Ricky Williams retires

[edmcgon 0]

From SI.com:

Ricky runs away

Report: Williams tells Dolphins he will retire

Posted: Sunday July 25, 2004 1:51AM; Updated: Sunday July 25, 2004 2:02AM

 

MIAMI (AP) -- Ricky Williams has told the Miami Dolphins that he's retiring after just five years in the NFL, The Miami Herald reported on its Web site Sunday.

 

Williams said he was overjoyed by his decision.

 

"You can't understand how free I feel," Williams told the Herald in a cell phone interview Saturday before boarding a plane in Hawaii and heading to Asia to begin several months of travel.

 

The 27-year-old running back, who started his career with the New Orleans Saints, said he plans to file his retirement papers with the NFL on Monday or Tuesday.

 

Williams told Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt of his decision Friday and said Wannstedt tried to persuade him to reconsider. Miami opens training camp Friday.

 

The Dolphins acquired Williams from New Orleans for two first-round draft picks in 2002, and he led the NFL in rushing that year.

 

Phone messages left early Sunday with two Dolphins officials and Williams' agent, Leigh Steinberg, weren't immediately returned.

 

"I have no comment," Wannstedt told the Herald when asked about Williams' retiring. "Players report Friday. Right now, it's a 10-day dead period. We'll get everybody started on Friday."

 

Wannstedt acknowledged talking with Williams but declined to give details of their conversation.

 

Williams said there was no chance he would change his mind.

 

He said he has already told his mother Sandy, Steinberg, backup running back Travis Minor and friends and family of his decision.

 

In May, three South Florida newspapers reported that Williams tested positive for marijuana and faced a fine of at least $650,000 for violating the league's substance-abuse policy for a second time since joining the Dolphins.

 

But his attorney, Gary Ostrow, told The Associated Press: "As far as I'm concerned, there is no violation."

 

Williams told the Herald his failed marijuana tests had a minor influence on his decision to retire, but was only one of many factors. It didn't cause him to retire, he said, as much as reinforce his reasons for wanting to do so.

 

Williams' two seasons with the Dolphins have been the best of his career. He set a team record with 1,853 yards rushing in 2002. He followed that with 1,372 yards last season.

 

Can anyone say they are truly surprised by this? :)

 

The Dolphins' season has just officially ended. I wonder if Dave Wannstadt has his resume updated yet?

[VaBeachGuy 12]

I've only slightly followed his career so I was a bit surprised at the retirement when I first read it last night. After reading the first line or 2 of the article though I thought about it and it wasn't all that surprising. His heart just never really seemed to be in football, at least from my limited knowledge of him. I remember seeing Jim Brown on the NFL Network early this year and he spoke about Williams and said that someone really needed to sit him down and try to get his head and his heart into the game where it should be.

 

THe thing I find most amusing, and satisfying is the 1999 draft. If you remember correctly, that's the year that the Browns were the expansion team so they had the #1 overall pick.

 

The Eagles, as the worst team in 1998 had the #2 pick. 1999 was also Andy Reid's first year as Eagles head coach. I think the Browns picked Holcomb as their QB that year, that left the Eagles with the choice of Ricky Williams at RB or they could go with McNabb at QB. A lot of Eagles fans DEMANDED Ricky Williams and even went to the draft by the bus loads. One guy specifically that the media loves to show is a guy named Shawn. He paints his face green and wears shoulder pads and all that. When the Eagles picked McNabb the toolhead Shawn and the other morons at the draft were idiotic enough to boo McNabb while he was on stage. Even the Mayor of Philadelphia Ed Rendell (now the Governor) came out against the McNabb pick.

 

Standing here in 2004 looking back at where things have gone and where things are now is funny and must be satisfying to McNabb. He is the leader of the Eagles team, he is the present and he is the future. Ricky Williams on the other hand has been in and out of trouble with drugs, his heart has been called into question and now he's quit the game right in the middle of his career.

 

Thank God for McNabb!!