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[Willco]

... I felt this deserved it's own topic since non-NFL topic readers have been interested in this case.

Ricky Williams' career as a football player may be over after he decided not to accept a proposal to re-enter the NFL and serve a four-game suspension for violations of the drug policy, according to his attorney, David Cornwell.

Williams is currently on the league's reserve retired list and needed to make a decision by Friday to try to be reinstated into the league. The league requires players on the retired list to be reinstated 30 days before the end of the season.

Williams met with Cornwell Wednesday night and Cornwell couldn't talk him into seeking reinstatement. More than a week ago, Cornwell worked out a proposal that would have allowed Williams to return this week and be suspended for the final four games of the season.

"Ricky is going to stay on the retired list and I have to conclude that his career is over," Cornwell said.

Williams still owes the Dolphins $8 million for not fulfilling his contract with the team. At the moment, he is studying holistic medicine at a college near Sacramento, Calif.

The former halfback seems to be happy with his new life. He has met several reporters in recent weeks and has shown little interest in returning to football. A few months ago, he told his agent, Leigh Steinberg, he wanted to play, which started the process for negotiations with the league over his return.

Cornwell flew to New York a couple of times and worked out a solution. Williams had a one-year suspension hanging over his career for retiring while in the drug program and another four-game suspension for a positive test in December 2003.

Through negotiations, Cornwell and the league worked out a plan that favored time served. Williams would only have to serve the final four weeks as a suspension and then be available for possible trades to other teams in the offseason.


"David Cornwell informed our office that Ricky Williams has declined to accept the terms of his reinstatement," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told The Associated Press.

Williams, 27, played 70 games for the Saints and Dolphins and rushed for 6,354 yards in five seasons. He was the fifth pick in the 1999 draft and a former Heisman Trophy winner.

John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

 

[Lucky Forward]

IBThatAboutWrapsItUp....

 

[Duck of Death]

Williams still owes the Dolphins $8 million for not fulfilling his contract with the team. At the moment, he is studying holistic medicine at a college near Sacramento, Calif.

:lol :lol :lol

 

[BigJonsson]

Fucking douchebag

 

[DarienA]

WELL THAT ABOUT WRAPS IT UP....

 

[DCX]

...meh....*goes back to basking in the glow that is ATL football*

DCX

 

[Archaix]

People get pissed off at Ricky Williams for retiring(I sided with him there), people get pissed off because his lawyers tried to get him back in the league (I was more with the people on this one), and now people are pissed off that he's staying retired.

What the fuck.

 

[DarienA]

People get pissed off at Ricky Williams for retiring(I sided with him there), people get pissed off because his lawyers tried to get him back in the league (I was more with the people on this one), and now people are pissed off that he's staying retired.

What the fuck.

Well the lawyers were trying to get him back in the league on his go ahead... he tells them to get him a deal... they get him a deal that basically gives him a slap on the hand compared to what he should have gotten... and he turns around and declines it.... ouch.

 

[lexbubble]

Well I guess thats that. Just wonder how holistic medicine will work out for him.

 

[Archaix]

Well the lawyers were trying to get him back in the league on his go ahead... he tells them to get him a deal... they get him a deal that basically gives him a slap on the hand compared to what he should have gotten... and he turns around and declines it.... ouch.

I dont know that I believe it was on his go-ahead. When they did get the deal, they didn't even know where he was. I wouldn't be at all surprised to find that he has never had any intentions of playing again, and only amused the idea when it looked like it might be the only way to get out of owing the money.

 

[Nerevar]

Well the lawyers were trying to get him back in the league on his go ahead... he tells them to get him a deal... they get him a deal that basically gives him a slap on the hand compared to what he should have gotten... and he turns around and declines it.... ouch.

I don't think Ricky ever said that he wanted them to work out a deal. He hinted he was interested in playing football again, but he said that he hated a lot of the baggage that came along with it (including, but not limited to, "practice", media spotlight, and drug tests). I don't think he ever told his lawyers "I want back in, make it happen." He's always said that it was more wishful thinking from his agent to get him back into the league than actual desire on his own part.

 

[ShadowRed]

Why do people have a hard on for the guy? If he wants to do something else with his life then so fucking be it. Him playing ball isn't going to put money in my pocket or benefit me. I wish him well regardless of what he decides to do.

 

[DarienA]

I don't think Ricky ever said that he wanted them to work out a deal. He hinted he was interested in playing football again, but he said that he hated a lot of the baggage that came along with it (including, but not limited to, "practice", media spotlight, and drug tests). I don't think he ever told his lawyers "I want back in, make it happen." He's always said that it was more wishful thinking from his agent to get him back into the league than actual desire on his own part.

The baggage also being the trouble he got in to for crossing the drug line... Ricky is so transparent its not even funny. I'm curious to see how his request to overturn the court ruling on the money he owes to the Dolphins turns out.

 

[Pimpwerx]

I was mad at him for hurting the Fins, but I'm over it. Hope he doesn't have to pay back that $8M, it's not like the Fins are needy or that they treat their players particularly well, so fuck 'em. He's doing what I would do in his situation, enjoying millions of dollars while you're still healthy and young enough to enjoy it. He's only a year older than me, and I can imagine the fun I could have with that kind of cash. PEACE.

 

[Scoobert]

Too bad his actions caused the Dolphins to have their worst season in franchise history. Sure it's not all him, but the offense was built around him. Deciding to retire just before training camp and not letting anyone know was a poor decision. He should pay back the money.

You own a business, and an employee of yours quits. Should you pay him a full years salary? What you're saying is you would.

 

[theo]

SELL YOUR RICKY WILLIAMS JERSEY, ITS ALL OVER!!!

 

[Willco]

SELL YOUR RICKY WILLIAMS JERSEY, ITS ALL OVER!!!

That was quite a clever way to mix that phrase into this thread, something I didn't think would be done.

Heh, I'm going to allow it.

 

[Nerevar]

You own a business, and an employee of yours quits. Should you pay him a full years salary? What you're saying is you would.

If the "business" makes money by price-gouging fans at the gate and artificially marking up their prices through a monopoly as well as reserving the right to give an individual a long-term contract then cut them in training camp and not pay them, then I have no problem with one employee screwing the system.

Trying to compare the NFL, or any sport, to a "business" is retarded.

 

[Willco]

If the "business" makes money by price-gouging fans at the gate and artificially marking up their prices through a monopoly as well as reserving the right to give an individual a long-term contract then cut them in training camp and not pay them, then I have no problem with one employee screwing the system.

Trying to compare the NFL, or any sport, to a "business" is retarded.

I was also going to type this, but I really didn't have the energy to do so. That GameCube thread is sucking the life out of me.

So thank you, Nerevar, for doing all the work for me.

 

[levious]

You own a business, and an employee of yours quits. Should you pay him a full years salary? What you're saying is you would.

I thought the money "owed" was from a signing bonus... I don't think they should get that back. At least not all of it.

- I've always disliked him though, small hands, prefered playing amatuer ball.