Ricky in silver and black?

[pennywisesb]

Could Ricky Williams be wearing Silver and Black starting in 2005? As a Raider fan I'm not so sure this would be a good move (depending on which Ricky we got). What is everyone else's opinion?

BTW, I bolded a few statements that I got a good laugh at. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1852334

Wednesday, August 4, 2004
ESPN.com news services
Don't be so quick to close the book on Ricky Williams' career ... maybe.

Williams, whose world retirement tour stopped in Oakland last weekend to visit twin sister Cassie, told SI.com that he likes Oakland so much he'd consider resuming his career there -- maybe as soon as 2005.
Williams told SI.com "the only way I would" consider a comeback is with the Raiders. "I love Cali," the San Diego native said.

Williams cited the Raiders' strong offensive line as a reason he likes the Raiders, according to SI.com. Also in Oakland is head coach Norv Turner, his former offensive coordinator with the Dolphins.

He also told the Web site his quirky personality would be welcomed by Raider Nation --"crazy fans who would expect a weirdo," he said.

Of course there are obstacles if Williams does try to play for the Raiders next season -- starting in Miami. Williams' rights belong to the Dolphins for the next two seasons.

Williams officially filed retirement papers with the NFL Management Council, meaning he can't play this season if he decides to return to football.

Williams' use of marijuana played a role in his stunning retirement.

Williams told Dan Le Batard, a reporter for the Miami Herald and for ESPN The Magazine, that he learned he failed a third drug test and faced a suspension just days before making his decision to retire.

The star running back said the developments played a part in his sudden retirement, but that it wasn't the only issue involved in his decision. Williams insisted there were "a hundred reasons" for leaving the NFL.

"I didn't quit football because I failed a drug test," he said. "I failed a drug test because I was ready to quit football." Williams also told Le Batard that he had wanted to quit playing football even before testing positive a second time for marijuana use in May and getting fined $650,000.

Under league rules, if a player in its substance-abuse program files retirement papers, he cannot unretire for a year without penalty. If he unretires in less than a year, it's counted as a positive drug test in the NFL program -- which, in Williams' case, would be his fourth positive test and would result in an indefinite suspension.

If Williams unretires after a year, he still would be facing a four-game suspension. A third positive test brings with it a mandatory four-game suspension.

The former Heisman Trophy winner played three seasons for New Orleans and considered retirement while with the Saints, coach Jim Haslett said.

"In 2001, Ricky came in my office and told me he was going to retire and play baseball," Haslett said. "I don't know if we talked him out of it. We told him he wasn't a very good baseball player -- maybe that did it."

Williams didn't blossom until he was dealt to the Dolphins in 2002 for two first-round draft picks.

At times, Miami's biggest trade since 1970 looked like a steal. Williams led the NFL in 2002 with 1,853 yards rushing and broke nine team records. Last season he ran for 1,372 yards despite little offensive support.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

[Suicane75]

He's crazy, not in a bad way though, just crazy.

[SegRat]

You can just go away Ricky. For someone who doesnt like attention he has a funny way of showing it.

[MrBug708]

You missed the most important one

Under league rules, if a player in its substance-abuse program files retirement papers, he cannot unretire for a year without penalty. If he unretires in less than a year, it's counted as a positive drug test in the NFL program -- which, in Williams' case, would be his fourth positive test and would result in an indefinite suspension.


Something tells me the NFL isn't happy knowing he masked drugs more then a few times during his career and didn't care one way or another about it.

[Draft Dodger]

You can just go away Ricky. For someone who doesnt like attention he has a funny way of showing it.

seconded.

I miss the days when players retired and STAYED retired.

[Draft Dodger]

dola

I mean, dear God, the ink isn't even fucking dry on his retirement papers, and he's already dropping hints about what team he's going to come back to.
up until tonight, I liked Williams. now, I hope he never gets a chance to come back and ends up doing celebrity boxing gigs.

[Ksyrup]

So we get the truth. He got caught smoking weed, decided it would be better to "retire" for a year then deal with a suspension and a continually underachieving team whose big idea to improve the team is to bring in a second Jay Fiedler and David Boston, who up until now was a bigger freak than Ricky. After the smoke clears, then he works to get himself into a better (perceived better, anyway) situation with a team in California by forcing Miami to trade him.

Maybe he figures he'll be closer to his weed connection. My aunt grows some mean shit up in Marin County.

[cthomer5000]

I really want this to happen. Oakland is so awesome. I hope they're already working on signing Quincy Carter.

[MrBug708]

Berkley is in NorCal....

Maybe Daryl Russell will make a comeback?

[SunDevil]

I am speechless. I was totally comfortable with his decision to quit, (yes the timing sucked). But I thought he was traveling Asia (left for Tokoyo just last week) and was planning on traveling Europe and for the rest of the football season. All of a sudden his ass is in Cali? Last time I checked that is in North America. Ricky, you should go back to school as you claimed you wanted to do, and you should take a geography class, so you can learn that you are currently on the wrong continent to be in Asia or Europe traveling........WTF

[Danny]

Northern California is like the weed capital of country, no surprise Ricky wants to play there.

[yabanci]

I would welcome him to the Raiders with open arms.

[Franklinnoble]

This is hilarious. On the day Tim Brown retires, the big news for Raiders fans is that Pothead Williams wants to play for Oakland now.

[Raiders Army]

Where did you see Tim Brown retiring?

[Ksyrup]

He didn't retire, but they had a press conference announcing that he would be released by Oakland today.

[Fritz]

Dont the fins have some sort of rights to him?

[Ksyrup]

For more 2 years.

