jimster Posted April 6, 2007 Share Posted April 6, 2007 Ricky Williams Applies for Reinstatement http://sports.iwon.com/news/04062007/v1100.html Apr 6, 5:49 PM (ET) Email this Story By DAVE GOLDBERG NEW YORK (AP) -Ricky Williams, the former NFL star who played in Canada last season after being suspended for a year for substance abuse, has applied for reinstatement. Williams' agent, Leigh Steinberg, said the running back, who will turn 30 in May, had sent a letter asking that he be allowed to return to the Miami Dolphins. The NFL confirmed that Williams had sought reinstatement, for which he will be eligible after April 27, when he will have been suspended for a year. Dolphins spokesman Harvey Greene said the team had no comment because Williams is not yet eligible for reinstatement. Williams, a former Heisman Trophy winner at Texas, was originally drafted by New Orleans when then-coach Mike Ditka gave up all his picks in the 1999 draft to get his rights. He was traded to Miami for two first-round draft picks after the 2001 season and rushed for 1,853 yards for the Dolphins in 2002 and 1,372 the next season. But he abruptly retired shortly before training camp in 2004, then returned in 2005 to back up rookie Ronnie Brown. Williams rushed for 743 yards and a 4.4 yard average that year. The suspension, handed down last year by former commissioner Paul Tagliabue, was Williams' fourth. Williams' previous positive drug tests were for marijuana, which he acknowledged using. The latest test apparently involved a substance other than marijuana and may have been related to his interest in holistic medicine. Steinberg said Williams has been teaching yoga in California since returning from Canada last December. "He's told me that his interest in eastern philosophy has overcome his desire for mind-altering substances and has given him another outlet," Steinberg said. "He's in outstanding shape and he hasn't taken a lot of hits for a running back. I think he's still at the top of his game." During the 2005 season, Williams laughingly described himself as weird and compared his career to a roller coaster. But he also dispelled his reputation as an aloof, selfish pothead, winning praise from teammates and winning the south Florida media's annual postseason Good Guy Award, given to the player most cooperative with reporters. Williams has gained 7,097 yards in 1,757 carries during his NFL career and rushed for 47 touchdowns. Last season with Toronto in the CFL, he ran for 526 yards on 109 carries and caught Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinsfan07 Posted April 6, 2007 Share Posted April 6, 2007 .......................................:doh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost of Posted April 6, 2007 Share Posted April 6, 2007 I don't mind if he comes back. People act like he was caught for crack. Dude got high sometimes, whoop dee do. Watch an NBA game (hell, an NFL game) and see how many guys do the same on occasion. As fans of Dexter Manley, I don't see how we can't forgive someone's transgressions and Ricky's are even lesser than Dex's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRSmith Posted April 6, 2007 Share Posted April 6, 2007 I still remmeber how upset Joe T was when the Argos signed him, said he was ashamed to have ever worn the Argos A. Of course I do not know how good it was that the first thing he said when he flew over the skydome was "look at the size of that bong" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ntotoro Posted April 7, 2007 Share Posted April 7, 2007 Damn, I forgot all about that guy... :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HapHaszard Posted April 7, 2007 Share Posted April 7, 2007 Ricky Williams Applies for Reinstatementhttp://sports.iwon.com/news/04062007/v1100.html Apr 6, 5:49 PM (ET) Email this Story B Steinberg said Williams has been teaching yoga in California since returning from Canada last December. "He's told me that his interest in eastern philosophy has overcome his desire for mind-altering substances and has given him another outlet," Steinberg said. "He's in outstanding shape and he hasn't taken a lot of hits for a running back. I think he's still at the top of his game." And Lawrence Taylor beat drug addiction by playing golf :doh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWinzit Posted April 7, 2007 Share Posted April 7, 2007 Saban always supported hm and would have taken him back. With him out of Miami, I wonder who will give him a chance. Dallas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimster Posted April 7, 2007 Author Share Posted April 7, 2007 Saban always supported hm and would have taken him back. With him out of Miami, I wonder who will give him a chance. Dallas? I believe Miami still owns his rights. - I know Saban had to give him permission to play for the Argos last year. If he's still in shape, he wouldn't be a bad guy to have to spell Ronnie Brown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RW Posted April 7, 2007 Share Posted April 7, 2007 Somebody cue the Bob Marley music and hide the brownies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldskool Posted April 7, 2007 Share Posted April 7, 2007 Good for him. Hopefully he stays clean and does something productive again with his god given talents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herrmag Posted April 7, 2007 Share Posted April 7, 2007 Miami still owns him. He's already been given two chances though. I think he's pretty much a lost cause. This guy has more issues than just being a pot smoker. He needs psychological help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovetoaster Posted April 7, 2007 Share Posted April 7, 2007 Yes, Miami still owns his rights, but I don't think anyone has any idea where he will end up. I heard an interview with Williams on Dan Patrick on Friday, and he seemed like he was excited about coming back. I don't really know how to explain it, but he sounded like he had more determination then I remember from before. He sounded a lot more comfortable talking with the media and talking about his situation than he ever had been before. So who knows, maybe he has changed. But he said that he has had no contact with Cam Cameron, so that leads me to believe that he may not be long for Miami. And that makes a little sense to me, new coach coming in and getting rid of some previous distractions. He said that he thought that if the Dolphins were to get rid of him, he would expect them to push for him to be reinstated before the draft. But if they were looking to keep him, there would be no rush and things could drag out a little. So I guess we may find out a little more in the coming weeks... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peregrine Posted April 8, 2007 Share Posted April 8, 2007 So... With RBs a dime a dozen these days in the NFL, coming off of a big Injury, and lackluster performances, who is actually going to give Ricky Williams a shot? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremiah_Johnson Posted April 8, 2007 Share Posted April 8, 2007 Vet minimum plus incentives?????????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWinzit Posted April 8, 2007 Share Posted April 8, 2007 Vet minimum plus incentives??????????Dallas or the Raiders? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjfootballer Posted April 8, 2007 Share Posted April 8, 2007 Williams will stay in Miami. They need a 2nd back as Ronnie Brown hasn't proven he can get through a full season uninjured. Not that Brown is injury prone, but he gets nicked up and seems to miss games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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