04/16/24
April 25, 2006
NFL suspends Ricky Williams for 2006.: And once again the dark cloud rises for all the Joey Harrington fans that said "he just needs a running back."
it's very simple-Ricky is a has been and a great disappointment.
posted by mainone at 08:06 PM on April 25, 2006
The latest test apparently involved a drug other than marijuana. I want to know what it was! What's the latest line in Vegas for hallucinogens? Or maybe there was some unknown substance used in one of his aromatherapy sessions? He was in India, so you never know what they put in their incense.
posted by wingnut4life at 08:11 PM on April 25, 2006
I don't know about a has been, but he is a great disappointment. He proved late last year he could continue to be a productive back. I'm not sure that he really cares about this, but I bet everyone else does that has put themselves at risk to lose money and reputation over all of this.
posted by sgtcookzane at 08:16 PM on April 25, 2006
They might be ok. If they still have the rb they drafted from auburn they might be better off with just him and not ricky. They could draft another rb too. Lindale white might fall low enough.
posted by cowboyfan82 at 08:40 PM on April 25, 2006
The drug family or group he tested positive for was amphetamines. He claims it was in an herb he was taking. The argument is that he never tested positive for this type of drug previously. Most of the true weed heads i know stay away from anything that will force them to pay attention. Sidebar: When i was 21 years old i went to the ER with an irregular heartbeat. I was very nervous and jittery. The doctor did some blood work, then told me to stop using cocaine, crank or any other amphetamines and this wouldn't happen. I never touched the stuff. Turns out i took 1 to many doses of an OTC sinus medication i was on at the time, which resulted in a positive drug test. I don't like Ricky much as a player, but I have tested positive in this same manner and i know for a fact that it can happen. The NFL drug policy is questionable. You will never know how it feels to be accused of doing something that you are NOT guilty of, until it happens to you.
posted by Bishop at 09:06 PM on April 25, 2006
F****** Ricky he was one of the best RB in the NFL and than he had to get caught smoking and retire for one year what a dumbass Suspended* - 20 games Retired* - 16 games Games active* - 12 games Toatal 36* games missed and 8* games active since the end of 2003 * = Not including Pre-Season
posted by houston7166 at 09:06 PM on April 25, 2006
SALT: "WELL,NOW HE HAS PLENTY OF TIME TO SMOKE THAT SHIT. HE ONLY CAME BACK BECAUSE HE DID'NT WON'T TO PAY BACK THE 8 MILLION DOLLARS HE GOT." 
Hosted @ HotFreeLayouts He didnt wont to pay? lol.
posted by STUNNER at 09:16 PM on April 25, 2006
What a mess. Hey take it from a devoted Lion's fan. Harrington needs much more then a RB. He needs a heart, some confidense, and also leadership qualities. Unfortunately you can't teach any of those.
posted by bigpoppav at 10:34 PM on April 25, 2006
Stop the presses! This just in from a "Lion's fan..."
posted by everett at 10:41 PM on April 25, 2006
Ricky Williams has to start being moved into the all-time draft busts. After all, at least the Chargers didn't trade away their entire draft to get Ryan Leaf. As for the charges, he may very well not have done anything wrong-Nick Saban seems to think so-but it doesn't matter, he's become a joke to the game and to himself, and no one will believe him no matter what.
posted by Bonkers at 12:25 AM on April 26, 2006
I think Harrington will do ok down in Miami. Can he go up North in the winter and play in New York, Buffalo and New England - probably not, don't think any Miami teams have been able to do that ((except the 1972 Dolphins - back when football was for men and not in domes (which need to be outlawed for the game - weather can change a game, which it was meant to do), with turf)) Anyways, Miami still have a pretty good running back in Ronnie Brown. I would imagine he would have been better last year if he got the ball more. He and Ricky's numbers were pretty close to the same. Ricky will end up on the Cowgirl's, they like taking all the problem childs.
posted by Stealth_72 at 07:47 AM on April 26, 2006
Miami is supporting Ricky because they seem to think it was accidental. It is unfortunate for the Dolphins because last year Ricky was hard-working, focused and a team-player. But, Ricky got caught intentionally violating the test three times, so that he can't really complain about the severe punishment for an unintentional infraction.
posted by bperk at 08:11 AM on April 26, 2006
UNintentional??? What's Barry Bonds his new agent or did I miss something?
posted by volfire at 08:16 AM on April 26, 2006
I think this whole thing is making the NFL drug policies seem ridiculous. The whole "weed" prohibition is just some misguided attempt to do something "for the children" but has nothing to do with the game on the field. Meanwhile you have guys dying on the practice field due to pseudo-ephedrine and other OTC speed. WRT to the noble herb I think that teams should definitely have their own internal policy based on the idea that their star guys shouldn't be arrested by the local cops, but it shouldn't have anything to do with the NFL and be lumped in with steroids or coke or anything that actually helps someone be a better player. IOW, if Ricky wants to smoke the herb, and he can still play well enough despite this, the NFL should have nothing to say about it. His team should insist that it be discreet. With that in mind, this test should never have been viewed in this way - as a 4th contravention. Anyhow the Dolphins still have Ronnie Brown, so it won't make much of a difference to them overall, except maybe if they had wanted to trade Ricky.
