ricky williams to retire (rumored repport)

[LOGAN]

from yahoo

Report: Dolphins RB Ricky Williams retires
July 25, 2004 MIAMI (Ticker) - Ricky Williams (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/4653/) apparently is keeping with his personality.

The Miami Herald reported on its website Saturday night that Williams, the unpredictable running back of the Miami Dolphins (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/mia/), has told the team that he is retiring.

It would prove shocking should Williams decide to go through with retirement since he is just 27 and two seasons removed from winning the NFL rushing title.


"I'm finally free," Williams told the newspaper by cell phone from Hawaii. "I can't remember ever being this happy."

According to the report, Williams had been contemplating retirement for months and he informed coach Dave Wannstedt of his decision on Friday night.

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 (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/nor/) in 1999. The Saints traded eight picks to the Washington Redskins (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/was/) for the right to select the former Heisman Trophy winner.

"I just don't want to be in this business anymore," Williams told the paper. "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."

In his prime, Williams would be the latest running back to make the shocking decision to retire while he still had plenty left.

Barry Sanders and Jim Brown, two Hall of Famers, retired at the ages of 31 and 30, respectively. Former Minnesota Vikings (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/min/) running back Robert Smith, who rushed for 6,818 yards in eight seasons, announced his retirement following the 2000 campaign at the age of 28.

Williams has a known friendship with Brown, who also was a controversial figure. Brown left football to pursue a movie career.

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.

Williams, whose off-the-field exploits have seen him fail two drug tests, reportedly for marijuana use, and maintain a penchant for fast cars. He spent two seasons with the Dolphins after being acquired from the Saints on March 8, 2002 for a first-round pick.

In Miami, the 5-10, 226-pound bruising Williams filled a huge hole in the backfield. He won the rushing title in 2002 after rushing for 1,853 yards and gained 3,225 yards to go along with 25 TDs in two seasons.

Losing Williams again would leave a gaping hole in the backfield for the Dolphins, who are set to open training camp on Thursday. Travis Minor (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/5532/), who has rushed for 654 yards in three seasons, is second on the club's depth chart.

all i can say is WOW.

[Sinn Fein]

If he retires, he'll end up coming back when he gets bored and misses the spotlight a few years down the road.

[LOGAN]

or he runs out of money for weed . :)

its looking pretty legit at this point. articles on espn as well.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1846012

[Ballbuster1]

He's too young to retire. He'll be back.
They only walk away this young if they
are seriously hurt.

[tattered]

this young? dude he is only 4 yrs younger then when Barry Sanders retired.....he is prolly just using this as a ploy to renegoiate his contract it says he has really low base salary. he prolly wants to up that quite a bit...or he has a starring roll in ....Mars Attacks 2

[SPEWEY]

I'm sooooo glad the Eagles didn't draft him. :icon_razz

[Ballbuster1]

this young? dude he is only 4 yrs younger then when Barry Sanders retired.....he is prolly just using this as a ploy to renegoiate his contract it says he has really low base salary. he prolly wants to up that quite a bit...or he has a starring roll in ....Mars Attacks 2First, I hate being called, dude.:icon_wink
Second, 4 years is a long time in Pro Sports.
I still say at 27 he's too young.
It's either an impulsive move he'll regret or,
I'll agree, a ploy to get a bigger paycheck.

[Hoagie]

First, I hate being called, dude.:icon_wink
Second, 4 years is a long time in Pro Sports.
I still say at 27 he's too young.
It's either an impulsive move he'll regret or,
I'll agree, a ploy to get a bigger paycheck. Dude, Ricky Williams has some mental problems, dude. He's signed plenty of big contracts both in the NFL and in the endorsement market dude. Dude, he has plenty of money. And if he wants to come back he will never be able to get a decent contract again, dude. Dude, in todays NFL no one will risk a big contract on someone who just up and quits. I think he may really be gone, dude.

p.s. dude=elephant butt hair:xyxthumbs

[Sblueman Radio]

Has anyone thought of the possibility that this is similar to when Robert Smith retired? Football just isn't a priority to Ricky WIlliams, and he's made enough money. Why have his body beat up for 4-5 more years for a game he is not into completely? In the article in the Miami Herald, it is clear his prioritites are not football, and never were. It sounds like he is moving on because his heart is just not into it anymore.

