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| Height: 5-10 Weight: 226 Born: May 21, 1977, San Diego, CA |
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| Player Notes |
| December 2, 2004 The attorney for Ricky Williams indicated that his client has not accepted the league's proposal to return next season, according to the AP. "Ricky is going to stay on the retired list and I have to conclude that his career is over," David Cornwell said. |
| November 24, 2004 The agent for Ricky Williams said yesterday the NFL is close to agreeing to a deal that would allow Williams to move from the retired list to the suspended list for the final four games of the season (to serve his four-game suspension), which would allow him to be cleared for the start of next season, according to the AP. However, the NFL said no deal has been finalized. |
| November 24, 2004 ESPN is reporting that the lawyer for Ricky Williams has worked out a deal where the running back will serve his four game suspension beginning next month and then be reinstated to the Miami Dolphins. |
| November 2, 2004 The attorney for Ricky Williams officially filed a letter with the NFL requesting that his client be reinstated, according to the Miami Herald. While they hope Williams can play this season, it appears they are looking for a more realistic avenue, which would allow Williams to return for next season if he drug tests come back negative for a certain period of time. |
| October 22, 2004 An attorney for Ricky Williams met with two representatives from the NFL yesterday to state a case for the reinstatement of his client, who faces a suspension for failing a drug test, this season, according to the Sun-Sentinel. "What we challenged was the collection and the actual testing of the specimen," attorney David Cornwell said. "We had one view; the league had another view." Cornwell plans to make a formal proposal to the league for Williams to return to action as soon as possible, but by most accounts there is little chance the running back will play at all this season. |
| October 18, 2004 Ricky Williams will meet with NFL officials Thursday to state his case for reinstatement into the league after repeatedly violating the substance abuse program, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen. |
| October 12, 2004 The attorney for Ricky Williams said Monday he believes Williams will be cleared to return to the NFL this year, clearing the way for talks with the Dolphins, according to the Miami Herald. David Cornwell, who represents Williams and spent five years working for the NFL, said he e-mailed a request Sunday to meet with the league this week to make the formal request that Williams be reinstated. "I don't want to present the case for him to be reinstated through the media, but I believe he can return without suffering suspension," Cornwell said. |
| October 8, 2004 The AP reports that Ricky Williams told Esquire that he would only play one more season if he returns to the NFL. This revelation obviously won't help his chances of being traded or earning a job with the Dolphins, if they allow him to return. |
| October 8, 2004 The Miami Herald reports that Ricky Williams wants to repay the $8.6 million he owes the Dolphins and would like to play for them again. "I want to give them every single cent back. I don't care about the money. It's blood money as far as I'm concerned," he said. "I can't wait to make enough to pay them back. They can have it. The money is what made me miserable." However, he faces a suspension from the NFL for repeatedly failing drug tests, so it's unlikely he could return this season. |
| October 6, 2004 The Miami Herald reports that Ricky Williams has petitioned the NFL for a hearing to determine his status as the first step toward ending his retirement. "Ricky has made his tour around the world and taken his time away," Williams' agent Leigh Steinberg said, "and now has realized that he has a real passion for football." Coincidentally, the running back's passion returned soon after an arbitrator awarded an $8.6 million judgment to the Dolphins which Williams would have to pay. Even if cleared to rejoin the Dolphins, his former teammates may not want him back, and he still faces a suspension for failing the league's drug policy. |
| August 27, 2004 The Sun-Sentinel reports that Ricky Williams considered returning to the Dolphins earlier this week until he was told the team wouldn't give him a new contract. "He was interested in playing until he saw they were not going to give him a new contract," a source said. "I don't believe he's going to play again this year. I think he's going to take a year off and try to come back next year and be traded." |
| August 26, 2004 The Miami Herald reports that Ricky Williams contacted the Dolphins this week at the request of his agent, but he has no plans to return to the team despite many rumors to the contrary. He said he contacted the team only due to their demand he repay them $8.6 million. "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 [agent Leigh Steinberg] told me it's in my best interests to call them." |
| August 4, 2004 Ricky Williams told SI.com that he might consider resuming his career next season, but only with the Oakland Raiders. However, for such a return to happen, the Dolphins would have to agree to trade Williams, since they own his rights for another two seasons. |
| August 3, 2004 Ricky Williams filed retirement papers yesterday, according to the Sun-Sentinel. By retiring, he has been relieved of his responsibilities under the league's substance abuse policy. Failing another drug test or failing to follow his treatment program would have resulted in a one-year suspension. However, if he decides to return within a year, he'd be subject to such action. |
| July 29, 2004 If Ricky Williams were to change his mind about retiring and return to the NFL, he would face a four-game suspension for failing his third drug test for marijuana use, according to the Miami Herald. He has openly admitted to smoking pot and disagreed with government and NFL laws against it. "I didn't quit football because I failed a drug test," he said. "I failed a drug test because I was ready to quit football." |
| July 25, 2004 The Miami Herald reports that Ricky Williams has told the Dolphins that he is retiring, breaking the news to coach Dave Wannstedt on Friday night. According to the report, Williams insists there is no chance he will change his mind, which puts the Dolphins in a terrible bind. The best free agent running backs still on the market are James Stewart and Stacey Mack, while the next back on the depth chart in Miami is the largely unproven Travis Minor. |
| May 15, 2004 The fine Ricky Williams faces for his second violation of the NFL's substance-abuse policy could be as high as $650,000, according to a source cited in the Miami Herald. |
| May 15, 2004 The Palm Beach Post reports that Ricky Williams failed a second drug test last December and faces a major fine. Williams, who reportedly failed a test when he was traded to the Dolphins in 2002, may have appealed the test result, according to the report. The Post reported that the NFL is expected to make a decision in late May. |