RB Ricky Williams on the Dan Patrick Show

[DolFan619]

  Here is the link to Ricky Williams interview with Dan Patrick.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/danpatrick/interviews/

[DolFan619]

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_football_dolphins/2008/03/ricky-doesnt-tr.html

Ricky doesn't trust Ricky

Ricky Williams is probably the most interesting and honest athlete I've EVER encountered. Truth is, he's a rare breed of human. One who is thoughtful, honest, and intriguing. But sometimes that honesty doesn't always benefit him, at least when it involves the sport of public perception.

One statement the Dolphins running back made on the Dan Patrick radio show really troubled me. I know Ricky Williams is playing football because of the money. He likes football, and likes competing. But he NEEDS the money, and HATES everything that comes with being an NFL player (outside of money). That's the realities of his situation.

If you could have seen him struggle to fit into the locker room last season you'd understand.

I honestly believe if Williams could go teach yoga, or be a personal trainer and make $750,000 a year doing it we'd never see, or hear from him again.

The money is why he's back. The money he needs to support his large family - and still owes owner Wayne H. Huizenga - is the only motivation he has for staying clean.

However, I'm troubled by the fact he basically told Dan Patrick he doesn't trust himself, or he wouldn't if he were an NFL executive. More than anything, the hesitation to answer the question was troubling. It was honest. It was candid, and it's a telling confession of a person who is admitting to the world that it's a daily struggle with his drug addiction.

Some might not understand why marijuana has such a hold on him. For those who have that question I'd recommend you do a little research on social anxiety disorder, and the side effects of the drugs they have to curb that mental illness. When you understand those two components (not feeling comfortable in your own skin, and not feeling comfortable with the impact a prescribed substance has on your mind and body) you'd understand his struggle better. That's why I firmly believe it's a daily battle for Williams to fight the urge to self medicate himself.

During the interview Williams admits it's been "at least a year" since the last time he's gotten high. I believe him.

He admits he's spent the last year working on improving himself as a person, doing a lot of self evaluation and getting therapy that hopefully helped. I believe him.

But the truth is, the demons are still there. The anxiety is still there. And in all fairness, that means he still can't be trusted. I love him as a player. I've always admired him for his skill ever since his days as a standout at Texas, and respected him for his weirdness.

I understand his daily struggles. But that doesn't mean I'd ever rely on him, and I'd recommend that Dolphins fans take the same approach while watching him play his final season with the Dolphins in 2008.

"I'm a fighter. I'm resilient, and I'm going to overcome," Williams said.

I hope he really means that this time, and beats his addiction and disorder.

> Posted by Omar Kelly at 9:59:26 AM

[DolFan619]

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/miamidolphins/entries/2008/03/06/williams_parcells_believes_in.html

Ricky Williams: Parcells believes in me

By Tim Graham | Thursday, March 6, 2008, 11:53 PM

Dolphins running back Ricky Williams was a guest on Dan Patrick’s radio show today and provided some insight into his future with the club.

Dolfans have been wondering whether Williams will be on the roster when the 2008 season begins or perhaps traded away.

Williams described his first encounter will Dolphins maharishi Bill Parcells after last season, and the meeting suggested the former NFL rushing leader will be a factor.

“Earlier in the day, we were in a meeting with the whole team, and he was going through his spiel of what he wants, what he’s looking for,” Williams said. “He said ‘I don’t want any punks. I don’t want any troublemakers. I don’t want any of these things.’ And I’m sitting there, thinking ‘Oops, well, I guess I’m not going to be here.’

“A couple hours later he called me into his office and told me that he wanted me and he really believed in me. He’s been really positive about keeping me involved and inspiring me to really want to contribute this year.”

That supports what newly signed fullback Boomer Grigsby said this week. Grigsby met with everybody but Parcells in Davie, but the message still was that Ronnie Brown and Williams would be carrying the ball.

Williams also was asked if he were in a position of authority, would he trust Ricky Williams. After a pensive pause, Williams replied “I would take an interest in him and I would really try to be there for him. I think by doing that, that’s where trust is built.”

Some other tidbits from Patrick’s interview:

Williams claimed he hasn’t gotten high in “at least a year.”

He noted that his activity of choice when he got high was to read the Bible or philosophy books.

He said he avoids urges by “stacking the deck against using” drugs and “just reminding myself how much I have to gain” for his children.

Williams reiterated that being on the field and competing is his “favorite thing to do in the whole wide world,” but it’s “very difficult to maintain your humanity. … (Fans) don’t really look at us as being people.”

Williams said fans can expect “the same thing people’ve been able to expect since I was a freshman in college. He’s going to go out there and play his butt off. He’s going to play physical. He’s not going to complain. He’s not going to gripe, and he’s going to give you 100 percent, day in and day out.’”

[dolphins4life]

I agree he is playing for money.  He doesn't love the game and if he could make hundreds of thousands of dollars as a yoga instructor, he'd be doing that.

However, Miami should keep him for 2008.  He'll be a positive contributor at a low price tag.  The fact is, Ricky Williams is worth more to Dolphins as a Dolphin than the meager compensation they will get in trade.

He made some very foolish decisions with his life, starting with the contract he signed with the Saints after he was drafted.

When he retires, he will face a hard reality when his body starts breaking down and he thinks about all the cash he threw away when he retired.

[MaineDolFan]

I love Ricky Williams, I really do. 

[Defense54]

I love Ricky Williams, I really do. 

I don't love him but I respect him. When he leaves this earth he can say he did it his way....................

[1 dol fan]

I really like Ricky as a person but as a player, he has let me down.

Good guy, not reliable and he said that himself pretty much.

I would not count on him being there at the end of the season but if he is, use him!!!

