Ricky Williams Applies for Reinstatement

[Dos Equis]

What a dope.   

Ricky Williams Applies for Reinstatement
By DAVE GOLDBERG, AP Football Writer

Saturday, April 7, 2007

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 19 passes for 127 yards. He missed two months because of a broken arm.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/04/06/sports/s144753D15.DTL

[jerseyhurricane]

Stick a fork in him...he's done.

[Tre]

Bust.

[body88]

I bet he celebrates by smoking a blunt......... Monster shadow of former self.

[Old_Rooster]

smoking pot is small potato's compared to most of the thugs in the nfl these days.  rickey never shot up a stripper bar and paralyzed a guy.
let him back in, dude can still run over nfl linemen i'm sure.

i fear that middle eastern shit they refer too, don't tell me hes a damn muslim!

[jerseyhurricane]

I'm soooo glad the Eagles drafted Donovan McNabb instead of this bum.

[Camel Jockey]

smoking pot is small potato's compared to most of the thugs in the nfl these days.  rickey never shot up a stripper bar and paralyzed a guy.
let him back in, dude can still run over nfl linemen i'm sure.

i fear that middle eastern shit they refer too, don't tell me hes a damn muslim!

Smoking pot is harmless.

They keep women beaters, people commiting adultery, people involved in shootings and people that father 3 children with different women. 

[pumpster]

smoking pot is small potato's compared to most of the thugs in the nfl these days.  rickey never shot up a stripper bar and paralyzed a guy.
let him back in, dude can still run over nfl linemen i'm sure.

Of course, but it's a major no-no amongst conservative getbig types. Outrageous! LOL

As far as whether he can still play there's no reason to think he can't. Biggest problem's not gonna be his remaining talent it's finding a coach foolish enough to make him central to the team.

[jerseyhurricane]

As far as whether he can still play there's no reason to think he can't. Biggest problem's not gonna be his remaining talent it's finding a coach foolish enough to make him central to the team.

 he couldn't even get the job done in the CFL. I'm telling you...the guy can't play anymore. Stick a fork in him...he's done!!!

[body88]

he couldn't even get the job done in the CFL. I'm telling you...the guy can't play anymore. Stick a fork in him...he's done!!!

True..... Expect him to off himself when he figures out how bad he fucked up his life.

[Camel Jockey]

True..... Expect him to off himself when he figures out how bad he fucked up his life.

Yeah.. He had like one good season in Miami when he gained 1,800 yards. The guy is a complete failure.. 

[body88]

Yeah.. He had like one good season in Miami when he gained 1,800 yards. The guy is a complete failure.. 

How in the hell could anyone screw themselves over as bad as Ricky did, lol.

[Dos Equis]

Yeah.. He had like one good season in Miami when he gained 1,800 yards. The guy is a complete failure.. 

Hardly.  He was a stud till he lost his mind with the drug thing:

                 +--------------------------+-------------------------+
                 |          Rushing         |        Receiving        |
+----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+
| Year  TM |   G |   Att  Yards    Y/A   TD |   Rec  Yards   Y/R   TD |
+----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+
| 1999 nor |  12 |   253    884    3.5    2 |    28    172   6.1    0 |
| 2000 nor |  10 |   248   1000    4.0    8 |    44    409   9.3    1 |
| 2001 nor |  16 |   313   1245    4.0    6 |    60    511   8.5    1 |
| 2002 mia |  16 |   383   1853    4.8   16 |    47    363   7.7    1 |
| 2003 mia |  16 |   392   1372    3.5    9 |    50    351   7.0    1 |
| 2005 mia |  12 |   168    743    4.4    6 |    17     93   5.5    0 |
+----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+
|  TOTAL   |  82 |  1757   7097    4.0   47 |   246   1899   7.7    4 |
+----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+

[pumpster]

he couldn't even get the job done in the CFL. I'm telling you...the guy can't play anymore. Stick a fork in him...he's done!!!

On what basis do you say that; he did fine in limited playing time. If he doesn't play well coming back it'll be due to a lack of interest leading to a lack of intensity and not bothering to be in shape. A good runner doesn't just stop being good while still relatively young.

[body88]

Imagine if he came back and had a huge season.....  Wont happen, but would be funny.

[Dos Equis]

Still a pothead.

Updated: May 11, 2007, 10:57 AM ET
Doctors recommend delay of reinstatement until Sept.
By Chris Mortensen
ESPN.com

Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams tested positive for marijuana in April and will not be allowed to apply for reinstatement to the NFL until September, sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen.

Williams was suspended last year for violation of the substance abuse policy and was eligible to be reinstated this month, but the league's medical advisors that oversee Williams' personal rehabilitation program recently notified commissioner Roger Goodell of the positive test, sources said.

The doctors also recommended that Williams not be allowed to apply for reinstatement until September, sources said. The commissioner usually adheres to the advice of the medical advisors under the substance abuse policy.

"Falling off the wagon is part of rehab," a source said. "Based on the medical evidence in Ricky's case, the doctors say it's too early to come back. He had the positive test last month. Remember, he's been diagnosed with social anxiety disorder -- that's a real disease and a good percentage of those folks self-medicate with substances like marijuana, often at the moment they are about to have a high level of social interaction."

League spokesman Greg Aiello said the NFL would have no comment, as did Dolphins spokesman Harvey Greene.

David Cornwell, an attorney who has represented Williams during his substance abuse cases, said he would honor the confidentiality policies in effect with another no comment.
 
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2867381