Posted on 04/25/2006 4:33:32 PM PDT by mainepatsfan
Williams suspended one year
Associated Press
NEW YORK -- Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams was suspended for the 2006 season by the NFL on Tuesday for violating the league's substance abuse policy for the fourth time.
The league announced the suspension after Williams' appeal of a his latest positive drug test was denied. Williams met with NFL counsel Jeff Pash on April 10 in an attempt to have the league overturn the test.
Previous positive tests were for marijuana, which Williams acknowledged using. The latest test apparently involved a drug other than marijuana.
Williams retired and sat out the 2004 season but returned last year to play for new Miami coach Nick Saban.
Before being allowed to return, Williams served a four-game suspension at the start of the season for his third violation of the drug program. He ran for 743 yards and averaged 4.4 yards a carry while sharing playing time with rookie Ronnie Brown.
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.espn.go.com ...
They'll just have to cut their losses.
I wonder what effect this has on his contract and bonus money owed to the fins?
Saban wanted him back because he's a good player. They couldn't have cut him anyway, due to the ongoing investigation and hearings related to failing his drug test.
I don't see what getting rid of Williams now has to do with the draft.
Hopefully.
Meanwhile, my prediction about the Dolphins still not being ready for the playoffs next season is slowly being validated... well, there's always 2007...
I don't think they get a break.
He should be glad he doesn't play for the Browns, they wouldn't have given him a 2nd chance. Romeo Crennel has zero tolerance for any kind of crap.
Well it'll give Saban a chance to develop more of the younger players.
It looks like Miami is the last team he'll ever play on. Sad, since he's a great player.
They don't need to suspend him if he's already high.
/sarc
Saban's never had a problem starting younger players if they were good enough anyway. Williams wasn't going to affect that either way.
I wonder what effect this will have on the salary cap, though... silver linings and all.
At least he has priorities straight. /s
They might now grab another RB on day two of the draft.
it is just a metabolic imbalance. NO ONE understands.
I guess he'll have to quit for good and find a new career. Did he even get a degree from Texas?
They could trade up. Releasing him would increase the gap under their cap and allow for a high priced player, it would seem.
Ricky Williams is done in the NFL. He will never be what he was his first two years, will never be what he could have been. There are many other backs out there who are better than he is or will be. Heck I'd go find Napolean Kauffman before I let williams back on my field. And they should have gotten Billy Joe Hobert years ago. they screwed up.
Kauffman should have one "f", sorry.
Maybe. Miami doesn't have many picks this year, though, so having to replace Williams' position seems like a needless waste of a pick. Urgh.
Well, enjoy your forthcoming divisional title.
Wonder which "drug" he was using?
Well they still have to get by Buff......
I couldn't write it without laughing.
Given that Williams is finished, like you say, there's no way they can trade up with him as leverage. And Miami has nothing else to offer. We're low on draft picks as it is, and Saban loathes trading them away to begin with (Culpepper was an exception, since he was a STEAL.)
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