He did do 2 things that were positives for this team.

1) he was a good RB during his time

2) Without him "retiring" Ronnie Brown wouldn't have been drafted

[DZA]

I don't love him but I respect him. When he leaves this earth he can say he did it his way....................

From one Pot head to another , I respect what he says.  He is being very honest.

   There was one point in my life which Marijuana was my way of dealing with the BS of Life. Im talking about everyday smoking.  But then came that point in time in wich i was like "Man this gotta stop"   Now, I still have not giving up on Weed its more like an once in a blue moon thing.

  I would rather see Ricky high on Pot than high on heroine (Micheal Irvin ) .


One person said the Ricky has let him down as Player.   Well he let a whole lot of people down.  But , those who knew what type of person he is can understand.  Ricky said many times that he disliked being a football player.  I knew when he First became a Dolphin that Miami was only gonna get 2- 3 good years out of Him.  I accepted that.  Many Fans who knew Ricky the Football Superstar did not.  All they wanted was that Workhorse running back.  Bad enough Wannadouche pushed him to the brink to not liking football anymore.

Ricky's Time as a Football player is coming to a close soon.  All he wants is to do his time, take care of his family and be happy.  He is a prisoner within the Miami organization which kinda sux.

[ethurst2]

From one Pot head to another , I respect what he says.  He is being very honest.

   There was one point in my life which Marijuana was my way of dealing with the BS of Life. Im talking about everyday smoking.  But then came that point in time in wich i was like "Man this gotta stop"   Now, I still have not giving up on Weed its more like an once in a blue moon thing.

  I would rather see Ricky high on Pot than high on heroine (Micheal Irvin ) .


One person said the Ricky has let him down as Player.   Well he let a whole lot of people down.  But , those who knew what type of person he is can understand.  Ricky said many times that he disliked being a football player.  I knew when he First became a Dolphin that Miami was only gonna get 2- 3 good years out of Him.  I accepted that.  Many Fans who knew Ricky the Football Superstar did not.  All they wanted was that Workhorse running back.  Bad enough Wannadouche pushed him to the brink to not liking football anymore.

Ricky's Time as a Football player is coming to a close soon.  All he wants is to do his time, take care of his family and be happy.  He is a prisoner within the Miami organization which kinda sux.

Thank you for being honest! It's refreshing! We all have vices that we have to deal with!

[Defense54]

Hey if I didn't get piss tested at work I'd probably still smoke now and again. (Last Time was The Allman Brothers Band at the beacon theatre in NYC in 93) Good times..........I retire in 14 more years!

[Banshee]

DZA -- Loved your post!   There's a lot to love about Ricky Williams.   Selfish people will always have trouble seeing through.   

[dolphins4life]

It's just hard for me to forgive Ricky Williams when I look back on 2003.  We went 10-6.  Then, he retires and we go 4-12.  And it's not like we gotta blown out in those games.  Many were down to the wire losses that we lost because we had to put it in the hands of Elf and Feeley.  I wonder if Ricky could have made a difference in those games.

Also, the timing of the retiring is hard to take as well.  Right before training camp?  Why not at least give us some time to find a replacement.

[DZA]

It's just hard for me to forgive Ricky Williams when I look back on 2003.  We went 10-6.  Then, he retires and we go 12-4.  And it's not like we gotta blown out in those games.  Many were down to the wire losses that we lost because we had to put it in the hands of Elf and Feeley.  I wonder if Ricky could have made a difference in those games.

Also, the timing of the retiring is hard to take as well.  Right before training camp?  Why not at least give us some time to find a replacement.

Of course its hard to forgive him.  Put yourself in his shoes.  You would have made the same decision.  You cant look at what he did from a Fan point of view.  Take the Human element in to this.  Many of you fans who hate Ricky for what he did only looking at it from a greedy football perspective. " YAY  Run Ricky Run"  The man obviously was over-worked to the point of hating the game of football.

Ricky would have made a HUGE  difference. Hell he would be even considered future HOF material but , the pressure got to him.   Like i tell every single Dolphin fan,  you have to thank Dave Wanna Douche for running Ricky 40- 50+ times a game.

[fyo]

It's not that Ricky stopped playing, although honoring a pretty new contract would be the decent thing to do.

It's that he chose the ABSOLUTE WORST moment to quit. He waited, literally, until mere hours AFTER the last capable FA running back was signed, leaving the Dolphins in the worst possible shape at RB.

If you don't want to play, don't want to honor your contract, fine, but at least have the decency to give the team a fair warning.

[Loyal Fin]

From one Pot head to another , I respect what he says.  He is being very honest.

   There was one point in my life which Marijuana was my way of dealing with the BS of Life. Im talking about everyday smoking.  But then came that point in time in wich i was like "Man this gotta stop"   Now, I still have not giving up on Weed its more like an once in a blue moon thing.

  I would rather see Ricky high on Pot than high on heroine (Micheal Irvin ) .


One person said the Ricky has let him down as Player.   Well he let a whole lot of people down.  But , those who knew what type of person he is can understand.  Ricky said many times that he disliked being a football player.  I knew when he First became a Dolphin that Miami was only gonna get 2- 3 good years out of Him.  I accepted that.  Many Fans who knew Ricky the Football Superstar did not.  All they wanted was that Workhorse running back.  Bad enough Wannadouche pushed him to the brink to not liking football anymore.

Ricky's Time as a Football player is coming to a close soon.  All he wants is to do his time, take care of his family and be happy.  He is a prisoner within the Miami organization which kinda sux.

great post. let's hope ricky still has some football talent and dedication in him. he seems a lot more mature now. maybe he can just forget about the media and "other stuff" and focus on being a good football player this yearl.