Ricky Williams to retire!

[TSIAS]

Just saw on SportsCenter that Dan LeBatard reports Dolphins RB Ricky Williams has retired from the NFL.

Damn, it looks like my Dolphins are in for a rough season.

Edit- http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/columnists/...

[MikeG]

1. Now, he'll see how worthless he really is.

[Birthmark]

2. That's too bad.

I'm not a fan of the Dolphins, but I am a fan of Ricky Williams. I'm surprised but not too surprised. He's the type of back that plays hard, so he gets hit hard.

Good luck this season. (From a Giants fan)

[TSIAS]

3. It's not shocking

Of course, I wasn't expecting it. Still, it does not seem totally uncharacteristic. Williams never was comfortable with being a star. It looked like the Paxil was helping with some of his social anxiety problems.

More than anything, I'm angry that he chose to do it a week before training camp. If he had decided earlier, at least we could have gone after an Eddie George type back. Now, it's down to Travis Minor or some bargain free agent acquisition.

With our defense, the team should be able to stay afloat. Unfortunately, any slim hopes of a championship fade by the moment.

[Birthmark]

7. Don't be too hard on him.

Some of those disorders can be quite debilitating. He may not have had as much choice as you seem to be ascribing to him. In fact, last week he well may have thought that he could go another year, only to come to the crashing realization that he couldn't this week.

OTOH, it could just have been an act of selfishness. I don't know the situation well enough to say.

[MikeG]

4. Very selfish to his team. They could have drafted a replacement.

Typical of today's athlete. No concept of team.

[Birthmark]

8. I'll agree that there's little loyalty today

But what else can we expect in a nation of mercernaries. There's little loyalty from teams to players, either. This is natural when anything is reduced to "just business." However, I'm not sure that this is the case with Ricky. I'm not sure that it's not, either.

[tishaLA]

5. Ricky is so sexy

I hope he stays in the limelight somehow.

I know I'd retire too if I had to pretend I respected that coach and quarterback.

[TSIAS]

6. I don't like Wannstedt or Feeley either

Still, you don't quit 1 week before training camp. I don't care if he chooses to retire. At least tell the team so they can come up with a Plan B.

Ricky won't stay in the limelight. I've always sensed that he hated the spotlight. For his sake, I hope he's invested well. Like Barry Sanders, we might never hear from him again.

[OpSomBlood]

9. Very selfish.

He could have announced it before the draft or free agency period so the Fins could get a replacement. They would have paid Eddie George what he wanted out of desperation...good all around.

I'm a big Ricky fan...but this is perplexing. The entire offense is built around him, and he's letting down a whole lot of people.

[tishaLA]

11. I'm sorry....but WHAT offense?

His YPA last year was terrible--only Eddie George's were worse, 3.5 yards for Ricky compared to 3.3 yards per carry for Eddie--because Miami didn't have another option. He's had a horrible time in the NFL, partly by his design (Master P as an agent) and partly because he has been associated with teams that relied to heavily on him to get everything done.

Edit: Sorry. that stat is for RBs who gained 1000 yards.

[TSIAS]

14. The "O" was awful last year

Wanny & Co. failed to address the Offensive Line during the 2003 off-season. Therefore, it took everything Ricky had to get those 3 + yards per carry.

The offense this year could be even worse. We have to hope that Feeley is better than expected and that Boston can put up some big numbers. For the last 2 years, this team was built around it's defense and Ricky Williams. Now, one of those is gone.

[RummyTheDummy]

10. ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Awwwww poor little Ricky. I guess means the Phins won't be going to the playoffs this year either.





GO PATS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tishaLA]

13. Yup. The only thing more certain

than the Dolphins not going to the playoffs is the Red Sox not going to the playoffs.

[RummyTheDummy]

16. That's fine

Because I'm not a Red Sox fan. I don't follow MLB at all so who cares!

[Oddman]

12. Pats fan here too!

Can you say THREE championships in four years?

So Ricky - we hardly knew ye - not!

[TSIAS]

15. Maybe in the AFC East

The 'Fins were never the Patriots biggest threat in the NFL, far less the AFC.

I'm hoping for a repeat of the 2002 season, with NE missing the playoffs completely.

[RummyTheDummy]

17. Hope is for sissys

Yeah, the Pats will miss the playoffs. I think 5-11 is probably it for this year but don't deny what fleeting thoughts you probably had of a Phins AFC East title, prior to tonight of course.

[TSIAS]

18. I had no confidence in our GM & Coach

As long as Wanny and Spielman were in charge, I didn't see the team going far. Look at Wanny's track record. He might be a nice guy and well liked by his players, but he's an awful coach and an even worse GM.

Wannstedt's record in Miami looks good on paper. That's until you look at all the games that really meant something. When the Dolphins, lead by Wannstedt, had to deliver- they ultimately failed.

[RummyTheDummy]

19. I agree. Wanny sucks. Actually this sucks. It won't be as interesting

[Renew Deal]

20. Wow

My friend is a dolphin fan. He will be upset. I can't believe Williams will do this.

[OpSomBlood]

21. I give the "retirement" about a 40% chance of happening.

It wouldn't be unlike Ricky at all to "change his mind" again the day before camp.

But still, this sending shockwaves.

[RummyTheDummy]

22. He could easily change his mind

But if you take the time to read the ESPN story it looks like he's pretty serious about it.

[TSIAS]

24. I got that same impression

First off, I am by no means a fan of Dan LeBatard. He's a fantastic writer, but I don't think he knows that much about sports.

If the quotes attributed to him are true, it looks like this was a rather lengthy process.

This is how I felt about 3 weeks ago when I read the New York Post headline "Kerry Picks Gephardt!" Fortunately, that nightmare was over when I awoke the next morning. I'm still totally in shock that this happened today.

[St. Jarvitude]

23. #1 Pick on my Fantasy Team

I hate the NFL. I hate their "substance abuse" rules.

God dammit.