11/05/24
October 06, 2004
$8.6M worth of passion?: Former Dolphins running back Ricky Williams, who retired just a few days before training started this season, has told his agent to look into rejoining the team. Of course, there is the pesky matter of a possible year-long suspension for drug use and the entire Miami area hating his guts to get past.
Trade bait. Either to another NFL franchise or the Trailblazers.
posted by billsaysthis at 06:07 PM on October 06, 2004
My prediction? The Arizona Cardinals. $20 million worth of backfield, behind an O-Line that can't hold down a job at Wendy's. Although the Trailblazers would be a good fit. Heh.
posted by chicobangs at 08:14 PM on October 06, 2004
I may be mistaken here: I was under the impression that even if Ricky wanted to come back that he would have to sit this year because he filed retirement papers with the league. The suspension stuff would kick in next year. Did I hear/read incorrectly or just misunderstand something somewhere?
posted by pivo at 08:26 PM on October 06, 2004
pivo, everything I've read indicates the suspension would be this year and might in fact put him out for most or all of the season. OTOH, he would probably not have to repay that $8.6M. So not a bad result for him even so.
posted by billsaysthis at 09:44 PM on October 06, 2004
Ok, I found an old blurb on it. He did file the retirement papers but they were not-binding, meaning he could come back within a year. By some NFL rules, however, returning within a year constitutes a 4th violation of the policy and the 1 year suspension. Clear as mud to me now :)
posted by pivo at 10:00 PM on October 06, 2004
"Dude.... China sucked."
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 12:28 AM on October 07, 2004
I think the greater question here is -- if the league clears him, would the Dolphins, even in the sorry state they are in, take Ricky back? I wouldn't touch that bastard with a 10-foot wedding dress.
posted by wfrazerjr at 09:23 AM on October 07, 2004
Well he's definitely angling for a trade, but it still begs the question, who touches him with a 10-foot wedding dress? While every team would overlook the drug violations and possibly even deal with a suspension, how can they get past the way he fucked his team? Whoever took him would need some serious Fox News style spin doctoring and talking points to sell that trade, both to fans and probably moreso to their players.
posted by pivo at 01:05 PM on October 07, 2004
Look at how good he is when he's on the field. That's all the fans, teammates, etc. are going to need to know. He'd probably come cheap in a trade, too. When you're as good as he is, you get more than a second (or third, or fourth, or...) chance.
posted by dusted at 01:47 PM on October 07, 2004
I'm sure in a few years we'll all be hanging out, and saying to Ricky, "Hey man, do you remember that time when you were so high you retired from football? Good times, good times."