| Ricky Williams seems to be a living enigma, of sorts. | | | | he owed them for the 2004 season he did not play. |
| With an exorbitant amount of football talent, Williams | | | | Ricky missed the first four games of the season, |
| brought great hope to the Dolphins' lackluster running | | | | serving a suspension for his failed drug test prior to |
| game in the 2002 season. With the exception of his | | | | training camp the year before. He came back slowly, |
| 1999 season with the New Orleans Saints during which | | | | only achieving seven yards rushing during the first two |
| he had only 884 yards on the ground with 253 carries, | | | | games of his return. Ricky then finished the season |
| Williams has done well. He boasted 1000 rushing yards | | | | with two games during which he gained more than 100 |
| in 2000 with 248 carries, and 1245 rushing yards with | | | | yards rushing. At this point, Nick Saban was onto |
| 313 carries for two years before he joined the | | | | something; not only did he have an established power |
| Dolphins. | | | | runner in Ricky Williams, but he also had a finesse |
| When he joined Miami in 2002, instead of playing a role | | | | running back in Ronnie Brown. Enter the two-headed |
| in the backfield, he was asked to pretty much | | | | monster of power and finesse. |
| spearhead the Dolphins offensive explosion. Ricky | | | | Now the power-half of the two-headed monster is |
| accumulated 1853 rushing yards with an almost | | | | gone. Williams failed another drug test last month and |
| machine-like 383 carries; do you think they ran the ball | | | | has just been handed a one-year suspension by the |
| that year? By the time the 2003 season rolled around, | | | | NFL as of last week. The real question isn't "How will |
| the hype around Ricky Williams was astonishing. Ricky | | | | the Dolphins welcome him back next year or will they |
| was thrown into the spotlight by not only the local | | | | use him as trade bait?" The real question is how well |
| media, but also by the national media which acclaimed | | | | Nick Saban can convince his team that Ricky Williams |
| him as the next great running back in the NFL/ This | | | | is insignificant to their success. While most of us know |
| only heightened an already escalating problem. The | | | | that Williams is one heck of a running back, I doubt his |
| Dolphins continued to utilize Ricky in the 2003 season | | | | failure to play this season will seriously affect their |
| the same way they had the year before; he compiled | | | | chances in the AFC East. The Dolphins have improved |
| an amazing 392 carries, but only 1372 rushing yards. | | | | themselves greatly in the off-season, and their |
| Opposing teams seemed to figure out that Miami was | | | | competition in the division has either lost key players or |
| going to run the ball, a lot. | | | | has remained dormant in free-agent signings. The |
| Right before training camp started for the Dolphins, on | | | | Patriots (God-bless) have lost Adam Vinatieri, Ted |
| July 25, 2004, Ricky Williams placed a phone call to the | | | | Washington, and, probably the biggest hit of them all, |
| team to announce that he had planned to "retire" and | | | | Willie McGinnest. Not to mention the fact that the |
| not play the 2004 season. Ricky cited many reasons | | | | Patriots seemed to ignore the last free-agent signing. |
| for his choice to leave the high-paying career of | | | | Meanwhile, the Jets and the Bills do not look like they |
| football. He said, "I just don't want to be in this business | | | | are going to provide much of a challenge. |
| anymore," and added, "I was never strong enough to | | | | So, it seems the Dolphins will survive this year with the |
| not play football, but I'm strong enough now." Ricky also | | | | loss of Ricky Williams. Unless something else happens |
| added that he was "finally free," and he couldn't | | | | that derails their train off the tracks, they seem to be |
| remember being this happy. The Dolphins weren't. | | | | the favorite to win the AFC East. What about Ricky, |
| Miami ended up finishing that season with a 4-12 year. | | | | though? What will become of his career? Will he play |
| The Dolphins' savior had become their downfall. The | | | | for the Dolphins next year? What will happen to his |
| story of Ricky Williams' decision to leave football to | | | | legacy? Well, only time will tell. Only Ricky can decide |
| pursue a career as a holistic healer made the news | | | | his future. Either he can serve his one year suspension |
| often during the 2004 season, and many twists and | | | | and come back and try to be a model NFL player |
| turns surfaced in that time, including Ricky failing a drug | | | | again, or he can mix dry herbs into a burlap pouch and |
| test due to marijuana use just prior to his decision to | | | | give them to natives in the Australian outback. Maybe |
| leave football. | | | | he can get a gig with the Amsterdam Admirals in NFL |
| Last season, Williams returned to the Dolphins to play | | | | Europe. Either way, the Dolphins are much better off |
| football, and tried to work off some of the money that | | | | this year than in 2004; Ricky Williams, not so much. |