The Ricky saga continues.
He was known as the Texas Tornado in college and while playing for the Miami Dolphins, he was a tornado spinning out of control. Ricky Williams' promising NFL career came to a complete halt after repeated violations of the NFL's substance abuse policy and just when he was to be reinstated in the NFL, he again tested positive for marijuana last month.
Over his seven-year NFL career, Williams failed five drug tests and, according to NFL policy, after a player tests positive three times, he is suspended for at least one year for each subsequent violation. After a year, a player can apply for reinstatement, which is at the commissioner's discretion. Now the ball is in NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's hands on his decision to bring Williams back into the NFL. But if it was my decision on Williams, I would say, "no."
How many times can a player be given a chance?
How many times does a player say "sorry" and then do the opposite?
In Williams' case, it's too many times with no remorse to seek help and clean up his tiring act. Too many times we hear how yoga is helping him, but then so is marijuana. For all intents and purposes, a normal citizen would be arrested and jailed if caught with marijuana and be forced to enter a rehab program.
In a statement released by Williams' agent, Leigh Steinberg, Williams stated:
"Due to the recent reports about me failing a drug test, I feel it is appropriate for me to issue this statement. Last month, following a psychological evaluation requested by the NFL, we — the psychiatrist and I — came to the realization that there were a few things I needed to iron out about myself in order to make my return to the NFL as successful as possible.
I am an honest, God-fearing man who is intensely dedicated to being the best person I can be on and off the football field. There is no need to smear my name or to defame my character for the sake of news. When the time is right, God willing, I will be back on the field scoring touchdowns for whatever team is fortunate enough to believe in me."
The Dolphins don't believe in him anymore and coach Cam Cameron made it known to the media. Cameron said: "I will not allow our fans to be let down by people that are not on our roster — not again. It's my responsibility not to let that happen again. We have the greatest fans in the game and we've got men on our team that we're going to focus on."
Williams was diagnosed with social anxiety disorder in 2001 and was prescribed to take the drug Paxil. However, he said Paxil didn't agree with his diet and that marijuana is 300,000 times better for him; it's a better treatment with fewer side effects.
It not only hurt his football career, but chances to be one of the best in the game. In 2002, he was the Dolphins' leading rusher with 1,853 yards and also has the awards to show for his football ability from the Heisman Trophy to Pro Bowl MVP. However, since 2003, he only played in 12 games and owes the Dolphins $8.6 million for breaching his contract when he sat out for the entire 2004 NFL season. His problems also hurt the Dolphins with a five-year playoff drought, which is the longest in their franchise history.
Dolphins' linebacker Zach Thomas said it best, when interviewed by MSNBC.com: "It has been a rough ride ... we have to quit looking for excuses and move on. Whoever is here, we've got to work with that and quit looking at all the drama that is usually off the field. There has been quite a bit over the last five years."
The last five years of the Ricky Williams saga.
May 22, 2007
Paul:
Marijuana did not hurt his football career- the NFL’s obsession with something that has no bearing on football did. Meanwhile a blind eye is turned to juiced up animals.
I can’t wait until the NFL is bankrupt from being sued by former players who were forced to play with concussions. The time they spent chasing a toking player will seem real well used then.
I can’t wait until the NFL is bankrupt from being sued by former players who were forced to play with concussions.
May 22, 2007
john:
This is “professional” football, players are paid large sums of money to get out on the field and play the game as hard as they can. THIS IS THEIR JOB. In the “real world,” you can get randomly drug tested on your job, and if you come up positive you will have to face the consequences. PROFESSIONAL football is no different. Williams likes getting high, which is understandable, but he has a job and responsibilities, and he’s been given so many chances its ridiculous.
May 23, 2007
rick:
williams could have been great.I don’t know how he could play when he was higher than a kite.He must really love the weed to give up millions,what a freak.All he does is take up space now.No team will take him,they will be afraid of him getting busted again.
May 24, 2007
Kevin Beane:
“For all intents and purposes, a normal citizen would be arrested and jailed if caught with marijuana and be forced to enter a rehab program.”
What are you talking about? As far as I know simple possession of marijuana is minor misdemeanor in most states, and more to the point, no one, “normal citizen” or otherwise, is turned over to the police if they fail an employer-sponsored drug test.
June 7, 2007
kash:
i agree totally with paul, and coming from a long time(20+ years) phin fan, i beleive they, the dolphins, or any other team that sees him play and thinks he can still improve there team shouldnt judge him for smoking pot. I mean really, anyone who has smoked pot in their lif time ( more then 72% of americans poled in usa today have) knows that smoking weed is in no way going to inhance your ability to play sports, especially football!!!!!
August 13, 2007
jay:
i think that a doc should perscribe marijuana to ricky so he can deal with hes anxiety disorder while living his life to the fullest ricky was a future hall of fame rb and that was taken away for propaganda to show the nfl isnt corrupt such as a player killed someone while driving drunk and im sure a large sum of players in the nfl are all juiced up but meanwhile ricky williams is suspended for a year because he has nothing to help him with his desease that he has to mantain (and that makes him worse off any way.. now tell me whats right