[Ksyrup]

So basically, he'll have to sit out this year, plus deal with the 4-game suspension he would have gotten had he not retired. My guess is he unretires only if Miami trades his rights to Oakland next year, and he either plays most of the full year with Oakland, or maybe only comes back long enough to work off the 4-game suspension, then is ready to go in 2006.

Worst-case scenario, I believe, would be that he'd have to wait until 2006 for Miami to lose their rights to him, he could sign with Oakland, but then he'd still have to sit out 4 games.

[Ksyrup]

All of that is assuming that "for the next two seasons" includes the upcoming season. If it includes 2005 and 2006, then Miami has got a bit more leverage. But that's not how I read that.

[Fritz]

"Dolphins General Manager Rick Spielman wouldn't respond to Williams' comments, but reiterated through a team spokesman that the tailback was placed last Friday on the reserve/did not report list. Spielman said Monday that no franchise had called to inquire about Williams' availability.

NFL rules prohibit the Raiders from commenting on Williams because he is under contract to another team. But the Dolphins retain Williams' rights for three seasons following his retirement, which means Oakland might have to swing a trade to acquire his services."

[Ksyrup]

This will end badly for Miami, just like the TO deal did for Baltimore. Miami will either have to trade him willingly, or Ricky with run to the NFLPA and they'll somehow force Miami to make a deal or give up his rights. I can see it now.

[CraigSca]

...and when the NFLPA wins the case and allows Williams to play for the Raiders, it will be a victory for all drugtest-failing, talent-wasting athletes everywhere! Ticker tape parade, anyone?

[WSUCougar]

If I was the Dolphins, I'd start the bidding at three 1st round draft picks. Screw him.

[Ksyrup]

I'm telling you, if the Dolphins end up in a stalemate with any team(s) willing to trade for him, Gene Upshaw will file a grievance and Ricky will end up a free man, with the Dolphins getting a fraction of what they should get for being put through this crap. Once TO was able to play the system to his advantage, the table was set. Now we're seeing the aftermath.

[GrantDawg]

I'm telling you, if the Dolphins end up in a stalemate with any team(s) willing to trade for him, Gene Upshaw will file a grievance and Ricky will end up a free man, with the Dolphins getting a fraction of what they should get for being put through this crap. Once TO was able to play the system to his advantage, the table was set. Now we're seeing the aftermath.
I can see a BIG difference between the TO situation and this one. TO had the power there because they had spelled out a date in his contract that the CBA later changed. The problem is he had a contract that gave a specific date which the arbitor saw as over-riding. He was going to win abritration which is why he was allowed to go to Philly as a settlement.

Ricky has no control here. He can stay retired, not play for three years, or hope the Dolphins can come to an agreement with the Raiders.

[cthomer5000]

Just for clarification, Williams is under contract for the 2004 and 2005 season.

He could conceivably sit out until the end of the 2005 season and then be a free agent. But as earlier noted, he has a 4 game suspension waiting for him if/when he returns.

[Fritz]

Ricky has no control here. He can stay retired, not play for three years, or hope the Dolphins can come to an agreement with the Raiders.

or OD and be found dead in a swimming pool

[Ksyrup]

Just for clarification, Williams is under contract for the 2004 and 2005 season.

He could conceivably sit out until the end of the 2005 season and then be a free agent. But as earlier noted, he has a 4 game suspension waiting for him if/when he returns.
OK, here's where there is some confusion. Do the Dolphins have his rights for 2 years, or 3? One article says "2 more seasons" (which could include 2004, depending on how you read it), then Fritz quoted an article that said 3 seasons.

[GrantDawg]

Just for clarification, Williams is under contract for the 2004 and 2005 season.

He could conceivably sit out until the end of the 2005 season and then be a free agent. But as earlier noted, he has a 4 game suspension waiting for him if/when he returns.
NFL rules prohibit the Raiders from commenting on Williams because he is under contract to another team. But the Dolphins retain Williams' rights for three seasons following his retirement, which means Oakland might have to swing a trade to acquire his services
I take from the article Fritz quoted that the rules following a player's retirement says they have three years.

[Fritz]

I take it that the FIns have 3 years for the date of retirement. One off year, and two possible seasons.

[Ksyrup]

I can see a BIG difference between the TO situation and this one. TO had the power there because they had spelled out a date in his contract that the CBA later changed. The problem is he had a contract that gave a specific date which the arbitor saw as over-riding. He was going to win abritration which is why he was allowed to go to Philly as a settlement.

Ricky has no control here. He can stay retired, not play for three years, or hope the Dolphins can come to an agreement with the Raiders.I'm not comparing the specifics, only that the "slippery slope" has started. I can see a situation where Ricky is allowed to become a free agent with minimal compensation to Miami, based on a "bad faith" argument or something along those lines. In other words, Miami is refusing to allow him to play professional football out of spite, so they shouldn't be able to hold his rights for the full 2 (or 3, whichever it is) years.

Didn't something similar happen with Vin Baker's contract? There was an argument over whether his contract with Boston was still valid, but in the interim, the NBA allowed him to sign with another team. Not exactly on par, but another instance where the player's rights took precedence over the team's.

[cthomer5000]

no way Ricky gets let out of his deal. Don't even compare it to the T.O. situation, which was a genuinely bizzare situation.

[CraigSca]

I'm just glad that the city of Philadelphia has fallen head over heels in love with TO. It's the feel-good story of the year.

[Kodos]

I hope the Dolphins say screw you. We will not trade you under any circumstances.

[Kodos]

By the way, him going to Oakland would serve as more proof for my jerk-magnet theory on Oakland, Dallas, and Baltimore.

I guess in this cause, it would be more of an idiot-magnet though.