Miami Dolphin's Ricky Williams calls it quits.

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

He came to New Orleans, and was pretty mediocre, right? He didn't live up to his potential, right?

Then he got traded to Miami and had two very good seasons, but certainly not among the best, and Miami got nowhere. Yea, Miami hasn't done much in a long time so its probably more the fault of the organization, but still, he didnt lead a team to greatness like he could've.

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Williams has been an amazing back. The only reason New Orleans traded him was a history of injury and the fact that Deuce McAllsiter turned out to be so good. Miami not being able to win had nothing to do with him and his back to back 1300+ yard seasons - he led the league in rushing his first season on the Dolphins. It was because they had no O-line, no passing game, and a moron coach who ran him into the ground - I believe he broke the record for most carries in a game at 40+ against the Bills this year, and had other 30+ carry games.

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Then he failed some drug tests and quit the team.

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Getting busted for pot hardly qualifies as failing a drug test anymore in the NFL. Nobody would really even blink at that. He's had a history of emotional problems, and suffers from chronic depression and social anxiety. If he doesn't want to be in the public eye, get beat up by an abusive coach, and wants to do something more meaningful with his life, more power to him. He's already got enough cash.

Sucks for my keeper league, though. He's been the linchpin of my running game for years. If Jamal Lewis gets sent up, I'm in trouble...

I'm for anything that helps the Patriots, this should mean a nice walk into the playoffs this year.

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

Yes yes, poor boy making millions of dollars playing football and getting caught with weed in his system and then quitting. Sorry but Im not feeling that. He's obviously gonna do what he's gonna do but right now the one word that comes to mind is "quitter". Especially after the Dolphins paid him all this money to build a team around him. Which is what the Saints did, before that. .

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This is why contracts have Out Clauses. Do you think if he had been crippeled or permanently injured during his time with the team, that they would have paid him the entireity of his future pay? Doubtful. The team is not obligated to him, nor is he to it, anything more than what is in the contract. If he has an Out Clause (Haven't seen indication either way, but lack of talk of taking this to court seems to imply he does have that), the man can exercize that option.

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

Besides, in any case, dude would've been retired by the time he was 33 or 34 anyway. Which gave him the rest of his life to travel to Asia. How many of us who are not professional athletes retire by the time we are 34? How many opportunities did you get to backpack your way through Asia or whatever when you were 27, MVS? With millions of dollars in your pocket? All of this is garbage.

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Is that jealousy, I see? The bottom line is that it does not matter what he does, if the guy doesn't want to do it anymore (and, I don't see him whining as you seem to think he is in your first paragraph) and would be happier elsewhere, what the hell do you care if he leaves?

I've never backpacked with a million dollars in my pocket, but, then again, I've never had a job that paid that much. The fact that this man does have that money is the result of him working hard and playing professional football. If I had that kind of money, and was not legally locked into a job, I'm sure I would do the same thing if I wasn't happy.

I know it's tough for you to accept that there are people out there that earn more money than you ever will, and have oppertunities to retire at an early age because of that, but you complaining about that fact makes you seem more bitter than usual and quite silly.

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Originally Posted by MVS

Is that jealousy, I see? The bottom line is that it does not matter what he does, if the guy doesn't want to do it anymore (and, I don't see him whining as you seem to think he is in your first paragraph) and would be happier elsewhere, what the hell do you care if he leaves?

I've never backpacked with a million dollars in my pocket, but, then again, I've never had a job that paid that much. The fact that this man does have that money is the result of him working hard and playing professional football. If I had that kind of money, and was not legally locked into a job, I'm sure I would do the same thing if I wasn't happy.

I know it's tough for you to accept that there are people out there that earn more money than you ever will, and have oppertunities to retire at an early age because of that, but you complaining about that fact makes you seem more bitter than usual and quite silly.

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well said.

Sorry dude, I just dont see why I should feel happy that a silly rich boy who has been an amazing football player his entire life decided to leave the sport to "follow his heart" a few years ahead of time. Zillions of people do not have this opportunity because umm they have responsibilities, and they do what they gotta do quietly and without complaint. Millions of Americans suffer from chronic depression, social anxiety, and shitty bosses, but they just cant quit to go frolic around Asia.

