Probably because he's out of money! (had to pay all that $ back to the Dolphins)
chrisih8u
08-26-04, 12:18 AM
He has to wait until at least next year. Then 4 games for a suspension.
Deftones
08-26-04, 12:35 AM
yeah, he can't comeback this year. what a moron.
RyoHazuki
08-26-04, 12:53 AM
His stash must have run out.
BigDaddy
08-26-04, 12:57 AM
The article I read said if he files an appeal he may can come back this season. Not sure if the league would rule in his favor.
MIAMI (Ticker) -- According to a report out of South Florida, Ricky Williams has made overtures to Miami Dolphins head coach Dave Wannstedt about returning to the team.
The Sun-Sentinel reported Wednesday that Williams, who stunned the football community with the announcement of his retirement in late July, has contacted his former coach.
The 27-year-old Williams has filed his retirement papers with the league but reportedly is considering a comeback if the team meets certain conditions -- including the renegotiation of his current contract.
The newspaper cites several NFL sources in its report.
Williams likely would have to miss the 2004 season, unless he appealed -- and was successful in overturning -- a penalty for three positive tests for marijuana. The filing of his retirement papers served as a fourth failed test -- an infraction that carries a mandatory year suspension.
Last week, the Dolphins notified Williams that he needed to report to play or face the recoupment of $8.6 million in paid salary. The Dolphins, which included recoupment provisions in a restructured contract Williams agreed to in 2002, would have to repay $5.3 million in salary from the Dolphins and $3.3 million in signing bonus money he received from New Orleans in 1999.
Williams, who is just two seasons removed from winning the NFL rushing title, quit the game abruptly in pursuit of happiness off the field.
"I just don't want to be in this business anymore," Williams said at the time. "I was never strong enough to not play football, but I'm strong enough now. I've considered everything about this. Everyone has thrown every possible scenario at me about why I shouldn't do this, but they're in denial. I'm happy with my decision."
Known for his interesting and complex nature off the field and for his dreadlocks on it, Williams has rushed for 6,354 yards in five seasons since being picked fifth overall by the New Orleans Saints in 1999. The Saints traded eight picks to the Washington Redskins for the right to select the former Heisman Trophy winner.
In 1999, Williams' professional career also started in odd fashion when his eight-year contract was negotiated by rapper Master P's agency. The deal contained large incentives but low base salaries, including just $350,000 as a rookie.
Deftones
08-26-04, 01:20 AM
renegotiation of his contract? WTF? This dickhead had some idiot rapper do his first contract. I think his current contract is more than fair. If anything, the fuckhole should have to come back for the league minimum since he fucked over the Dolphins so bad.
Flashback
08-26-04, 06:35 AM
Originally posted by Deftones, Esq
renegotiation of his contract? WTF? This dickhead had some idiot rapper do his first contract. I think his current contract is more than fair. If anything, the fuckhole should have to come back for the league minimum since he fucked over the Dolphins so bad.
I think it was Master P....boy did he rape Ricky on that contract.
wildcatlh
08-26-04, 09:19 AM
Ricky Williams said Wednesday night he contacted the Dolphins earlier this week at the request of agent Leigh Steinberg, but the retired running back said he has no plans to return to the team anytime soon despite numerous reports he is coming back.
Williams hasn't completely ruled out a return, but he made it clear that under the current state of the coaching staff and of his contract that ``it's not in my best interests to play football right now.''
Beyond that, Williams is facing a suspension of at least one year from the NFL for violations of the league's substance-abuse policy.
Williams, who is in Australia and said he plans to travel to India soon for ''a couple of months,'' said the Dolphins basically forced the conversation after sending a letter last week demanding repayment of $8.6 million by Monday.
''Yeah, it's true that I called them,'' Williams said. ``You need to understand that I didn't call them to see if I could come back. I was just causing a conversation to happen.
``They sent me the letter, and [Steinberg] told me it's in my best interests to call them.''
Asked if he was prepared to repay the money or return to the team by Monday, Williams said, ``That's really up to the Dolphins about the money . . . this whole thing gets crazier by the day.''
SEVERAL FACTORS
Williams said a number of factors weighed into his decision to retire. Among them was the decision to promote Chris Foerster to offensive coordinator instead of Marc Trestman in May after Joel Collier stepped down.
''I felt that if I played I probably would have gotten hurt,'' Williams said. ``It was my opinion that Marc Trestman should be the coordinator. When Chris was going through things in practice, it didn't make sense to me. I felt they were going to run me again as they had in the past. I would feel more comfortable if [Trestman] was the coordinator because then we at least would have had balance.''
In two seasons with the Dolphins, Williams carried 775 times, including a franchise-record 393 last season. ''I've taken a beating the past two years, and I did it with a smile on my face,'' he said.
But Williams did say money was a factor this offseason. Steinberg and the Dolphins were in discussions about a restructured contract.
''I do feel I have been underpaid the past couple of years,'' Williams said. ``I'm not a person who cares that much about money. It's more of a respect thing.''
The Dolphins revised Williams' contract, allowing him to make $5.3 million in incentives the past two seasons.
QUICK RETURN UNLIKELY
Regardless of what Williams ultimately does, it's unlikely he will play this season. An NFL source said ''major hurdles'' would have to be crossed before Williams could play.
Among the hurdles is that Williams would have to appeal to NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue for reinstatement after filing his retirement papers this month.
Even if he were reinstated from retirement, Williams likely would face the suspension. Williams has tested positive for marijuana use three times since being acquired by the Dolphins in March 2002.
Finally, coach Dave Wannstedt would have to discuss the return with members of the team, some of whom were critical of Williams.
Williams was contacted in Australia with the help of agent Drew Rosenhaus, who was ''invited'' by Williams, both men said.
Originally posted by Flashback
I think it was Master P....boy did he rape Ricky on that contract.
And now Master P had declared bankruptcy what a class act.
LurkerDan
08-26-04, 11:32 AM
If Ricky is facing a years suspension, wouldn't it make sense for him to "come back" this year, so that he can sit this year under the suspension?
wildcatlh
08-26-04, 11:42 AM
Originally posted by LurkerDan
If Ricky is facing a years suspension, wouldn't it make sense for him to "come back" this year, so that he can sit this year under the suspension?
He only faces the year's suspension if he comes back within a year (since that counts as another positive test). Otherwise he'll only be facing the original 4 game suspension.
raven56706
08-26-04, 11:50 AM
He realized he had no money to buy weed.....duh dummy
El Scorcho
08-26-04, 12:18 PM
I think it would be a huge move for the Dolphins to tell Ricky to fuck off, something I have wished the Blazers would do from time to time.
If Ricky somehow ended up a Dolphin again there would be so much resentment in that locker room from other players that you could forget about team chemistry.
sn9ke_eyes
08-26-04, 01:03 PM
you know as a Dolphins fan I want to win, but I also now hate this pothead quitter. If he wants to return, I say NO. Keyshawn him for the whole year if needed.
But besides substance related suspensions, if you file retirement paperwork, you can't comeback in the same year.
kenbuzz
08-26-04, 01:41 PM
Originally posted by sn9ke_eyes
you know as a Dolphins fan I want to win, but I also now hate this pothead quitter. If he wants to return, I say NO. Keyshawn him for the whole year if needed.
Hey, cool, I didn't realize that "Keyshawn" had become a verb, like "MacGyver" and "Monica".
- MacGyver (v.) to jerry-rig a solution ("The muffler fell off my car but I was able to ~ it with some duct tape")
- Monica (v.) to provide oral pleasure ("My g/f gave me a humming ~ last night")
- Keyshawn (v.) to compensate for services that intentionally go unused ("I hope Miami will ~ Ricky Williams this year if he comes back")
RoyalTea
08-26-04, 01:44 PM
Originally posted by kenbuzz
Hey, cool, I didn't realize that "Keyshawn" had become a verb, like "MacGyver" and "Monica".
- MacGyver (v.) to jerry-rig a solution ("The muffler fell off my car but I was able to ~ it with some duct tape")
- Monica (v.) to provide oral pleasure ("My g/f gave me a humming ~ last night")
- Keyshawn (v.) to compensate for services that intentionally go unused ("I hope Miami will ~ Ricky Williams this year if he comes back") your use of "Monica" in that example seems like a NOUN, not a verb.
kenbuzz
08-26-04, 01:55 PM
Oh, then how about this: "I hope my g/f will ~ me tonight."
RoyalTea
08-26-04, 02:11 PM
Originally posted by kenbuzz
Oh, then how about this: "I hope my g/f will ~ me tonight." that's better.
and I hope your g/f will ~ me tonight, too!
:lol:
POWERBOMB
08-26-04, 02:55 PM
Obviously, ESPN read way to much into that contact and ran with a different angle. I'm sure Steinberg just wants to save as much cash for his client and is trying to reach some sort of agreement between the two.
In a way, I'm happy for him. To be that young and have the money to retire and live/enjoy life is something I think we all aspire to do (for most of us minus the pot smoking).
Boot
08-27-04, 07:47 PM
He probably saw how much money he really stood to lose and Tim Couched his pants.
wildcatlh
08-27-04, 08:23 PM
I believe it's said best here in Dolphin Digest (from the editor)
Run Ricky Run Away - Fast!
August 27, 2004
What was once a story about a man seeking his own unique lifestyle has now deteriorated into a soap opera filled with lies, greed and absurd demands. The whole Ricky Williams mess seems to get uglier as each day passes.
What could he be thinking? Is he playing us all for fools? Does he think he can change directions in real life as quickly as he does on the football field?
I don't know about you, but I've had it with Run Ricky Run. As this point, I would just as soon he Run Ricky Run Away. And run away fast.
First he turns his back on an entire franchise less than a week before the start of training camp, telling everyone who cared to listen that he is now at peace with his life, that he wants to travel the world, smoke marijuana and take hold of his inner self. I really never had a problem with his decision, only the way he went about it. The timing couldn't have been more classless and selfish.
But now Ricky is changing his tune. Now he's telling people that it's all about getting a new contract, it's all about carrying the ball less and it's all about a reluctance to play for offensive coordinator Chris Foerster.
So which is it, Ricky? Is it the lifestyle or the money? Is it the offense or the coordinator? At this point, I'm not sure he even knows. When you talk out of the side of your mouth as much as Ricky has lately, you tend to lose all semblance of what really is the truth.
I also find it almost comical that Ricky seems to be ignoring what, I believe, is the real reason his quick feet are becoming cold feet. Could it have anything to do with Ricky's desire not to pay the more than $8 million in incentive money that this breach of contract means that he owes? You betcha. Keep in mind that this isn't what the Dolphins want. What they want is for Ricky to simply honor the terms of his current contract and play football.
Word has it that the contract is iron clad. If Ricky walks, he's got to return that money. He may not have believed at first that the Dolphins would seek legal action against him. But I have the feeling he believes it now. His most recent list of demands reeks of a person in a panic mode, trying to avoid a huge financial loss.
Like everything else recently, Ricky is going about it the wrong way.
His only chance was to return to the Dolphins under the terms of his current contract, to apologize to his teammates, the entire organization and the fans for his selfish motives and to hope that whatever suspension the NFL levies against him for his drug violations would still allow him to play in at least part of this season.
That would be the high road. Instead, Ricky has once again chosen the low road.
What business of any kind would ever offer an employee a new contract after he pulled the kind of stunt that Ricky did? What's more, he wants assurances that he would carry the ball less.
So he wants more money and less carries? I'm surprised he didn't throw in a private airplane in his list of demands. That way he can get out of town in a hurry when the urge strikes him again.
The demand for less carries is particularly amusing to me. This is a player who told the coaching staff he wanted to stay in on third down and whose contract was so slanted toward incentives that he probably wanted to stay on the field to play defense as well. Now, he’s complaining about getting exactly what he wanted.
This is obviously a very confused young man. It is not surprising that many of his teammates have now publicly turned against him. As much as everyone would like the old Ricky back, as much as the Dolphins could use a Pro Bowl player at running back, it is far more important for the Dolphins to retain their integrity and not bow to these absurd demands.
I wouldn't be surprised if Ricky calls the Dolphins again sometime soon. I wouldn't be surprised if he tones it down a little because this could become a desperate situation as the legal battle heats up.
But Ricky has already done too much damage to justify a second chance. While I honestly battled over accepting his original reasoning for walking away, his sudden reversal this past week clearly demonstrates that you really can't believe anything he says.
Ricky was asked by the Miami Herald why he didn't bring up this list of demands when he first decided to bolt. "I guess I need to learn to be more upfront," Williams told the Herald.
Yeah, he sure does. There's a lot Ricky Williams needs to learn and until he starts changing his ways, it is hard to take seriously anything he says. And, sadly, it's even harder to respect him.
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