Don't blame [Ricky] Williams for calling it quits (good analysis)

Naples Daily News ^ | July 26, 2004 | RON HARTMAN

[tdadams]

I tend to agree with this. Although I think there may be more motivating Ricky Williams than what's stated here, there's no arguing it's his decision to make, even if he's giving up many good, productive years in the NFL.

[Izzy Dunne]

there's no arguing it's his decision to make

There's no question it's his career, his body, his decision to make.
But it's a low-class move to make it at this point in the season.

[hc87]

Any idea what his career earnings were?

[The G Man]

I don't think anyone begrudges Ricky Williams for walking away. Thats his choice. It's the timing that irritates me, and I'm no Dolphin fan. Waiting this long he has now screwed his entire team. Miami could have used their 1st rd pick in April to grab Steven Jackson for instance, or made a run at Duce Staley or Eddie George or Garrison Hearst or Charlie Garner, etc. Waiting til this late point may have cost Miami whatever slim chance they had this year.

[tdadams]

Year Team Base Salary Sign Bonus Other Bonus Total Salary Cap Value Position 
2003 Dolphins  $ 2,630,000  $ 0  $ 3,500  $ 2,633,500  $ 2,633,500  RB 
2002 Dolphins  $ 450,000  $ 0  $ 3,870  $ 453,870  $ 453,870  RB 
2001 Saints  $ 389,000  $ 0  $ 0  $ 2,190,759  $ 2,190,759  RB 
2000 Saints  $ 275,000  $ 1,263,400  $ 51,100  $ 1,589,500  $ 1,842,200  RB 
 
 

The formats a little funky, but it'll give you the info. He didn't make the killing he should have for the numbers he had.

[fredhead]

I also agree with Ricky's decision. I'm an Oakland fan from way back, and I remember Jim Otto, who was center for 14 years. When inducted into the Hall of Fame, his knees were so bad that he had to be helped onto the podium for his acceptance speech. Is the money worth it?

[rdb3]

To most of us, the pounding an NFL running back takes is incomprehensible. As Emmitt Smith once said, playing in a pro football game is like being in 30 to 40 car accidents.

That's right. Football isn't a contact sport.

It's a collision sport.

$710.96... The price of freedom.

[tdadams]

With the money a lot of the a-list players in the NFL make today, many of them probably do think it's worth it. Knees can be replaced for about $50,000.

But 20 or 30 years ago, the players didn't make nearly as much. Joe Namath signed with the NY Jets for an "unheard of" amount of $400,000 in 1965.

[The G Man]

That's because he had some rap artist (Master P?) negotiate his original contract with the Saints. Was one of the worst contracts ever. He totally got screwed. The Dolphins then voluntarilly tore it up and gave him a new one. And this is how he repays them.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Many pro football players become walking medicine cabinets when they retire

Umm...news for you: Ricky already is a walking medicine cabinet.

And he suffers from a mental issue that requires treatment, causing unreasonable, irrational fear (some call it "shyness"). He had this at Texas, too.

It's too bad. Whether he plays football or takes photos of butterfly's in Japan, he will have these things haunting him, and he wont' be able to run from it, only mask it with drugs - like he is doing.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Ditka didn't help him, either. Ditka destroyed several NFL prospects while coaching. Players he had would have been great if he had not gotten hold of them. He'd make a great Pro Scout of Players Agent.

[joebuck]

"But Sanders, who was 30 years old at the time, knew when to say when..."

The trouble with this analysis is that Sanders tried best he could to get the Lions to release the rights to him so he could play somewhere else. The Lions refused and played hardball because, like Williams, Barry "retired" just days before training camp and left the Lions in the lurch. Thus, it appears it wasn't that Sanders didn't want to play football any more, he just didn't want to play football for the Lions anymore.

[rintense]

100% correct.

[FreedomPoster]

I think I could comfortably retire on $7M. Or at least find something less body-breaking to make some money at.

[tdadams]

His agent was a guy named Leland Hardy who worked for No Limit Sports, a company owned by Master P. As far as I know, the company fizzled after the year Ricky Williams was drafted, probably as soon as Ricky's salary figures were made public. No athlete in his right mind would let an agent like that represent him.

Williams was a high first round draft pick who signed a contract usually offered to an undrafted practice squad member.

[ContemptofCourt]

His timing completely sucks. If this was his decision, he should have made it months ago, or at least a week ago. As it is now, the Dolphins are completely screwed.

One thing that this article glosses over is his responsibility to the team (or at least his teammates), even in retiring.

[tdadams]

After taxes, $3.5 million.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Well, he won't have to worry about urinating in a cup any longer.

[thepainster]

The timing is suspicious.....it's all Bushes fault!

[truthandlife]

This guy just doesn't want to work (because he does not have to). I am sure he will go to Asia and be to do whatever he wants.

Ricky Williams violates NFL drug policy