Ricky Williams has informed the Miami Dolphins that he is retiring from football at the age of 27 after just five seasons in the NFL....when I initially heard about this story I thought it was another salary demand "ploy" but all indications are that the all-pro RB is 100% serious and completely happy with his decision (even though the team is apparently trying to talk him out of it).

If Ricky is sincere in his statement that "I'm finally free..I can't remember ever being this happy" then who can question him?....after all, Robert Smith, Pat Tillman and the former 49ers TE (whose name escapes me at the moment) all walked away from multi-million dollar contracts in the prime of their careers because their heart wasn't in it any longer.

One thing is for sure -- if Ricky stands by his decision this sure throws a major wrinkle into the Dolphins chance for success this coming season.

~Joe

[ July 24, 2004, 11:52 PM: Message edited by: gamecock ]

I think he's finally lost it. Check out the line about how he plans on going to Asia without a return ticket. That can't be good.

Maybe he wants to be free of the stress of living in the closet... and he wants to be free to come out as gay. :confused: eek!

I have to say that thought has crossed my mind...I've met him a couple of times down here and he just never struck me as the typical pro-athlete.....
The Dolphins have to be one of the sorriest franchises in the NFL currently. It is amazing that one of the premier teams has fallen so low. I would not be surprised to see them finish last in the AFC East....

You have to wonder if Dave Wanndestat is just spitting nails because he missed the opportunity to sign Eddie George, even just for one year.

Instead of losing it, I think Williams may have found it; found his happiness, freedom, and himself. All of which are things money won't buy. I applaud him for making such a decision.

As someone who likes the Dolphins as much as an abcessed tooth, I like hearing this. But at the same time, it doesn't seem like too much of a surprise, given the fact that Williams has always seemed like a free spirit.

Two words: Bison Dele

From the ESPN article: While with the Saints, "he developed a personality disorder that required medication and often wore his helmet during interviews." Maybe this is the medication making him want to retire? wink

It also says, "Williams was scheduled to make $3.735 million in a contract set to expire in 2006." So if he's going to retire at this late date, leaving the Dolphins in the lurch, this retirement should be made to stick. When he runs out of money and tries to return, he should be told that he has to pay the Dolphins $3.735 million. Then he can return. But the Dolphins would still own his rights, so he couldn't just shop himself as a free agent.

This is a major blow for the Dolphins, and I agree they could wind up last in the AFC East this year, unless the Bills underperform as well. That's secondary, though: if Williams was as unhappy and unmotivated as his statements indicate, we should all just be happy that he has found the courage to do what his heart tells him. I wish him the best.

He is a free spirit and I admire that. I also loved that he once said he liked all his fans "gay or straight."

Interesting aside from the Miami Herald:
"Society and the NFL say he can't smoke marijuana, for example, and that's one of the many rules of his confining workplace he will no longer abide. He says without apology he has gotten around NFL drug tests with a special liquid players all over the league consume by the gallon before tests to avoid detection."

Good Luck Ricky!!! You have always been a breath of fresh air. I remember his quote about likeing all fans gay and straight too.
If this makes him happy go for it!! Best of luck Ricky enjoy life : )

Has he finally switched from marijuana to crack? :confused:

I'm really happy for him, and wish him all the best. I also agree with Canmark that I thought this might be the first step to his coming out, but whatever he does, I just hope he enjoys himself. He's made enough money to last a lifetime, he describes himself as "halfway intelligent," and I'm sure a 228 lb., 5-10, dreadlocked sexy 27-year-old multimillionaire will find something to do with his time beyond smoking pot. Ricky, Amsterdam is calling!

And you KNOW Williams will run out of money because?...

{NewBlackCity.com Turn in and listen from 7 - 10am Mon - Fri. for Blk/Gay political talk with host T. Evans}

When I saw this in the Times sports section, I thought, hum, something's going on here. I don't know what it is exactly, but something curious which I think will become evident in tne next few months.

I don't think it's that much different than when Robert Smith retired. Smith was a few years older than 27, but still in prime condition and at the top of his game. I'm not sure if there is more to the story or not, but I'm sure we'll never really know...at least until his book comes out.

Well said, Munson Man -- my sentiments exactly!....although I've never been a fan of the Dolphins (or of the Longhorns, either, for that matter) I've long admired Ricky for having the courage to stand up for what he believes in, regardless of how that may be perceived by the media or many of the fans....the most simplest and poignant quote I've read is when Ricky said, "I don't want to do it anymore. That's it. I don't want to do this anymore. If people really care about me, that would be enough for them."

~Joe

"I don't want to do it anymore. That's it. I don't want to do this anymore. If people really care about me, that would be enough for them."

I don't know him well enough to care about him. But it's enough for me.

Good luck Ricky!

The day Ricky Williams came to the NFL, he was treated as a freak show by the Saints and specifically Mike Ditka, with his punk-ass wig in a press conference, then hung out to dry by Saints fans (if there are any) for not producing. He was branded a failure when he was traded to the Dolphins. Despite being their most consistent offensive threat (along with Dan Marino) in the last 20 years, Fins fans again blamed their inability to make it past the playoff gate on the guy. He was the best rusher they have had since Csonka, and the fans did nothing but bitch. Want proof? Check out the Miami Herald blog and web-vote on Ricky here:

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/

So I don't blame the guy one freakin' bit considering how the NFL has eaten him alive. He probably got ahold of some damn good weed, thought about his investments and some real estate deals he could make in Florida, called his lawyers and accountants, and then dropped a bomb on Wannstedt (good for him). My guess is that alot of Ricky's decision also has to do with facing the most incompetent coaching staff in the modern history of the NFL. He was being run into the ground game after game when their prima-donna quarterback couldn't complete a pass to save his life. I also think that he might be biding some time watching the Dolphins' new closet-case QB acquisition for any signs of life before he makes a decision whether or not to play. Until then, I suspect he will be smoking tons of ganga somewhere in Africa or Asia or wherever. I just hope he isn't abducted by a gang of warlords from Sierra Leone or some shit.

I just wrote a column on Ricky and the gay specualtion.

We've had a lot of traffic today from people typing "ricky williams gay" into Google.

I wish him all the best. He showed a lot by staying in College through his Senior year and I loved watching him run (especially for the Longhorns).

He seems to have been a bit of a tortured soul since arriving in the NFL and I've also wondered if he were possibly gay. I'd like to sit down with him with an electric bong and find out. wink

I really hope he has good accountants and financial advisors and doesn't become one of those sad stories of rags to riches to rags. Hopefully, he'll find peace and prosperity in the future.

And of course, I've seen a couple "analysts" bashing him with stuff like "he owes the fans to play since he has such great potential" and "he's stupid for walking away from that money" and crap like that. Of course they push the great ideals of greed.

What effect does his failed drug tests have on his decision? Knowing he has to come back and pass the tests, which he doesn't seem to want to do.

Four more interruptions from those banner ads.

Well, I don't know for sure. Let's look at his situation, with some information from this ESPN.com article: he has three kids to support, no job and smokes pot. His plans are to travel the world to find happiness. One of his passions is shopping. He may still be on medication for his social anxiety disorder. He might go back to college and get his degree in education.

He better have some damn good investments to pay for all of this.

Fine piece, Jim. I especially love those hideous fans who mock his "girl's hands" and being "soft" as a "baby's butt," but who have neither the talent nor drive to take the hits this man took week after week. What creeps!

BTW, about 1/3rd of the black men I know who are into other men have fathered children, at least 1 or 2. Not that that says anything either way about Williams, but it also doesn't disqualify him from the lgbt team either.

BTW2, where is he heading in "Asia"? I mean, that huge, vast continent does contain a number of countries. Is he heading to...BANGKOK?

