Ricky Williams Returns

[StriderKyo]

I guess facing being broke and non-famous doesn't agree with Ricky, or the glamorous life in holistic medicine isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Either way, barring a team riot or another change of heart, he's gonna be a Dolphin again. From ESPN.com:

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 before 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 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."

Now I sympathize with what the guy's had to go through mentally. I don't think it's just that he's a wimp or a quitter or whatever. But if you're a sensitive guy, that locker room and that stadium's gonna be one tough place to be.

[Diff-chan]

LAWWL!

Wasnt it you and MVS that came down on me for attacking this guy when he left? Looks like I was right all along.

Hes a fucking chump and I think the Dolphins are crazy to give him another chance. They drafted a great player and he should get the snaps he needs to develop.

[Joust Williams]

I didn't ahve much of a problem with him leaving. I do, however, have a problem with him coming back. He doesn't seem into the game. Someone like that is far more detrimental than someone who simply isn't there.

[StriderKyo]

LAWWL!

Wasnt it you and MVS that came down on me for attacking this guy when he left? Looks like I was right all along.

Hes a fucking chump and I think the Dolphins are crazy to give him another chance.

I don't think he planned this or anything. But I agree that depression or personality disorder doesn't get him off the hook for being a knob, and if I were the Dolphins I'd be tempted to just trade him and take what I could get for the sake of team chemistry.

But nobody in sports management thinks that way - he's an asset, and his trade value's next to nothing until he shows he can still play, and stick with a team without flaking out.

Besides, the Dolphins are complete garbage right now anyway. They're one of those retarded franchises where everyone can see their obvious fatal flaws except them, and they never do anything to fix things. What's the worst that can happen, they get demoralized? Lose a ton of games?

They drafted a great player and he should get the snaps he needs to develop.

I say they should play him at quarterback, if they really don't like the guy.

[Diff-chan]

I don't think he planned this or anything. But I agree that depression or personality disorder doesn't get him off the hook for being a knob, and if I were the Dolphins I'd be tempted to just trade him and take what I could get for the sake of team chemistry.

I dont think he planned it either. Which is why I called bullshit on the whole "Im sick of football and going to India to find myself" thing. And I was right. It was obvious he was gonna get in some sort of drug-related trouble and pulled the plug before the NFL could wield Thor's Hammer on him. And then when he realized he was going to have to give the Dolphins back $5.4 million or whatever he panicked.

Its kind of like Prince... the reason why he changed his name to that symbol was because he thought he could get out of his contract with Warner Bros. by doing it. Seriously!

As for the Dolphins being a dysfunctional franchise... yes. They are. But is RICKY WILLIAMS really going to change that? Id punch him in the face first time I see him if I was a player.

They really should just give the guy they drafted, Ronnie Brown I believe, the chance to develop and not let this nutcase get in the way of that.

[MVS]

LAWWL!

Wasnt it you and MVS that came down on me for attacking this guy when he left? Looks like I was right all along.

Hes a fucking chump and I think the Dolphins are crazy to give him another chance. They drafted a great player and he should get the snaps he needs to develop.

Running under the assumption that he was not returning, as he said he wasn't, yes.

I fail to see how this makes you right all along.