[Hoagie]

Has anyone thought of the possibility that this is similar to when Robert Smith retired? Football just isn't a priority to Ricky WIlliams, and he's made enough money. Why have his body beat up for 4-5 more years for a game he is not into completely? In the article in the Miami Herald, it is clear his prioritites are not football, and never were. It sounds like he is moving on because his heart is just not into it anymore.I have :action-sm

[Ballbuster1]

Dude, Ricky Williams has some mental problems, dude. He's signed plenty of big contracts both in the NFL and in the endorsement market dude. Dude, he has plenty of money. And if he wants to come back he will never be able to get a decent contract again, dude. Dude, in todays NFL no one will risk a big contract on someone who just up and quits. I think he may really be gone, dude.

p.s. dude=elephant butt hair:xyxthumbsHmmmmm... you'll look good with "banned" under your name, DUDE............ just sayin.

[Sinn Fein]

Hmmmmm... you'll look good with "banned" under your name, DUDE............ just sayin.


Dude, that ain't right....

[Rob]

Has anyone thought of the possibility that this is similar to when Robert Smith retired? Football just isn't a priority to Ricky WIlliams, and he's made enough money. Why have his body beat up for 4-5 more years for a game he is not into completely? In the article in the Miami Herald, it is clear his prioritites are not football, and never were. It sounds like he is moving on because his heart is just not into it anymore.
yeah...

[Hoagie]

Hmmmmm... you'll look good with "banned" under your name, DUDE............ just sayin.Now you know saying you hate being called "dude" is an invitation to do so. And yes, "banned" does look good under my name.

[SpotcheckBilly]

Dude,
Stop calling the dude,dude. Dude obviously doesn't like it, dude.

[Florida Tool]

I concour with the esteemed banned representative from the commonwealth...Ricky has a few screws loose upstairs. I don't believe he'll be back...

[tysonpunchinguterus]

The timing of this is so shitty. If he'd known about this for a while--and it looks like he did from the things he said--then he just screwed the team completely. If he'd done this sooner, maybe Eddie George wouldn't have been quite so quick to sign with Dallas. Maybe the Dolphins could have made a deal to draft a top RB.

This absolutely blows. God, I hope Travis Minor can pick up the slack. He averaged over 4 yards per carry last year, but who knows how he'll do as a starter? At least the defense is still pretty strong, aside from the frustrating number of pass interference penalties. I don't know how the team will do this year, though. I was psyched thinking that O & A would probably be heading for Sirius, which would mean I'd be getting Miami's radio broadcasts as well since they have the NFL. It could be a tough listen at times now, though. I really hope he reconsiders, but I know that he's the type of person who could just walk away from it all. I just thought he was more considerate than to walk out this way.

[ResinIII]

My team doesn't have a friggin chance.Just watch, Ricky will sit back and chill and sign with the Jets knowing our luck!http://pages.prodigy.net/rogerlori1/emoticons/eek8.gif

[Hoagie]

My team doesn't have a friggin chance.Just watch, Ricky will sit back and chill and sign with the Jets knowing our luck!http://pages.prodigy.net/rogerlori1/emoticons/eek8.gifThe Dolphins will probably own his rights for 4 to 5 years so they would have to be well compensated. I wouldn't worry about him signing elsewhere.

[CrunchyJunk]

See my rant in the FU forum.

[peewee]

finally a rich dude who thinks like me... if i can exploit a talent of mine to get real rich i would quit as soon as i had enough money to live on... fuck working i would hang out and get fucked up all day long

[LOGAN]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/media/photo/2004-07/13575380.jpg

now if thats not the face of a man who wants to smoke weed i dont know waht is :bigok


http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-dolphins27jul27,0,7064139.story?coll=sfla-sports-front