Ricky excited for upcoming season, will retire in "a couple of years"

by Matty I on May 14, 2008 8:50 PM EDT in News Comment 15 comments

One of the best pieces of news this off-season for all of us Dolphin fans has to do with Ricky Williams. Williams is reportedly in "tip-top shape" and is excited about this season. And for once, it seems that luck is on Ricky's side.

You see, Cedric Benson invited Williams to spend a day on Lake Travis a few weeks back. Williams declined the invitation. And Benson? Well he had a rough day.

That's the kind of change in luck that Dolphin fans are all hoping for out of their team. Last year was a very unlucky season, where the breaks all just seemed to go against them. But this year will hopefully be different. And some of that has to do with Ricky.

Williams, who will be 31 next week, doesn't have the usual wear and tear that a typical 31 year old running back has. He'll also benefit from only having to share the workload, as he's expected to split carries with a healthy Ronnie Brown (at least, that's what Bill Parcells told him).

And speaking of Parcells, Ricky says he likes Bill a lot:

"He’s really different than I expected. It seems to me his greatest joy is developing true friendships with his players, being a mentor and trying to help people, not just in football but in life."

"I was expecting him not to talk to me at all. I was expecting to get a letter in the mail saying I was going to be a free agent."

“I like him more than I thought I would.”

This really is great news. You'll remember that Parcells said a while back that he didn't want any "thugs or hoodlums" on this team. What I get from Ricky's interview is that Bill doesn't see Ricky as a thug. And I have to agree. I've never thought of Ricky as a bad person. Even when all the suspensions were going down, I wasn't angry. Instead, I was just saddened. Ricky was just a human being struggling to deal with a social disorder. So I'm very excited to see him back on the field.

And for a reminder of how great Ricky can be, head over here.

Also, look for more from this interview with Ricky Williams over at the Austin American-Statesman's website some time on Thursday.

**UPDATE** While I was making some rounds reading the local papers (well, the online versions), I came across this little tidbit about Williams' plans for the future. Says Ricky:

"All professional athletes have to come face to face one day with their professional mortality and finding a way to cope with it. I've managed that. I have a couple of more years of football left in me and then I'll go off and explore the world after that."

So does a "couple of more years" mean he'll retire when his contract expires following the '09 season? That would make sense. Sure, he doesn't have the same wear on his tires that normal 32 year old backs usually have. But we've known for a while that Ricky's sole purpose in life isn't to play football. He's a very spiritual person and, really, he's a very unique person. So it would make sense for him to play out his contract and then ride off into the sunset.

My question, though, is if you think that the Bill Parcells' belief that we talked about yesterday (about how once a player starts thinking about retirement, he's essentially done) should be a concern for us this season. Should those who are "hating" on Jason Taylor for looking ahead to his life after football (like myself) also "hate" on Ricky? I would argue that this is different. After all, Ricky is in Davie regularly and has been working out. He hasn't been dancing in Hollywood. Now I'm not saying that Taylor isn't working out or that he isn't in great shape. He's just not in "football mode" while Ricky does clearly seem to be gearing up for the '08 season.

Just some things to ponder, I guess.

Thoughts below...

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Excited Ricky is Back!

I still think Ricky has it in him to be one of the top 5 backs in the league…..I live in Massachusetts & my fist live Home game for Miami was a few years ago when Miami was down by 23 in the 4th Qtr, against Buffalo, & came back to win ( I felt at home in Miami)...Williams ran in the first TD for Miami to turn the tide of the game (my son is a huge Williams Fan & I have a pic of him sitting in front of his locker). Anyways I believe people can turn their lives around & that he can still be a Beast of a runner! The following year I went down (with my Son & Father) & the Fins beat the Vikings. Did not make it down last year….hope to be back this Year!

by MassFinFan65 on May 14, 2008 9:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

WOW

Isn’t it amazing, we are more excited about Ricky’s dedication than we are JTs. “As the World Turns” I guess, or any other so named soap opera that the two faced JT ends on.

by JGray on May 14, 2008 9:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ricky and JT are different

in the fact that Ricky says he has a couple years left and then he’s gone. Considering he’ll be turning 34 in “a couple years” and will most likely hit that NFL RB wall anyway, this isn’t an issue. He’s working hard and is committed to THIS season, which is the only thing that’s important. The problem everybody is having with JT is nobody is sure if his “life after football” has already started out in hollywood.

