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SPIRIT OF THE GAME
Column by Steve DeSpirito

July 27, 2004

Today’s Rant – THE RETIREMENT OF RICKY WILLIAMS

So Ricky Williams has decided to hang his cleats up.  He walks away from a 3.5 million dollar contract.  He walks away from the lead running position on his team.  He walks away from the Miami Dolphins.  He walks away from the National Football League.  He walks away from football.

Why?  Please tell us, Ricky-poo!  We're all baffled!!!  You tell the team that you're psyched and ready for the upcoming season, then buy a one-way ticket to Asia and say "Sayonara".

Was it the physical demands?  Was it the long days and nights of meetings, practices and Sunday games?  Did it all get in the way of your hairdo?  I know it was upsetting when you HAD to clip it because other players were using your hair as a means to tackle you.  Maybe it was the uniform - it wasn't the Texas Longhorns colors.  Maybe you just couldn't relate to anything other than Texas red and white.  Maybe it was the media - that GOD awful media that asks you a question, and then expects an answer.  We know you're shy, Ricky, but you made Barry Bonds seem sociable.

I think Ricky just couldn't handle the life of an NFL player.  Ricky's a flake - now, there are lots of flakes in professional sports  - but Ricky was ESPECIALLY flaky.  He wanted the fame and fortune (although he never got the fortune, thanks to ex-agent Master P), but didn't want to give himself to the media and the game, like all the good ones do.  Heck, even the mediocre ones do it.  If Ricky was so naïve to believe that being an NFL player consisted of only game play, then the league is better off without him.  When Barry Sanders pulled his flake act, he at least had a legacy and a possible rushing title to be missed.  Ricky never achieved anything more than Miami running backs before him did.

So what does this do to Miami?  Immediately, it creates a crisis.  Dave Wannstedt is not an improviser, and his offensive coordinator's gone.  In Dave's mind, someone needs to run the ball A LOT, and that means that several sub-par backs will audition for the lead role.  If I were a coach there, I'd be THRILLED.  Miami teams of the last few years have leaned HEAVILY on the running game.  But when faced with a good run defense, the team folds when having to depend on the passing game to win.  Losing Ricky Williams means losing the running game.  Although this is a problem, this creates an opportunity for the coaching staff to look at the other offensive weapons they have.  Miami has several talented receivers.  They have a decent quarterback in A.J. Feeley.  If I were a coach there, I wouldn't obsess about replacing Ricky.  I'd focus on the passing game.  A running game is great.  But if you're down by 3 or more points deep in the 4th quarter, you've got to pass to win.  I'm not saying that Miami should return to the days of Dan Marino.  On the other hand, that was the last time Miami went to the Super Bowl, right?

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