Ricky Williams on 60 minutes

[ant_7000 0]

I didn't see a thread on this which is kind of surprising. Anyway, I did get a chance to see it, and Ricky is all hippied out now with the beard and shit. He said that football made him unhappy and he didn't want face the public because he smoked herb. He's not homeless, he lives in a modest house, He doesn't feel the need to apologize to his teammates or fans. Mike Wallace was basically ridiculing him for quitting and walking away from millions. He's happy with himself and money doesn't drive him.

 

Ricky also brought up a good point about when was it ok for him retire, was it ok for him to retire after his body is all banged up, at the end of the interview Wallace predicted and Bet that Ricky will be back to play football because Ricky would eventually need the money.

 

-My 2 copper Lincoln's:

 

Good for Ricky, if thats what he wants to do, so be it. I think the media gives him somewhat unfair treatment. It was okPat Tillman walk away from millions to do what was best for him, but its wrong Ricky to do the same thing.

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

I didn't see a thread on this which is kind of surprising. Anyway, I did get a chance to see it, and Ricky is all hippied out now with the beard and shit. He said that football made him unhappy and he didn't want face the public because he smoked herb. He's not homeless, he lives in a modest house, He doesn't feel the need to apologize to his teammates or fans. Mike Wallace was basically ridiculing him for quitting and walking away from millions. He's happy with himself and money doesn't drive him.

 

He will be after he's done paying back what he owes the Dolphins.

 

It was okPat Tillman walk away from millions to do what was best for him, but its wrong Ricky to do the same thing.

 

There are good reasons for leaving and bad reasons for leaving. Pat Tillman leaving earned him respect. People were fine with Robert Smith retiring early. It is a little different to be leaving because you want to smoke pot.

[Guest The Shadow Behind You]

I think people focus too much on the pot smoking thing; I don't think it's as important as the media tried to make it out be. I honestly think Ricky Had no desire to play anymore. Yes; His appreciation of weed was a factor but it wasn't the complete and total reason.

 

Like i said in the nfl week thread; Wallace basically made Williams out to be a bad guy; when Williams defended himself as best as I think he could have.

 

Ricky came off in some ways a prick for basically saying he didn't care how his team mates felt but also came off innocent by addressing how much he really loves his new life; So i think people will come away 50/50 with Williams here.

[GreatWhiteNope 0]

It is a little different to be leaving because you want to smoke pot.

 

But he didn't leave to smoke pot - he left to "find his soul".

 

I think he considers himself a victim, which isn't necessarily wrong depending on how you look at it.

 

As long as he continues to pay child support, more power to him. He's a young guy who has some living to do and it's better he does it now than get crippled and be forced to look back at what might have been.

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

Pat Tillman gave the Cards plenty of notice he was leaving. IIRC, Robert Smith did the same for the Vikings (I could be wrong, though).

 

Ricky made his decision after the draft and very close to the opening of training camp after other free agent RB's were already signed. The Dolphins were stuck scrounging the scrap pile for a RB.

 

*That's* why he deserves the load of shit everyone gives him. He wants to retire? Fine, let the team know w/ enough advance notice that they can plan to replace him. He's the reason the Dolphins are as bad as they are this year.

[Guest The Shadow Behind You]

Smith announced it right after the season was over. That gave them the whole draft and Free Agency to prepare.

[Guest Vitamin X]

He's the reason the Dolphins are as bad as they are this year.

With that offensive line, Williams would have been lucky to even get 1000 yards. Dave Wannstedt's terrible coaching, the lack of solid QB play, and having noone to catch the ball outside of an inconsistent Marty Booker and a Randy McMichael that's constantly getting doubled had just as much to do with it.

[Guest The Winter Of My Discontent]

If smokign pot makes him ahppy, then fine. What kind of crime is it to smoke grass? does it hurt any of you? If he's not into football, why play? I respect his decision. I'd rather he do what he did than dog it the entire year.

[Slovakia 0]

What kind of crime is it to smoke grass?

Misdemeanor?

[Guest The Winter Of My Discontent]

What kind of crime is it to smoke grass?

Misdemeanor?

I suppose for you American fucks. Its a petty fine here.

[Slovakia 0]

I know it's nothing in Vancouver

[Guest The Winter Of My Discontent]

I know it's nothing in Vancouver

Are you retarded?

[Crimson Platypus 0]

Pat Tillman gave the Cards plenty of notice he was leaving. IIRC, Robert Smith did the same for the Vikings (I could be wrong, though).

 

Ricky made his decision after the draft and very close to the opening of training camp after other free agent RB's were already signed. The Dolphins were stuck scrounging the scrap pile for a RB.

 

*That's* why he deserves the load of shit everyone gives him. He wants to retire? Fine, let the team know w/ enough advance notice that they can plan to replace him. He's the reason the Dolphins are as bad as they are this year.

Bingo.

