Drug Charges May End Dolphins' Williams Career
Star halfback Ricky Williams will miss his second full year in what had been a promising career, but a career that is now marred by multiple drug offenses.
It's not the first time a player in the National Football League has been cited for an infraction of the leagues controlled substance rules, but it may be the first time it has brought the career of a marquee player low. Thirtysomething Ricky Williams has been kicked from the league after once again testing positive during regular drug screening.
Williams, who has three times previous tested positive for marijuana use, recently registered a positive. This positive comes on the tail of an idyllic season in which Williams was a top performer, a leader on the field and in the locker room.
Leigh Steinberg, Williams' agent, hinted that the positive came from a non-THC drug family and was a false positive. Williams had been taking an herbal performance enhancer that he claimed created the false positive in testing. League officials, however, retested the substance and still issued a suspension from the league.
The league suspension will last throughout the 2006 season. Williams will be able to reapply for reinstatement in 2007, but even if he does so, faces a gargantuan hurdle in returning to the pro arena. Dolphins officials have already pointed to another player as starting halfback and Williams will have to be in top shape in the off year - a feat hard to accomplish when he is banned from the Dolphins' workout facilities - and face the fact that he's joined the club of "over 30" aging players.
A comeback, however is not out of the question for Williams, and certainly could be motivated by more than just a personal desire to continue in professional football. Williams still owes the Miami franchise more than $8 million after he broke his contract in a fit of mental gymnastics that led to his "retirement" from the league in 2004. In fact, Williams did return to produce top-notch results and show that even with a year-long vacation, this career superstar can compete in the "A" game.
Williams faced an appeal hearing on April 10, according to ESPN.com, but the league has yet to release a decision. In most cases, appeals can take an entire season or longer to resolve, yet the Dolphins have asked for an expedited review. The league has acknowledged the need for speed in the decision-making process in order to take the guesswork out of draft picks for the Miami team. If Williams is cleared to play, the team will employ a completely different set of picks, most likely focusing on offense rather than replacing core defensive positions.
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