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Cowboy Irvin: Williams must talk, act like he wants to return
By Greg A. Bedard
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Sunday, June 26, 2005
HOLLYWOOD — Michael Irvin feels fans will forgive Ricky Williams for his sudden retirement before last season.
"The greatest thing about America is that we are a people that likes to give second chances," said Irvin, the former standout wide receiver for the University of Miami and Dallas Cowboys and now an NFL analyst with ESPN.
Irvin should know. He had three embarrassing off-field episodes as a player, including a felony conviction of cocaine possession. Each time, Cowboys fans backed him because Irvin practiced the advice he has given to people close to Williams.
"The one thing I learned was running and hiding doesn't help anything," Irvin said Wednesday at the pro-am tournament for the WPBA Women's Professional Billiards Classic, taking place this weekend at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood. "It leaves everybody saying whatever they like instead of saying the truth. Ricky not saying anything, then we're all left to speculate what's going on, and people sometimes can't discern between speculation and fact. Coming out and telling the truth ends all speculation. 'This is what's going on. This is what I went through and I apologize for that. These are my problems.' "
Irvin feels that when Williams does that, fans will rally behind him.
"If Ricky goes on the air and talks to the people about some of the problems he's had, South Florida understands that," Irvin said. "We all have problems, and I think they'll be more willing to accept him back. Just be honest and upfront with people. People are going to appreciate it."
If Irvin were in the Dolphins' locker room, he would be more interested in how Williams acts than what he says.
"If he's back and he's playing on my football team, I want to see his approach to the game," Irvin said. "I know he'll apologize to the football team, but I'm more concerned with, 'What are you doing on this football field? To make it up, what can you do to help this football team now?'
"And now the Miami Dolphins, they have to be smart. 'We had all our eggs in Ricky Williams' basket. Ricky, I'm going to throw two eggs over here, a couple in (first-round pick Ronnie) Brown's basket. You won't get all the eggs this time until you earn that trust again.'
"And everything will be fine. Ricky is a heck of a player. And if he gets out there and runs that football up and down the football field, forgiveness will be found."
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2005/06/26/a9b_irvin_0626.html
By Greg A. Bedard
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Sunday, June 26, 2005
HOLLYWOOD — Michael Irvin feels fans will forgive Ricky Williams for his sudden retirement before last season.
"The greatest thing about America is that we are a people that likes to give second chances," said Irvin, the former standout wide receiver for the University of Miami and Dallas Cowboys and now an NFL analyst with ESPN.
Irvin should know. He had three embarrassing off-field episodes as a player, including a felony conviction of cocaine possession. Each time, Cowboys fans backed him because Irvin practiced the advice he has given to people close to Williams.
"The one thing I learned was running and hiding doesn't help anything," Irvin said Wednesday at the pro-am tournament for the WPBA Women's Professional Billiards Classic, taking place this weekend at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood. "It leaves everybody saying whatever they like instead of saying the truth. Ricky not saying anything, then we're all left to speculate what's going on, and people sometimes can't discern between speculation and fact. Coming out and telling the truth ends all speculation. 'This is what's going on. This is what I went through and I apologize for that. These are my problems.' "
Irvin feels that when Williams does that, fans will rally behind him.
"If Ricky goes on the air and talks to the people about some of the problems he's had, South Florida understands that," Irvin said. "We all have problems, and I think they'll be more willing to accept him back. Just be honest and upfront with people. People are going to appreciate it."
If Irvin were in the Dolphins' locker room, he would be more interested in how Williams acts than what he says.
"If he's back and he's playing on my football team, I want to see his approach to the game," Irvin said. "I know he'll apologize to the football team, but I'm more concerned with, 'What are you doing on this football field? To make it up, what can you do to help this football team now?'
"And now the Miami Dolphins, they have to be smart. 'We had all our eggs in Ricky Williams' basket. Ricky, I'm going to throw two eggs over here, a couple in (first-round pick Ronnie) Brown's basket. You won't get all the eggs this time until you earn that trust again.'
"And everything will be fine. Ricky is a heck of a player. And if he gets out there and runs that football up and down the football field, forgiveness will be found."
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2005/06/26/a9b_irvin_0626.html