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

He's the reason the Dolphins are as bad as they are this year.

With that offensive line, Williams would have been lucky to even get 1000 yards. Dave Wannstedt's terrible coaching, the lack of solid QB play, and having noone to catch the ball outside of an inconsistent Marty Booker and a Randy McMichael that's constantly getting doubled had just as much to do with it.

The horrendous QB play is a direct result of Ricky's departure. Opposing defenses can basically ignore the run game, plus it forces the QB's to throw a lot more than they would normally. Ricky's presence alone makes the offense better. I agree Wannstedt was a bad coach (and am glad to see him go), but he still coached himself to 10 wins the last 2 years. Considering that 8-6 puts a team in the AFC wild card hunt, it's not out of the realm of possibility that Miami could be in the playoff hunt had Ricky not bailed.

[Guest Cerebus]

Willliams had all the maturity of a petulant ten year old (and not just because of a somewhat high voice). He simply had no cognition on anyone outside himself for any reason at all, unless, of course, he was giving an interview for the media he "shunned." He said he didn't think he was the reason the Dolphins are 2-11 (if you can find a serious watcher of football who agrees that's a Feat of Strength), that of COURSE he couldn't tell the Dolphins ahead of time, he only found out that he needed to take a "spiritual journey" and avoid child support payments in two days! I mean, how can you blame him for THAT?

 

This guy is pathetic. I hope he gets slapped with the 8+ million dollar fine so he finds out that there is more to life than abandoning all responsiblities to smoke pot and take holistic healing classes.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

I didn't see it, but yeah, Ricky got the beard-thing going...

[Guest Vitamin X]

He's the reason the Dolphins are as bad as they are this year.

With that offensive line, Williams would have been lucky to even get 1000 yards. Dave Wannstedt's terrible coaching, the lack of solid QB play, and having noone to catch the ball outside of an inconsistent Marty Booker and a Randy McMichael that's constantly getting doubled had just as much to do with it.

The horrendous QB play is a direct result of Ricky's departure. Opposing defenses can basically ignore the run game, plus it forces the QB's to throw a lot more than they would normally. Ricky's presence alone makes the offense better. I agree Wannstedt was a bad coach (and am glad to see him go), but he still coached himself to 10 wins the last 2 years. Considering that 8-6 puts a team in the AFC wild card hunt, it's not out of the realm of possibility that Miami could be in the playoff hunt had Ricky not bailed.

Yeah, but Jay Fiedler and AJ Feeley don't exactly strike fear into the hearts of any opposing defense. And again, it all comes down to the offensive line, and the Dolphins haven't had one all season long. And therefore, no offense. Like I said, Williams would have been lucky to hit the 1,000-yard mark with that line.

[Crimson Platypus 0]

Yeah, but Jay Fiedler and AJ Feeley don't exactly strike fear into the hearts of any opposing defense. And again, it all comes down to the offensive line, and the Dolphins haven't had one all season long. And therefore, no offense. Like I said, Williams would have been lucky to hit the 1,000-yard mark with that line.

This is true, but having a RB of Williams' caliber allowed Fiedler to be an average QB and still do enough to not lose. It's really a mix of everything stated that has caused Miami to be so terrible this year. No running back at all, poor QBs, and an awful 0-line have all contributed to this year's woes.

[Guest Vitamin X]

The Dolphins need a better GM, too. AJ Feeley for a 2nd round pick? For shame.

 

You would have thought that they would have tried upgrading the offense, since it has historically been so terrible, but Fiedler was Dave's guy and that was that. And of course, the responsibility of evaluating the current personnel largely falls on the head coach.

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

To be fair, the idea behind getting Feeley was to do Jay Fiedler w/ a stronger arm (i.e. don't make mistakes to lose games). They had no idea Ricky was going to bail on them. Had Ricky not lost his smile, the move wouldn't have looked so bad.

 

They did make some moves (and tried to do some others) to upgrade the offense, but they haven't worked out:

-David Boston - hurt in training camp

-drafted Vernon Carey (o-line) - didn't make the lineup

-signed Jeno James (started 16 games for Panthers at Guard) - got hurt

-they had interest in Todd Steussie & Damien Woody (both o-line), but they couldn't sign them.

 

But, hey, whatever. I wrote them off once Ricky left. It'll definitely be an interesting off-season.

[Precious Roy 0]

He's the reason the Dolphins are as bad as they are this year.

With that offensive line, Williams would have been lucky to even get 1000 yards. Dave Wannstedt's terrible coaching, the lack of solid QB play, and having noone to catch the ball outside of an inconsistent Marty Booker and a Randy McMichael that's constantly getting doubled had just as much to do with it.

Don't forget about Chris Chambers, who'd put up huge numbers in a good offense.

 

I side with Ricky on this, you can't fault a guy for following his heart. Yeah, he had bad timing, but what's done is done, people need to move on.