of quitting.

4. If he gets dinged up it's fine, he has to miss the first 4 season games with suspension anyways

5. They drafted Ronnie Brown, even more insurence to being able to live with a Ricky Williams injury.

Make your predictions...

Bears 24 Dolphins 10
14 carries for 81 yards and one touchdown.
 
Upvote 0
A little background info and the schedule:
Two nights later, it is on to Canton, Ohio, birthplace of the NFL, for the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game. On Monday night, Aug. 8, on ABC, the Chicago Bears will face the Miami Dolphins, who the day before will see one of their greatest players, quarterback Dan Marino, inducted into the Hall of Fame. Marino had held the season TD pass record for 20 years (48 in 1984) before the Colts’ Manning topped it last year.

Opponents averaged 4.1 yards on Chicago's defense last year, so I'm gonna go with 4.5 yards a carry. Give him the ball 16 times for 72 yards, and I agree with the 1 TD prediction.
 
Upvote 0
One of the rumors flying around here is that the Dolphins are going to try and trade Williams... not sure who would be willing to pick up his big salary but they might try. They drafted Brown thinking Williams was gone for good... I think they have a better future with Brown than Williams anyway. He may get plenty of carries in the pre season to show what he still has the ability and it didn't go up in smoke last year. There may be a team out there that wants to take a chance on him besides the Phins.
 
Upvote 0
LoKyBuckeye said:
One of the rumors flying around here is that the Dolphins are going to try and trade Williams... not sure who would be willing to pick up his big salary but they might try. They drafted Brown thinking Williams was gone for good... I think they have a better future with Brown than Williams anyway. He may get plenty of carries in the pre season to show what he still has the ability and it didn't go up in smoke last year. There may be a team out there that wants to take a chance on him besides the Phins.
Click to expand...
:2004: i think i know who would be interested :2004:
 
Upvote 0
Thus far in the 1st Quarter it looks like its going as expected. Bears up 7-0 courtesy of a big catch from the Mushin Mohammed, followed up by Jones running the ball in past a Miami D (that still looks like its at sea).

And no Ricky -- yet.

EDIT: Ricky is in at 8:09 1st Quarter.

Also -- the Bears a playing tough D for it being a Hall of Fame game.
A name familiar to our visiting Longhorn fans, Vasher, is laying the wood on blitzes.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top