Totally agree; I was just making the larger point that there's "evidence" both ways depending on how one wants to view it.

[ July 25, 2004, 09:13 PM: Message edited by: Jim at Outsports ]

I hear Brock Lesnar is still looking for a job

Ricky Williams' abrupt retirement is a huge loss for the Dolphins' offense...last year he rushed for something like 85 yards per game. I recall Barry Sanders also retired unexpectedly while still in his prime, although he played longer than Williams.

As for Williams appearing in a wedding dress on a magazine cover, that doesn't seem consistent with someone who suffers from 'extreme shyness'; if anything, it strikes me as behaviour by someone who craves the spotlight.

You know, I keep wanting to be happy for the guy but I just can't. It just seems unfair to allow your team to go through the draft, several mini camps and then after Eddie George signs with another team, you call up the Coach who has stood by you to say you're quitting. It's the timing of it all. It's like being dumped on your birthday or something. Barry Sanders "retirement" was similar. When a franchise treats you as well as Sanders and Williams had been treated, there should be a certain amount of respect given back. Not a fax or cellphone conversation and then you flee the country like some criminal. If you don't want to play anymore, cool, but don't be a coward about it.

You know, we have no "real" idea why he made this decision. What if there was some sleeze rag paper that was going to out him. Maybe he left before they could out him. It will be interesting to see what is said within the next few weeks about this. I bet we see more information later.

Theo - well said.

Like Stinger I remember when Robert Smith abrubtly retired from the Vikes after his best season. I think he even led the NFC in rushing that year. I was majorly bummed, but I wished him the best. He had suffered so many injuries in his young career and after seeing reports on retired NFLers who could barely walk in their mid 50's, I couldn't blame him. Plus he was really well educated and was going to become a scientist or doctor. Kudos to him. Ricky's plan of traveling the world and getting stoned, while sounding fun, doesn't seem very practical. But to each his own I guess.

Considering how easily and last-minute a team can drop a player under contract and not owe him a dime, why shouldn't a player be able to do the same?

I keep coming back to Ricky Williams' drug tests--he was going to be playing the first month of the season for free & was going to be facing yet another year of peeing into a bottle (and taking a masking agent to try to cover his pot use.)

The Robert Smith comparison doesn't work for me--Smith left the game to head towards something (medical school was on his agenda)--while Williams seems merely to be heading away from something. Od course, as has been noted, running backs (Jim Brown, Barry Sanders, and Smith) have a bit of history of leaving thne game in surprising ways. By the way, I think Williams has more in common with Sanders' departure than with Smith--Sanders was on a plane to Europe when his departure became known to the Lions and Williams called Wanstadt from a pay phone as he headed to Asia.

~Adam

His agent is saying that one of the chief reasons for Williams's retirement was overuse by the Dolphins. He didn't want to limp away from the game like Earl Campbell. Good for him! Now he'll return to school, pursue photography, and have some fun. And the Dolphins will cope just fine.

This is a good point.

As a fan of the Miami Dolphins, I must admit that I was extremely frustrated with Ricky Williams decision, but not as surprised as others. My main problem with this whole thing is the late timing of Williams' announcement. However, I hardly hate the guy who has suffered from so much over the past decade. Williams admitted in an interview with Sports Illustrated last summer that he had been diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety disorder. He said that the New Orleans Saints organization, and particularly coach Jim Haslett, were not willing to even attempt to understand his condition. He said that Haslett even cursed at him when he informed him. While Williams did say that his situation was better with the Dolphins, and he was getting the treatment that he needed, it did not change the fact that he is ill. All of the medications and therapy in the world doesn't make depression and anxiety go away. When he said that he was finally free, I think he was referring to anxiety of having to perform in front of 80,000 people each Sunday and be the main performer for so long. This was expected of him in Austin, New Orleans, and now, Miami. I can only imagine what that pressure that is (and then add on the fact that you are dealing with anxiety and panic attacks). I am surprised that the media has completely chosen to lambaste Williams, and not even look at the fact that he is a man that has required treatment to continue his career up to this point. Didn't anyone ever wonder why he always kept his helmet on when being interviewed after the game? While Williams clearly had the talent to be one of the true greats in the NFL, he had something taken away from him, too. His announcement is clearly an indication that he could no longer take the pressure to perform. His bouts with depression and anxiety are very similar to those that afflict millions of Americans each year. I hope he is able to cope now.

