Ricky Williams from Dolphins retired?

[Cat13]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Good, I hate the Dolphins.

Go Bills!!!

Most of my family lives in South FL, but some live in Buffalo. It's a great time when we get together during the season.

btw, I can't stand the Bills!

 

[MazerRackham]

That guy is just nuts... remember when he would do interviews with his helmet still on??? LOL!!! I feel bad for the Dolphins, but I think in the long run they'll be better off, since Ricky Williams is a total whacko!

 

[Fingolfin269]

Originally posted by: classy
I also think that his desire to smoke marijuana had a lot to do with this as well.

According to Williams, the only reason he got caught this time is because he forgot to drink the 'special liquid' (???) that causes the tests to come back negative. He says that he and several other players smoke quite frequently and always test negative... unless they forget the magic drink of course.

 

[Mallow]

just b/c he didn't want to pay a half-million fine? What a loser.

 

[thatsright]

NE Patriots Nation wakes up Sunday morning, and go 'Whatever!'

 

[JHoNNy1OoO]

What a SOB! I heard this just about 15 minutes ago and am completely off the handle. Like others have mentioned, it's not that he quit, but when he quit. Now the Dolphins are left with basically no options when 2 weeks ago we could've done something for George. I was so excited about this year and just like that Ricky gives up. Gonna wipe my ass with his jersey.

I don't know what led him to this decision but whatever it was I wish he would've realised that the timing told his teamates, coaches, management, and especially the fans F U! ARGH!!!

Of course, I'll still be rooting for my beloved Dolphins. It's definately an uphill battle this season.

 

[venk]

It's intresting that he is doing this about a week before Barry Sanders gets inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

 

[trmiv]

This whole thing has a Bison Dele (Brian Williams) from the NBA, feel to it. Let's just hope Ricky doesn't end up missing after a boat trip.

 

[Double Trouble]

While his timing could have been better, I for one am not one of the people that call him a 'loser' etc. I think it was a smart move on his part. Leave the game when you feel like it, while your knees still work, while your hips still work, while you can still walk etc. He's a healthy young man (under 30), and has complete financial independence. Good for him.

With Williams, football has never been his passion. He's very gifted athletically, and football has always been a means to an end for him. Some guys just have a passion for the game and give their lives to it (and hopefully reap the rewards of their hard work). For him, it was just something he was good at and could make lots of money at. Think of it this way -- if you had a job where you made lots of money but you didn't like the job, you'd wait until you had enough money, and then quit to go do something you wanted to do. That's exactly what he did.....

 

[Bassyhead]

<- disappointed

 

[Bumrush99]

The Dolphins were already having the worst freaking offseason possible. This news has killed any chance for a playoff appearance. As it stands, they have new OL, no running back and 3rd string QB as their starter. Thank god we got Shaq... I have been a die hard fin fan for years, I'm happy I didn't renew my season tickets there year. Wanny is doing his best to repeat his performance in Chicago, by the time he gets fired the Dolphins will wind up 4-12.

 

[Kev]

does anyone find it odd that he retired exactly the day after dolphins single game tickets went on sale?

dolphins fans, you can thank the miami FO for fcking you over, not ricky. they probably knew about this weeks ago but wanted him to wait so their tickets would sell.

i have him on a fantasy team that i drafted early with, so this kinda sucks for me...

 

[tm37]

Originally posted by: Fingolfin269

Originally posted by: classy
I also think that his desire to smoke marijuana had a lot to do with this as well.

According to Williams, the only reason he got caught this time is because he forgot to drink the 'special liquid' (???) that causes the tests to come back negative. He says that he and several other players smoke quite frequently and always test negative... unless they forget the magic drink of course.

A fprgetful pothead, who would of thumk it?

 

[Bumrush99]

The rumors in Miami are starting to fly... One being that Ricky and the Herald reporter (Dan Lebetard) had a little fling going...

 

[Zebo]

Good read...\\

Ricky's right to choose
Williams shouldn't be faulted for living life on his own terms
Posted: Monday July 26, 2004 9:27AM; Updated: Monday July 26, 2004 9:27AM


Ricky Williams rushed for 3,225 yards in two seasons with the Dolphins.
Grant Halverson/Getty Images


He could be anywhere in the world by now, doing just about anything -- sipping tea in Bangkok restaurant, admiring the view from a Tuscan villa, navigating a boat down the Nile. Wherever he is, Ricky Williams is a world away from the NFL and the shock caused by his sudden retirement. While the white noise roars here at home ("Will he change his mind?" "What a waste of talent." "How could he abandon his team?" "Who walks away from all that money?"), Williams hears none of it.

