Ricky to return after 4 game suspension

[Mr Cowboy]

Williams to serve four-game suspension beginning with Game 13

By BARRY WILNER, AP Football Writer
November 23, 2004
NEW YORK (AP) -- Ricky Williams will serve a four-game suspension beginning next month and then be reinstated with the Miami Dolphins by the NFL, according to his lawyer.

But the league says an agreement has not been finalized.

``I am pleased with the National Football League's proposal,'' attorney David Cornwell said Tuesday. ``I think Ricky will be pleased, too.''

ADVERTISEMENT


Williams must approve the deal, which would move him from the retired list to the suspended list for the final four games of the schedule. The running back is required to serve a four-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

After that, his contract with the Dolphins would be in force.

``Anything regarding Ricky's status is a league matter,'' Dolphins spokesman Harvey Greene said.

``No agreement has been reached at this time,'' NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said, adding the league and Williams' representatives have been in discussions ``for some time.''

Williams, 27, retired during the summer, giving up the $5 million he would have earned this season, which would have been his sixth in the NFL, amid reports he faced the suspension for substance abuse. Williams is now about a month into a 17-month course at the California College of Ayurveda in Grass Valley, Calif., studying holistic medicine.

The Dolphins' season pretty much was ruined by Williams' sudden retirement. The star runner was the focal point of Miami's offense and the Dolphins, also ravaged by injuries, are 1-9 without him. They will have their first losing season since 1988 and Dave Wannstedt resigned as coach earlier this month.

The team filed a lawsuit last month in federal court against Williams after an arbitrator ruled he owes the team more than $8.6 million for breaching his contract.

Williams rushed for 3,225 yards in two seasons with the Dolphins, including a league-leading 1,853 yards in 2002. They acquired the 1998 Heisman Trophy winner in a trade with New Orleans after the 2001 season.

Throughout his career, Williams has been plagued by strange behavior, including conducting interviews with his helmet on when he was with the Saints. He suffers from social-anxiety disorder and was a spokesman for an anti-depressant. He said marijuana helped him once he had to stop using the anti-depressant because it didn't agree with his diet.

Williams found laughable reports he retired because he wanted to continue smoking marijuana.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I have a funny feeling that things are about to get real interesting.

 

[trickblue]

I heard that on XM Radio tonight...

He can't play for Miami... too much bad blood... but what team will risk trading for him and that huge contract?

Everyone knows he is coming back as a result of the Dolphins having demanded the 8 mil in signing bonus back...

In regards to the spleef... did he not state as much?

 

[Avery]

I can only imagine what his team is going to think of him.

I guess the threat of being sued even applies to the high.

 

[jterrell]

RW will draw attention from a few clubs. The Raiders obviously. Maybe Houston.

He has talent and since the Dolphins have paid the signing bonus the risk is minimal.

He certianly isnt going to get back in trade equal talent but the Phins could probably pry a high second rounder from the Raiders for him. They can take a RB in round 2 ro go with the QB they take round 1 and whatever they decide to do with their own r2 pick.

The Phins could look at a team like Dallas picking mid round 1 and try to offer the two very high 2nds plus a 5th for that pick.

 

[trickblue]

RW will draw attention from a few clubs. The Raiders obviously. Maybe Houston.

He has talent and since the Dolphins have paid the signing bonus the risk is minimal.

He certianly isnt going to get back in trade equal talent but the Phins could probably pry a high second rounder from the Raiders for him. They can take a RB in round 2 ro go with the QB they take round 1 and whatever they decide to do with their own r2 pick.

The Phins could look at a team like Dallas picking mid round 1 and try to offer the two very high 2nds plus a 5th for that pick.

I will take my life if we were to do that...

 

[SuspectCorner]

i don't see williams with miami. i don't see how he could look those guys in the eye. though i'd imagine they'd like to have him back for a day - just so all could "express" their opinion of him.

 

[trickblue]

i don't see williams with miami. i don't see how he could look those guys in the eye. though i'd imagine they'd like to have him back for a day - just so all could "express" their opinion of him.

You mean kinda like a beat-down?

I want to know how he is beating the mandatory 1 year suspension...

Word was that he had failed a urine test... which would result in a 4 game suspension... then he failed another one which would result in a 1 year suspension... and that prompted him to take the money and run off to potville with Lenny Kravitz...

 

[Hostile]

His suspension starts week 13 and lasts 4 weeks.

13

14

15

16

Fantasy owners that's the end of the season. Don't rush out and pick this guy up. He still is not going to play in 2004.

