http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mymod/hdln/z...*http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mymod/hdln/aprs/sty/*http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...20041202/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_dolphins_williams By TIM REYNOLDS, AP Sports Writer MIAMI - Ricky Williams rejected a deal that would have allowed him to serve a four-game drug suspension this season and return to the NFL next year. "Ricky indicated to me that he is no longer interested in resuming his career at this time," Williams' lawyer, David Cornwell, said in a statement e-mailed to The Associated Press on Thursday. The 1998 Heisman Trophy winner needed to let the league know by Thursday so he could be moved from the retired list to the suspended list by the deadline. He would have served the suspension for the Miami Dolphins (news)' final four games, starting Dec. 12 at Denver. "David Cornwell informed our office that Ricky Williams has declined to accept the terms of his reinstatement," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said. Dolphins spokesman Harvey Greene wouldn't comment, saying the matter is between Williams and the NFL. Williams, 27, stunned his team by retiring shortly before Miami opened training camp in July. The Dolphins filed a lawsuit in federal court against the running back, seeking the $8.6 million an arbitrator ruled he owes the team for breaching his contract. Williams is fighting the decision. He is now enrolled in a 17-month course at the California College of Ayurveda in Grass Valley, Calif., studying holistic medicine. The talks to allow Williams back into the league involved a promise to return to the field next season and to re-enter the NFL drug program immediately, including being tested on a regular basis. "The NFL sought assurances that Ricky is indeed committed to playing," Cornwell said. Williams gave up the $5 million he would have earned this season, which would have been his sixth in the NFL, amid reports he faced suspension for substance abuse. He rushed for 3,225 yards in two seasons with the Dolphins, including a league-leading 1,853 yards in 2002. Miami acquired him from New Orleans after the 2001 season. But without Williams, the Dolphins have gone into a tailspin. They're 2-9 and will finish with a losing record for the first time since 1988. Williams has social-anxiety disorder and was a spokesman for an anti-depressant. He said mar1juana helped him after he stopped using the anti-depressant.
What an idiot...but if he's happy, I guess that's all that counts... But to have all that talent and not use it...pathetic... Go Horns...
Alright. He really doesn't wanna come back after all. Can we stop hearing about this now? Honestly. Let the man be.
Well, I can't really blame the guy if he simply doesn't want to end up like Earl Campbell, unable to even walk. Football really wrecks your body, especially if you're a running back who gets a lot of carries. Still not a great excuse to just drop that bombshell on your team at training camp, though.
Why was his lawyer pushing for his return if Ricky was only going to say he doesn't want to play yet again? Not only was it a waste of time but nobody cares any longer.
Agreed. He stiffed his dolphin teammates in a bad way but it's over and done with. Ricky lost his desire to play and it appears he's done. Too bad, but it is his life. Pass it to the left Ricky.
How is what he did any different than Barry Sanders. Lost the edge, and passion, decided to quit. Whatever makes him happy. DD
I guess his statement last month that he wanted to come back wasnt true....or is it that part of the deal that NFL made to him was that he had to start drug testing ASAP. Whatever Ricky
Actually Ricky talked about coming back....from The Miami Herald Posted on Fri, Oct. 08, 2004 DOLPHINS Payback, comeback on Ricky's mind BY JASON COLE jcole@herald.com Running back Ricky Williams, who has returned to the United States to chase his rekindled passion to play football, said Thursday in a telephone interview with The Herald that he wants to pay back his $8.6 million debt to the Dolphins and would like to play for the Dolphins again. However, NFL rules might make him wait to play again; likely the earliest he could come back would be next season. ''I want to give them their money back,'' Williams said, referring to the money Williams owes the team under the provisions of his contract. Last month, an arbitrator ruled that Williams must return the money. ``I want to give them every single cent back. I don't care about the money. It's blood money as far as I'm concerned. . . . I can't wait to make enough to pay them back. They can have it. The money is what made me miserable. ``I want to be free of that stress.'' Williams, making cogent points in a wide-ranging, 30-minute discussion, also said he would be willing to play for the Dolphins again despite criticism he has received from former teammates and fans. Linebacker Zach Thomas said Wednesday that he didn't think Williams would ever play for the Dolphins again because he didn't think Williams could face the scrutiny. ''I read Zach's comment. I don't care. I don't care what people think of me,'' he said. ``Let them say what they want.'' MONEY NOT A CONCERN Williams, who has been traveling through Australia and Asia in recent weeks, grew more incredulous with every sentence when asked whether he was concerned about the money he owes the Dolphins or how much he might make in the future. ''I've been living in a tent for weeks now, paying $7 a day. . . . Do you really think money means anything to me?'' he said. ``I lost everything, and that's when I realized how much I love to play the game.'' Williams said his latest epiphany dawned on him the morning of Sept. 27. He was in Bangkok, Thailand, sipping tea when he saw the Tampa Bay-Oakland game on television. ''Watching the game, it made me understand how much I really do love the game. . . . The only reason I'm thinking about doing this is it's not a job anymore,'' Williams said. ``It's passion. All I want to do is play. I don't want to be a public figure. I don't want to talk to the media. I don't want to want to make appearances.'' Williams said he would deal with whatever rules the NFL set forth and would abide by the NFL substance abuse policy. He already had tested positive three times for mar1juana use and will face a a fourth violation of the policy for retiring while a part of the league's treatment program. That's where a return this season gets complicated. On Tuesday, agent Leigh Steinberg requested a hearing with the NFL to clear Williams' status with the league. Steinberg also told The San Diego Union-Tribune that he claims Williams is technically not retired because neither he nor Williams ever signed any retirement papers. The league's response was simple on both accounts. ''There are no provisions for a hearing about this issue,'' an NFL source said Thursday. 'Basically, [Steinberg] has been told, `If you want to come in, we'll be happy to discuss the situation with you.' But there will be no hearing.'' As for the retirement, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the paperwork is irrelevant. ''You don't have to file paperwork to be considered retired,'' Aiello said. ``If you've made statements that you're retiring and then you don't show up for training camp or the season, it's up to the club to determine the status.'' The Dolphins placed Williams on the reserve/retired list, meaning he must apply to NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue for reinstatement. SUSPENSION AWAITING The bottom line from the NFL's perspective is that Williams is free to seek reinstatement, but doing so now would make it tougher for him to return, not easier. Agent Bruce Tollner, who is partners with Steinberg, already has been told by the league and the Dolphins that Williams should not attempt to return this season. Tollner was told that Williams would immediately be suspended for four games if he is reinstated because of the three failed tests. He would then be hit with a suspension of at least one year because he retired while in a treatment program. In other words, if Williams tried to return, he might not play again until late next year. However, if Williams were to sit out all of this season, he would merely face the four-game suspension at the beginning of 2005. He also would be subject to regular testing and counseling for the remainder of his career. When told he would likely have to wait until next season, Williams said: ``That's fine, if that's what the league says. I just came back because I felt I owed it to myself to find out what I had to do.'' So, does that mean the NFL will see Williams back in July in preparation for the 2005 season? ''There's a long time between now and then, and you know me and my travel schedule,'' Williams said with a chuckle.