All the Taylor Talk aside, I’m extremely excited that Ricky is in top shape coming in this season. I’m sticking to my belief that Ricky and Parmele will carry the load for the early part of the season to allow Ronnie to ease his way back into action and make absolutely sure his knee is 100%. If Ricky can put up big numbers and give Ronnie even more time to recover, it will benefit both backs as well as the franchise. Ricky will prove to everyone that he can still be a dominant back, Ronnie will get the chance to rehab fully and come back in perfect shape, and Miami will be set at the RB position for the next couple years and beyond. Very Good News.

http://canemutiny.blogspot.com A fans view of Miami Hurricanes Football and Basketball

by Little Nicky 21 on May 14, 2008 11:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ricky 2002 highlights

tell me you aren’t psyched after you watch these runs, 7 mins long

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jc68d2vEXM&feature=related

by phranchise on May 14, 2008 11:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The problem is

That he isnt what he used to be, granted he’s still a good RB but he’ll never reach that “Great RB” plateau again.

by Patssuck456 on May 18, 2008 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I mean really...

He was doing everything, little head fakes, spin moves, busting through lines, dragging guys AND breaking away and dusting people!

by phranchise on May 14, 2008 11:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Frankly, I'm surprised...

...by the hypocrisy of it all. In comparing Ricky and JT, you write, “I would argue that this different…Ricky is in Davie regularly and has been working out.”

You bet this is different: JT has been on this team since 1996 and has barely missed a play or a practice and has given his all on every down. This is the guy who said, “We didn’t lose, we just ran out of time.” This is the guy who never quit on a 1-15 team, was the last player to walk off the field after the last game, still busted his ass day-in and day-out and terrorized the league during one of his “down” years. Now, for the first time ever in his career, he takes a little “me” team and explores life after football and we “fans” are all set to cut his ass loose.

Meanwhile, Ricky is in Davie every day…for the first time since, what…2003? Don’t get me wrong, I love Ricky. He is an amazing talent and a fascinating person. He’s also a lovable goof who has given up on this team twice. I would argue that he had good reason to do so, but I don’t know why everyone is so quick to excuse his behavior and condemn JT. So Ricky’s “sole purpose in life isn’t to play football”, and he’s “spiritual” and “unique”. That’s great, really, but why is it then so hard to deal with the fact that JT likes to dance or wants to act when he retires? JT has never, ever quit on this team. As of this writing, he still hasn’t quit on this team.

So, why is everyone quitting on JT?

Go Dolphins.

If I had a tagline, this would be it.

by lancelotlink on May 15, 2008 12:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Because.....

JT sounds likes he is quitting on us!

by JGray on May 15, 2008 8:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

screen shot or it didn't happen.

by Ozols on May 15, 2008 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If we can get solid play

from the QB pos i really think we could be the talk of the league this year. I dont think we’ll make the playoffs or anything but i think we will suprise some folks with some solid wins!

by dlux2561 on May 15, 2008 9:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

JT

I’m with ya brudda. Every one is ready to cut JT loose and give up on him because he decided to take a little “me time” after all he’s done for this team for so many years. I say before we condemn JT, we at least give him a little time to let this whole thing play out (thats the least we can do for him after all the good years he’s given us). Im sure BP isnt losing any sleep over JTs dance fever.

by Wade on May 15, 2008 9:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The Call To Reason

Everyone needs to cool off until something actually happens. This hackish dissecting of the semantical content of every Jason Taylor quote is ridiculous. Jason, as we all know, is a guy who shoots straight and talks off the top of his head. He’s gotten in trouble for this before – by saying something and meaning another.

Look what is happening in Chicago with Brian Urlacher… Tell me how JT compares in any way to that monumental arse.

Think too, about how this all must seem to JT.

Everyone else in the world is excited for JT. Everyone except the people he’s put it all out on the field for.

Dolphins fans seem to be the only ones not excited for JT’s chance at winning something.

His teammates (last time I checked he still was on this team called the Miami Dolphins) are enjoying it, even going to the show.

His coach has said positive things about the show and even apparently offered advice (which is kind of funny). Tony Sparano, who excited me more than Bill Parcells, has also watched the show.

The national media is celebrating him. Hollywood is celebrating him.

And the fans… The very people he thought he could count on to vote for his “goofy” (his words not mine) dance show appearance are the ones he is getting nothing but resentment from.

Instead they are instantly loyal to the next hired gun (Parcells is a mercenary, albeit our best shot at redemption) and so quick to take sides against the player that provided the only highlights in a period of mediocrity. Even here, in this point, there is hearsay. We don’t know what really happened in the tape room. Period.

Until something is officially stated about JT’s trade, release or retirement then everyone should give JT the benefit of his track record.

www.thephinisher.com

by The Phinisher on May 15, 2008 12:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree

Let’s see what happens May 21st.

But I do agree with Matty this stuff could have been killed easily by him and he won’t so it.

You know, the Phins record is only 89-87 with him here. The Defense over that time finished an average of around 10th to 11th in the league. Nothing really special. 3-5 in playoff games. The worst the Dolphins have ever been, has been with him as a leader and captain.

Maybe he has been acting all along!

by JGray on May 15, 2008 12:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Edit....

But I do agree with Matty this stuff could have been killed easily by him and he won’t so it keeps going on because of him. JT is allowing the bashing!

by JGray on May 15, 2008 12:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs