Rickey Williams Signs With CFL

[Hostile]

Ricky close to signing with Argos

By Jeff Darlington
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Sunday, May 28, 2006

Dolphins running back Ricky Williams is in Toronto — and he plans to stay there to play in the Canadian Football League this season.

Although a day of negotiations between the Dolphins and the Toronto Argonauts didn't result in a deal Saturday, Williams is expected to be a member of the CFL team no later than Tuesday.

​

The Dolphins are willing to let Williams play while he is suspended from the NFL, but they are negotiating for iron-clad assurances that they would retain his rights after the Canadian season ends in late fall. CFL contracts typically allow the club to retain a player's rights for one year after his first season.

Saturday night, the Argonauts sent documents via fax to the Dolphins that were intended to satisfy the concerns Miami had expressed.

A deal could be completed today or Monday, but the holiday weekend in the United States likely will slow the process.

Williams has met with several Argonauts executives in the past week but has not been at the team's training facility and is not expected there until a deal is done.

Once the Dolphins give their OK, Williams' contract with Toronto should be completed quickly. He would earn upward of $350,000.

Earlier Saturday, Williams' agent, Leigh Steinberg, seemed certain that his client would play for the Argonauts.

"Although I am loathe to say that because it could put some pressure on the Dolphins, I would be incredibly surprised and disappointed if it didn't happen," Steinberg told The Associated Press in Toronto after meeting with Argonauts. "I assume it will happen, but I'm being very careful to be very delicate here.

"I have a terrific relationship with the Dolphins and (Miami coach) Nick Saban has been terrific in his support of Ricky."

The Argonauts began showing interest one month ago in Williams, but the Dolphins have been deliberate in their talks with the CFL team.

The Dolphins conducted several internal discussions to weigh the risk of injury against the cost of refusing Williams' wishes. The Dolphins would like to accommodate him to keep him motivated and help him earn money.

The Argonauts opened their training camp last Sunday and will play the first exhibition game of the season Friday.

The NFL suspended Williams for at least the 2006 season after he violated the league's substance-abuse policy for a fourth time. After his season with the Argonauts, he would have to win reinstatement from the NFL before he could rejoin the Dolphins.

 

[Reality]

I guess my question is why don't the Dolphins just take out an insurance policy with Lloyds of London (or whomever) on RW and then forget about him until next season?

-Reality

 

[Yeagermeister]

Ricky close to signing with Argos

By Jeff Darlington
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Sunday, May 28, 2006

Dolphins running back Ricky Williams is in Toronto — and he plans to stay there to play in the Canadian Football League this season.

Although a day of negotiations between the Dolphins and the Toronto Argonauts didn't result in a deal Saturday, Williams is expected to be a member of the CFL team no later than Tuesday.

​

The Dolphins are willing to let Williams play while he is suspended from the NFL, but they are negotiating for iron-clad assurances that they would retain his rights after the Canadian season ends in late fall. CFL contracts typically allow the club to retain a player's rights for one year after his first season.

Saturday night, the Argonauts sent documents via fax to the Dolphins that were intended to satisfy the concerns Miami had expressed.

A deal could be completed today or Monday, but the holiday weekend in the United States likely will slow the process.

Williams has met with several Argonauts executives in the past week but has not been at the team's training facility and is not expected there until a deal is done.

Once the Dolphins give their OK, Williams' contract with Toronto should be completed quickly. He would earn upward of $350,000.

Earlier Saturday, Williams' agent, Leigh Steinberg, seemed certain that his client would play for the Argonauts.

"Although I am loathe to say that because it could put some pressure on the Dolphins, I would be incredibly surprised and disappointed if it didn't happen," Steinberg told The Associated Press in Toronto after meeting with Argonauts. "I assume it will happen, but I'm being very careful to be very delicate here.

"I have a terrific relationship with the Dolphins and (Miami coach) Nick Saban has been terrific in his support of Ricky."

The Argonauts began showing interest one month ago in Williams, but the Dolphins have been deliberate in their talks with the CFL team.

The Dolphins conducted several internal discussions to weigh the risk of injury against the cost of refusing Williams' wishes. The Dolphins would like to accommodate him to keep him motivated and help him earn money.

The Argonauts opened their training camp last Sunday and will play the first exhibition game of the season Friday.

The NFL suspended Williams for at least the 2006 season after he violated the league's substance-abuse policy for a fourth time. After his season with the Argonauts, he would have to win reinstatement from the NFL before he could rejoin the Dolphins.

What a waste of talent. All he has to do is stay clean for a few months a year and he makes a ton of money. He needs to talk to Stepnoski.

 

[Cbz40]

Sometimes you have to wonder what people are thinking????????

The world at his fingertips.......and he keeps throwing it away for a high.

 

[Silver Bullet]

That must be some magic super high quality grass he's smokin' that he can't seem to resist!

Goodness gracious...



Rickey,

Find a hobby, adopt a pet, sponser a cause, get married, practice 10 times a day if you have to, just do something other than smoke weed for God's sake.

​

 

[big dog cowboy]

I still wish ESPN would show CFL games.

 

[SouthernStar]

CFL. Is that Cannabis Football League?

 

[5Stars]

Personally, I don't think Canada is doing any justice to the NFL, or any other sport for that matter, by allowing dope heads to come up there and play.

This "war on drugs" should extend all across the globe, if possible....

However, there are some thoughts that weed is not a real bad drug. The only bad part about weed is, it makes you not want to play in the NFL, and want to play for the CFL instead!

 

[RealCowboyfan]

put QC on the same team as him...:starspin

 

[OKC.DC.Fan]

I still wish ESPN would show CFL games.

well i bet were gonna see some now.

 

[dgr81]

he's signed. being announced at 4:30pm EST today.

Argo camp is in my city. Gonna go find him and offer him some weed

 

[5Stars]

he's signed. being announced at 4:30pm EST today.

Argo camp is in my city. Gonna go find him and offer him some weed

I don't think you should go to all that trouble of finding him...I'm pretty sure he brought his own kilo of smoke....

 

[Big Country]

I guess my question is why don't the Dolphins just take out an insurance policy with Lloyds of London (or whomever) on RW and then forget about him until next season?

-Reality

I think it's Lords of London...

 

[EndGame]

I think it's Lords of London...

No, it's Lloyd's.

 

[ghst187]

Does any really care what Ricky "pothead" Williams is doing these days?
"has all the talent in the world, can't stay out of trouble or away from drugs....." (yawn) how many times have we heard that story?
There are about a thousand guys out there with this same story....
oftentimes the only difference between the guys that make it vs the guys that don't is the ability to handle your business and stay out of trouble.

 

[Xy_Oldone]

Done deal: Williams has a new home in CFL
By TIM REYNOLDS, AP Sports Writer


Ricky Williams has a new home in the CFL.

Suspended for the 2006 season by the NFL after a fourth positive drug test, Williams signed a $240,000, one-year contract Sunday with the Toronto Argonauts -- a deal making him the highest-paid running back in the Canadian league.

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Williams, who's still under contract with the Miami Dolphins, is expected to begin practicing with his new team Monday; the Argonauts open preseason play this weekend and start their regular season at home against Hamilton June 17. The 18-game regular season runs through late October.

"It hasn't been too often that I've heard kind words about me and my situation. ... It's really an uplifting feeling to be in this kind of environment," Williams said at a news conference in Toronto, after team officials introduced him warmly.

Williams, a former Heisman Trophy winner, missed Miami's first four games last year following his third positive test, and lost an appeal over the fourth -- which carries a mandatory one-year ban. But the desire to continue playing and earning led him to Toronto, adding another chapter to the enigmatic player's resume.

"I'm a very positive person," Williams said. "I understand that in life, when you go through adversity it only gives you an opportunity to make the best of the situation. So I'm happy to be here in Toronto, having a chance to further my career on the football field."

Earlier Sunday, before the signing was formally announced, Dolphins coach Nick Saban issued a statement saying the team left the decision about playing in the CFL up to Williams.

The Dolphins have supported Williams throughout the suspension, but insisted on assurances that he'd be allowed to return to the team in 2007 -- provided he's reinstated by the NFL.

"We expressed to Ricky our concerns about playing in Toronto in 2006," Saban said. "We are relying on assurances made by Ricky, his agent, the Toronto Argonauts, and the commissioner of the Canadian Football League that Ricky will return to the Dolphins in 2007.

"Based on these assurances and despite our concerns for Ricky playing in the CFL in 2006, we will leave it up to him to decide whether or not he will negotiate a contract to play for the Argonauts this year."

Williams -- who said he will wear No. 27 instead of No. 34 in the CFL -- thanked Saban and the Dolphins for allowing him to play in Toronto.

"I don't think there are very many benefits to the Dolphins, and I think that speaks volumes for the kind of guy that Nick Saban is and the Dolphins organization," Williams said.

Leigh Steinberg, Williams' agent, didn't immediately return a message left on his cell phone by The Associated Press. The Argonauts said he was on a family trip to Ireland.

The 29-year-old Williams wasted little time in getting settled in Toronto. He was shown on the Rogers Center videoboard at the White Sox-Blue Jays game Sunday wearing an Argonauts hat and was introduced as the team's newest player.

"I've learned to notice a good thing when it comes and not let it slip by. ... You obviously make money playing football than you do sitting at home," Williams said.

Williams still owes the Dolphins $8.6 million for breaching his contract when he retired shortly before training camp in 2004. He returned last year and, playing alongside first-round draft pick Ronnie Brown, rushed for 743 yards -- averaging over 4 yards a carry -- for the Dolphins.

"I noticed that in the CFL they don't use the backs as a receiving threat," Argonauts linebacker Lee Woodall, a two-time Pro Bowl selection and a veteran of more than a decade in the NFL, told The Toronto Sun for a Sunday story. "But I'll tell you, if the Argos get Ricky, that's one of the factors you can put on your plate."

Toronto has won the Grey Cup -- the CFL championship -- 15 times, most recently in 2004. The Argonauts were 11-7 last season and are led by veteran quarterback Damon Allen, the brother of Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Marcus Allen.

Damon Allen, who has more than two decades of CFL experience, threw for 5,082 yards, ran for 461 more and had 37 touchdowns last season while earning the league's Most Outstanding Player award.

Williams said he's been asked several times why he wanted to play in the CFL. He said his answer was always, "Why not?"

"I feel like I have a lot to offer," Williams said. "I have the right attitude. I'm looking forward to this year."

Updated on Sunday, May 28, 2006 5:28 pm EDT

 

[dougonthebench]

what a waste of amazing talent.

 

[rojan]

How much money did RW make playing for the Dolphins last year??

By the way, I heard from a friend that the Argos are looking at Quincy Carter..Not shure how true it is, just something I heard.