[ July 28, 2004, 09:32 AM: Message edited by: Cattledog ]

I wonder, if Ricky Williams goes back to school at the great University of Texas at Austin, is he eligible to play for the Longhorn football team again? eek!

As I said elsewhere, it's no stroll in the park.

Here's another take on the story.

Football, Pot and Pain

From what we now read, it appears Ricky Williams may want to return to football. I have a couple of logistical questions about this:

--When he retired, he signed papers to that effect. Doesn't the NFL require retired players to stay away from the game for a year? I realize all rules can be finessed (shall we say) but won't returning this soon be too much of a slap in the face to the NFL's rulemakers?

--Williams has spoken of ways he got around drug tests--even though he failed two of them--so what will the NFL do to prevent him from again using masking agents to undermine the testing process?

--Since he retired and seemingly un-retired, is he still contractually a Dolphin, especially since he hasn't returned any of the money the organization believes he owes them?

--Is his sudden interest in returning to the game a "cry for help" from a man becoming emotionally unhinged? OK, that's not a logistical question, but I've been wondering about his mental health ever since his sudden walkabout.

~Adam

Apparently this has come up because the Dolphins have demanded he repay them $8.6 million in bonuses. His agent made him call.

Looks like the Dolphins may get their $ back.


ESPN Link

And in a pure coincidence ( ) Ricky has asked his agent to find outwhat it would take for him to rejoin the Dolphins.

A quote from his agent, Leigh Steinberg: "All I can tell you is that Ricky has asked me to explore and to try to facilitate his return. He's excited and in good shape and misses football."

Yeah okay Leigh, Ricky misses football. He already misses that $8 million he's yet to repay, that's what he misses.

As a Dolphins fan, I still posted a pretty sympathetic thread back in July regarding Ricky Williams' bouts with depression perhaps being responsible for his erratic behavior. But, after my team has started out 0-4 for the first time since 1966, and now this news regarding Ricky Williams, all I can say is that he can kiss the Dolphins' ass. I hope the Dolphins get whatever they can for him (rumor has it that the Raiders could be interested if/when he is reinstated probably next summer). His now so-called "desire" to return to the NFL is nothing but a purely desperate attempt for money. Did he really think that the Dolphins weren't going to file a grievance against him (and win)? :mad:

It's so unlike the Raiders to be interested in a malcontent misfit like Williams, isn't it?

A pharmacological question: isn't marijuana a mild or sometime depressant that in some people can cause effects that mimic depression?

Does anyone know if there are studies on the effects of marijuana on people who are suffering from depression?

I know it's also addictive, and so not that easy to quit. But might Williams's problems with depression be exacerbated by the heavy pot use?

Just wondering--and also wondering if anyone has brought this to Williams'-Steinberg's attention.

Spoiled ass punk. What an embarrassment to the NFL...and that's saying a lot!

Even if Williams truly wants to return to the NFL--and his latest "passion to play" isn't just an attempt to avoid paying back major dollars--I can't imagine that the NFL would have him. He already (proudly) announced how he cheated on their drug tests, making the NFL look stupid & bringing into question the league's entire drug screening ability. Why would the league welcome him back when he violated their rules??

~Adam

I'll bet the animosity for Ricky from his former teammates has lessened significantly in the last 4 weeks. The Dolphins have a lower scoring average per game than the Marlins did this year.

Well maybe this is why Ricky needs to come back and earn a living.

Ricky's a Baby Daddy

Maybe this will quell those nasty gay rumors?