Ricky, Ricky, Ricky...

When Ricky Williams announced his retirement on Sunday, the 27 year old mentioned that he had already talked to his evident replacement, Travis Minor.

The news has come as a shock to the sports world, the idea that a guy at the top of his game, coming into his prime, can just walk away with no qualms whatsoever, from the game that he's played his entire life.

He says he's never felt so happy, proving that he as a person cares very little about those around him.

You can bet your house on the fact that head coach Dave Wannstedt wasn't exactly thrilled by the news.

Now faced with the prospect of starting fourth-year man Minor, who was second on the team in rushing last year with a meager 193 yards and a touchdown on 41 attempts, and whose career numbers are anything but spectacular, it appears more than likely that Wannstedt will be picking up a running back before the season begins.

The last time Williams played a game was December 28th, 2003, more than six months before he announced his decision to retire.

In that time several running backs have come and gone from free agency, as recently as last week with Eddie George signing with the Cowboys.

The Dolphins could have attracted a number of free agents to Miami, had they known it was a necessity.

The fact is, he should have made this decision in December, and since he didn't make it then, he should have sucked it up and played one more season.

Not giving the Dolphins the opportunity to replace him is a slap in the face to the organization, regardless of his personal preference.

It would have been acceptable to be a quitter had he done it with any sort of class and dignity.

At least Barry Sanders had viable reasons, along with the fact that he was 31 at the time, and not getting any younger, but Williams is simply throwing away a potentially great career without ever even sampling the playoffs.

It smacks of disrespect, and although we have come to accept the fact that athletes nowadays are often only in it for the money, this is the most blatant acceptance of that fact.

As everyone has the right to do, Williams quit his job, and that is how he will be forever remembered -- a quitter.

He quit on his teammates, his coach, the owner, the fans and the city, all one month before the start of the season.

He should have shown some respect to the organization that paid him, to the fans that allowed the sport to prosper and allowed him to be grossly overpaid, to his teammates that go to battle every week working for him, and to his coach who is now seriously under fire.

Williams should look at guys like Kevin Garnett, current MVP of the NBA, for ideas on how to handle success, how to respect the game and its fans, and how to be a model professional, then maybe he'll see why this move is wrong in so many ways.

Ricky Williams has been traded for a total of three first round draft picks during his short career and has rushed for almost 6,500 yards, has appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated wearing a wedding dress and been known for keeping his helmet on during interviews.

Now, however, he will be remembered for only one thing - walking away.

Eagles fans right now should be thanking everything they believe in that Andy Reid didn't succumb to the pressure and select Williams back in '99.

At least the Saints salvaged two 1st round picks out of the debacle and have a more than viable replacement in Deuce McAllister, while the Eagles now have one of the league's best quarterbacks.

The Dolphins -- they have nothing.