 

[Jack Burton]

Williams is now about a month into a 17-month course at the California College of Ayurveda in Grass Valley, Calif., studying holistic medicine.

Hmm. That sounds about right.

 

[Source]

So you telling me I could smoke weed like hell for 5 or 6 years in the NFL and be reinstated after coming from a country of weed... Astrailia where the ESPN interviewed his so call friend who said he smokes weed daily.... Im glad to see ricky back...

 

[jobberone]

RW will draw attention from a few clubs. The Raiders obviously. Maybe Houston.

He has talent and since the Dolphins have paid the signing bonus the risk is minimal.

He certianly isnt going to get back in trade equal talent but the Phins could probably pry a high second rounder from the Raiders for him. They can take a RB in round 2 ro go with the QB they take round 1 and whatever they decide to do with their own r2 pick.

The Phins could look at a team like Dallas picking mid round 1 and try to offer the two very high 2nds plus a 5th for that pick.

Why in the hell would anyone want this guy. Yep, you're right. He'll be a Raider for sure.

 

[trickblue]

Well I hope he makes it back and does well... SB MVP... we could all see him on a Wheaties box then...

 

[joseephuss]

You mean kinda like a beat-down?

I want to know how he is beating the mandatory 1 year suspension...

Word was that he had failed a urine test... which would result in a 4 game suspension... then he failed another one which would result in a 1 year suspension... and that prompted him to take the money and run off to potville with Lenny Kravitz...

I think his penalty is kind of time served plus the four games. He has already missed 10 games this season. Still not the automatic 1 year suspension, but then again, he is not a Cowboy.

 

[trickblue]

I think his penalty is kind of time served plus the four games. He has already missed 10 games this season. Still not the automatic 1 year suspension, but then again, he is not a Cowboy.

Good point about the Cowboy thing...

But he had officially retired...

Haven't I heard some kind of time stipulation involving coming off the retired list?

 

[trickblue]

 

[SuspectCorner]

looks like franco - but has more in common with bob marley.

 

[trickblue]

looks like franco - but has more in common with bob marley.

He looks like the offspring of Franco Harris and Mean Joe Green...

 

[Monte51Coleman]

This is being done by Ricky's representatives without his blessing.


http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-dolnotes24nov24,0,4765787.story?coll=sfla-sports-front
Ricky to be reinstated?
By Harvey Fialkov
and Alex Marvez Staff Writers

November 24, 2004

SAN FRANCISCO -- A few days after estranged Dolphins running back Ricky Williams told a reporter that he was more interested in studying holistic medicine than playing professional football, his lawyer said that the NFL is close to agreeing to a plan that would allow Williams to return to the league next season.

Williams' attorney, David Cornwell, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that if Williams approves the proposal, he would be shifted from the retired list to the suspended list for the final four games of the season because of his repeated violations of the league's substance abuse policy.

"I am pleased with the National Football League's proposal," Cornwell said. "I think Ricky will be pleased, too."

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said no deal has been finalized and that Williams' attorney has jumped to conclusions.

"That would be a fair interpretation," Aiello said. "There have been ongoing discussions. There's no agreement. Nothing has been finalized."

If reinstated, Williams would have to agree to participation in the NFL's substance abuse program. That would mean random drug testing up to 10 times a month for three years.

The Dolphins filed a lawsuit in federal court earlier this month as a follow-up to an arbitrator's ruling that Williams must pay back the Dolphins $8.6 million for breaching his contract. Whether Williams returns or not, he still must repay the Dolphins.

"Anything regarding Ricky's status is a league matter," team spokesman Harvey Greene said.

Williams, 27, is under contract to the Dolphins through the 2006 season, but it's highly unlikely that he would return to the team that he abandoned a week before training camp began in late July. His exodus seemed to begin a downward spiral to the Dolphins' fortunes.

Cornwell's proposal would clear the path for other teams, with the Raiders seemingly the most interested, to pursue the NFL's 2002 leading rusher. It would also allow the Dolphins to recoup some value for Williams, possibly draft picks.

Earlier this week, Williams, who is in the midst of a 17-month course at the California College of Ayurveda in Grass Valley, Calif., studying holistic medicine, told the San Francisco Chronicle that his representatives wanted him to play more than he did.

"I understand [Cornwall and Williams' agent Leigh Steinberg's] wishful thinking. It's easy math. If I play, it puts more money in their pocket," Williams said. "I loved playing football, but the reasons I loved football were just to feed my ego. And any time you feed your ego, it's a one-way street."

 

[joseephuss]

He looks like the offspring of Franco Harris and Mean Joe Green...

Also a little resemblence to Earl.