The news came early Sunday morning…Ricky Williams was calling it quits after just five seasons. Williams didn’t leave the NFL because of injury problems, for those have not plagued him since the 2000 season. Williams did not leave because of lack of success, for he led the NFL in rushing in 2002 with over 1,800 yards. Williams did not leave for an important or rationable reason, yet he decided to leave the game because he wants to "travel the world." When asked of his decision to leave Miami and a $3.5 million/year contract, Williams replied "I have not felt this good about something for a very long time." Even after a 5-year career in which Ricky Williams had over 40 TD`s, he can officially be labeled a "bust" of the 1999 draft. When thinking of the `99 class, and the players who were complete busts, names such as Akili Smith and Cade McNown come to mind because of their lack of production on the field. Williams can arguably be labeled even a BIGGER bust than both of these players. Although Williams had a very successful five seasons in the league, he had the nerve to leave his team flat on their face just one week before training camp was scheduled to begin. Although both Cincinnati and Chicago’s "quarterback’s of the future," let their teams down, it was not because they chose to leave the team after building excitement in the franchise and in the city as Williams did.Williams made a short career of building excitement through the teams he played for. In 1999, Williams was drafted by the New Orleans Saints, a team desperately trying to turn around their misfortunes. With the selection of the reigning college Heisman trophy winner, hopes were higher than ever in New Orleans, as fans finally believed that their saviour had arrived. Although the excitement rose, their winning percentage did not, as they finished the 1999 season 3-13. In 2000, Williams was beginning his breakout campaign in the NFL, as he became the all-around back in the Saints offense. Williams literally carried the Saints towards a winning record mid-way through the season, and reached the 1,000 yard plateau against the Carolina Panthers. But, Saints fans will remember his 1,000th yard for the bad, not the good, as Williams was injured on the play, and missed the rest of the 2000 season, a season in which New Orleans made the playoffs and defeated the St. Louis Rams in the first round. Problems in the club-house, depression problems, and injury problems led to the Saints saying "ENOUGH"! as they drafted Deuce Mcallister in 2001. The drafting of Mcallister was a move that told Williams that the Saints were seriously considering moving him to another team soon in the future. Even a 2001 season in which Williams rushed for over 1,300 yards was not enough to keep Williams around in New Orleans. The Saints gladly traded Williams to Miami for a 1st round pick and a conditional 3rd round pick, which eventually turned into another 1st round pick.
Williams now had the opportunity to build major excitement through a Dolphin organization that had not had a dominant back since the days of Larry Csonka. Williams would go on to lead the NFL in rushing yards in 2002, rushing for over 1,800 yards. However, an exceptional rushing performance and a 10-6 record were not enough to get Miami into the playoffs. Dolphin fans entered the 2003 season with high hopes. With Williams returning and a new cast of defensive talent incoming, it seemed as if the Dolphins were the favorites to win the AFC. Williams production on the field dropped dramatically, as he rushed for little over 1,300 yards, and Miami missed the playoffs yet again. The previous two seasons seemed like a total waste for Dolphin fans as their club accomplished little over this time.
And now, just a week before training camp is set to begin, one of the NFL’s best running backs will simply walk away from the game with drug problems looming. The Dolphin organization faced many problems over the off-season with such events as Randy McMichael’s arrest, as well as the quarterback problem that has loomed over the organization for years now. With all of these problems, the Dolphins will have to face another that they did not expect…the running back situation. All of this because one "player" decided that perhaps things were getting too hard, and it was not worth it to continue on with his career. Rather than continue to stay in the NFL, a job that requires players to play a simple game with lots of money and incentives involved, Williams chose the easier path, to flee the country and pursue his traveling passions. It is hard to imagine that a former Heisman trophy winner with so much promise ended up promising nothing to the league that depended on him so heavily. On top of everything, Williams is considering a return to the University of Texas, a return in which Williams will try to get a degree in psychology of all things.
Ricky Williams owes the Dolphins’ organization, their fans, and the NFL a huge apology for what he has done. He has taken away the excitement and expectations away from so many people to pursue his own personal desires. As a Saints fan, even I am disgusted to hear of this news, but at least my team was able to get a few draft picks in return for him. Along with that, we have a running back who is as passionate about the game as anyone in the league. Seems like an good trade for New Orleans, and a huge disappointment for the Miami faithful.