He's long gone, and no one, not even Williams himself, knows when we will see him again. The one thing that is nearly certain is that at this very moment, as you read this, Ricky Williams is exactly where he wants to be and doing exactly what he wants to do.

Are you?

Are any of us? "You can't understand how free I feel," he told the Miami Herald before he boarded a flight bound for life after football. He's probably right about that. There aren't many people who know how liberating it is the have all the money they need and virtually no demands on their time. NFL people have tried to explain his abrupt decision by saying that Williams was always a little "different." Instead of living by someone else's schedule and running full speed into drooling, snorting behemoths over and over again for the next several years, Williams will be going wherever his curiosity takes him, living the life he chooses. Tell me again, what's crazy about that?

If it's hard to understand why Williams would walk away from the Miami Dolphins and what could have been a Hall of Fame career at the tender age of 27. Maybe it's because we thought he already had the perfect life. What could be better than being a wealthy, famous All-Pro running back in the prime of his career? That's the kind of life the rest of us dream of, not run from.

But every now and again, a rare athlete comes along for whom a fat paycheck and an adoring crowd isn't the ultimate. Williams is such an athlete. If the thought of January makes him dream of the Fiji Islands instead of the Super Bowl, who are we to blame him or question his choices? Given his history of violating the NFL's drug policy, apparently Williams prefers a lifestyle that includes smoking at least the occasional joint without worrying about someone from the league appearing at his front door with a little cup. As much as we might disapprove of that behavior, don't we usually complain that if an athlete doesn't want to be drug tested, he should get out of the sport? That's exactly what Williams is doing.

There are those who criticize Williams for the timing of his retirement, coming as it does with training camp only a few days away. Couldn't he have given the Dolphins more notice and allowed them time to develop a reasonable Plan B? But as hard as it may be to believe, some life decisions aren't governed by the NFL schedule. A man has the right to determine what course the rest of his life will take even if it plays hell with the Miami Dolphins' depth chart.

If you believe Williams' retirement was somehow wrong, there's a good chance that you either: a) are a Dolphins fan; b) have him on your fantasy league team; or c) take the NFL far too seriously. The bottom line is that Williams figured out what was important to him, or at least, what wasn't, and from all indications, he is a happier man to day than he was a week ago. Wherever he is right now, this is the message he should be hearing from back home in the States:

More power to you, Ricky.

Bon voyage.


Sports Illustrated senior writer Phil Taylor writes about a Hot Button topic every Monday on SI.com.

 

[Zebo]

LOL I can't believe you morons think he's throwing "all that money away" he's worth about 25 mil already...that just might be enough to live in a beach house in jamaca banging two at a time the rest of his life don't you think? And janja if that's his thing///

BTW for a running back he had a LONG carreer. Most last 3.4 years before thier knees or speed disappear and they are relegated to IR and/or "guest appearances" for the NFL.

It's your life, really live it, and don't bitch about someone who's doing it. Go ricky go ted nugent, fusk taking the so called straight and narrow...wish I could afford to.

 

[RaiseUp]

Good for him

I hope he is happy, and smoking some good stuff .

 

[HamSupLo]

ricky williams knows what's best for him. He can walk away from the game with 2 good knees.

 

[waggy]

good for him.

He is young rich and is still healthy.

hope he enjoy's the rest of his life.

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

anyone else remember the sports illustrated story (maybe it was a espn magazine) about Williams?

It basically gave me the idea that this guy is a complete nutjob. This sort of retirement (pulling out unplanned, leaving the team in a lurch) is evidence that things are not quite right in his head.

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: digitalsm

Originally posted by: yellowfiero
Barry Sanders all over again?

You cant come close to comparing Williams to Sanders in any way, or in the reasons why Barry or Williams quit.

Ricky isn't worthy to be mentioned in the same sentence as Barry.

That's the equivalent of comparing Manute Bol to Magic Johnson

 

[Chaotic42]

I knew this guy was a waste of skin a long time ago when he played for New Orleans.

"No one likes me"
"I don't feel at home"
"My emotional wellbeing isn't at the level it should be"
"I got a bad haircut, I can't play for six weeks"

Good riddance to bad rubbish.