Athlete worship in the US is at such a ridiculous level that people can stand up and cheer when a guy like this quits out for these ridiculous reasons. I wouldnt say its anger or jealousy, as Im going to do fine in my life, but it is... puzzlement. Just how much people worship athletes and kiss their ass... its bizarre. Maybe Im still too young and idealistic, though, MVS, and I have yet to be crushed by the reality of the world like you have. So that's a fault I will admit to. Ultimately, though, I say good riddance to the guy and I hope he stays away from football for the rest of his time on Earth.

i agree with you as well on the whole "athlete worship" angle, but i dont feel anybody here is victim of that. everybody is just kind of saying "who gives a shit what he does, it doesnt effect our lives" where you seemed to have the opposite approach.

I'll tell you what this is all about. Ricky Williams is too big of a baby to actually follow the rules, like showing up to training camp at playing weight, not testing positive for Marijuana, and being counted on by a team that has invsted millions in him. This is his escape mechanism at age 27, so that he can continue to be Peter Pan. This isn't a man choosing a course in life. It is a mental 10 year-old finding a place to hide 5,000 miles away from his responsibilities.

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

Sorry dude, I just dont see why I should feel happy that a silly rich boy who has been an amazing football player his entire life decided to leave the sport to "follow his heart" a few years ahead of time.

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If you can't see why you should be happy, or at the least, indifferent about someone who has made a decision to change their life and be happier, you probably shouldn't bother replying. And "Silly rich boy"? Was he born a millionare? Don't think so, sure, he's overpaid, as most athletes are, but he earned his money, so quite the petty jealous gripes.

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

Zillions of people do not have this opportunity because umm they have responsibilities, and they do what they gotta do quietly and without complaint.

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Do zillions of people have jobs that are paid as much as he was? No. Do athletes get paid too much, sure, but this man earned his money and these teams were content to pay him the fees for his services. I'm sorry that bitching about everything under the sun on an internet message board does not pay 10,000,000 dollars per year, you surely would be much happier.

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

Millions of Americans suffer from chronic depression, social anxiety, and shitty bosses, but they just cant quit to go frolic around Asia.

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Millions of americans don't earn the money he has. He earned it, get over it.

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

Athlete worship in the US is at such a ridiculous level that people can stand up and cheer when a guy like this quits out for these ridiculous reasons.

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Yes, someone doing something to make themselves happier is ridculous. What are they thinking? Why can't they simply be a miserable fuck like you?

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

I wouldnt say its anger or jealousy, as Im going to do fine in my life, but it is... puzzlement. Just how much people worship athletes and kiss their ass... its bizarre.

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Something tells me, had Kurt Cobain decided to quit Nirvana and retire, to raise his daughter in 1994, you would be on the fledgling internet raising your disgust at his 'stupid, selfish, rich boy ways'.

Normal people would accept the things he has done and understand that the guy just wants to be happy with his life.

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

Maybe Im still too young and idealistic, though, MVS, and I have yet to be crushed by the reality of the world like you have. So that's a fault I will admit to. Ultimately, though, I say good riddance to the guy and I hope he stays away from football for the rest of his time on Earth.

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Please. I bet you can out of the womb and pissed all over the Dr., telling him he was a 'stupid slow fucker who could not get me out of the womb fast enough'.

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Originally Posted by MVS

Please. I bet you can out of the womb and pissed all over the Dr., telling him he was a 'stupid slow fucker who could not get me out of the womb fast enough'.

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:lol:


And good for Ricky. If he's unhappy doing what he's doing then more power to him. This sounds exactly like what I would have done in his situation. I'm sure he has enough money (if invested right) to live off of for the rest of his life so let him do whatever floats his boat. I was great on my HS football team but I quit before my senior year. Why, because I was so god damned unhappy being a part of that organization and the sport lost its luster for me. Sure I got a ton of flack for the decision but I know my last year was my happiest in HS.

Now ESPN is defintely the better football game, it has Ricky in it!

diffx, STFU. Football players are one of the select group of athletes that arent grossly overpaid