posted by mikelbyl at 10:19 AM on April 26, 2006
Are you kidding me? What team is going to pay a guy millions of dollars and bonuses on the condition he keeps his drug use descreet? Where have you been living the past ten years? Does ZERO tolerance mean anything to you? If Ricky wants to "smoke the herb" he can be a grocery clerk. If they'll pay him enough to be "discreet".
posted by volfire at 10:48 AM on April 26, 2006
Ricky's the modern day Leon Lett.
posted by airman at 11:53 AM on April 26, 2006
Ricky's much happier then Leon.
posted by Hugh Janus at 03:10 PM on April 26, 2006
I've defended Ricky for some time - mostly because I don't feel he's really done anything terribly wrong or inhuman and I have a hard time reconciling a league where Jamal Lewis can get a 4-month suspension for traffiking; but Ricky gets a year off for using (I'm sorry, I know the "rules" surrounding second and third offences for smoking pot, but at some point my bullshit meter explodes and I see red) - but Ricky, Ricky, Ricky... Your laissez faire attitude just supered your talent right into the couch. Find something else to do.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 03:19 PM on April 26, 2006
It seems football is just not that important to Ricky Williams. Which should have been obvious to the Dolphins early on. They sure have wasted a lot of time, money and effort on him. I think it's time to cut their losses and move on without him.
posted by Atheist at 03:20 PM on April 26, 2006
I bet he comes back. He still owes the Dolphins a lot of money. He will still be able to at least spell Brown. I believe he will be turning 30 in 2007, but will have missed 2 of the last 3 seasons. There's some hope.
posted by bperk at 03:48 PM on April 26, 2006
For all the admiring Wall Street Journal profiles I've read about multimillionaire financiers giving it up to do what they really love -- tying fly lures, designing gliders, folding burritos -- I'd love to see one that encourages Ricky to be happy with his millions. He's a smart guy with a real appreciation for people. Walk away, Ricky, and don't let 'em nag you back. You don't owe anyone but yourself. All these so-hurt fans can find another flavor-of-the-season. They'll get over it.
posted by Hugh Janus at 04:03 PM on April 26, 2006
Bishop - just a guess, but you were probably hopped up on ephedrine, or maybe its punk-ass little brother, pseudoephedrine. Both were fairly common in over-the-counter decongestants, cold medicines, etc. did I miss something? The list of things you don't know that pertain to this story is longer than my arm, yet you think you're qualified to make snap judgements on this case. I understand that a pattern of behavior has established itself, but you still don't have enough knowledge about this particular incident to jump in like you're omniscient.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 04:37 PM on April 26, 2006
Hugh, Ricky would be happy if the "millions" were his, but since 8 of the millions are the Dolphins, it's bothering his inner-peace a little bit. So you're correct about him owing himself, but slightly incorrect when you say he doesn't owe anyone else. So if we broke it down using the fastfood commercial's math. The one where they say "you look like a million chicken nuggets" or "this cost me 100 jr. bacon cheeseburgers". Ricky owes the dolphins 8 million blunts or not returning next year would cost him 20 million bongfuls. Black_Hand you are correct sir. It was pseudoephedrine and it did cause my false positive test for amphetamines. BTW, just because Ricky smokes weed doesn't mean what he is claiming is BS. He has a very good point. It's just a shame that his past infractions are what he is being judged by and not what has happened in this particular instance.
posted by Bishop at 05:04 PM on April 26, 2006
8 of the millions are the Dolphins Yeah, that's true, Bishop, and that's probably why he's putting up with being suspended for a year. Still, if he (is suspended and then) plays a year and quits, hell, no harm done. He's his own man. I just don't get the fans who say he owes them something. I just hope they leave him alone when he leaves them alone, like it seems he wants to.
posted by Hugh Janus at 09:00 PM on April 26, 2006
No he has to buy dope from somebody.
posted by volfire at 09:03 PM on April 26, 2006
hell he ought to claim usage under religious purposes and he would be excused under the us constitution but then the lawyers would make $8 mil more than he has, hey rick lay off the herbs smoked or eaten.
posted by kdrckrules at 10:18 PM on April 26, 2006
Drug testing is bias against the peacful pot heads. I have been through various out patient programs and have seen the bias in drug testing. Ganja sticks aruound for a looooong time (30 days to oxodize a joints worth) and it is cumulative. Speed, Meth, and Coke about 72 hours for a lines worth, and those sweet, sweet narcotics (Heroin, Morphine, Demirol, Codine, ect) are out in 7-10 days. If Ricky new about the test in advance he could have easily scooted around the three day window. If they give him one days advance notice he could dilute his urine enough to warrent a re-test, and that should have given him enough time to get clean (provided it was only the uppers he took) Remeber this when that prospective employer makes you pee.
posted by HATER 187 at 08:47 AM on April 27, 2006
What a waste of talent. Maybe the Raiders can take him off the Dolphins hands.The Dolphins can make him a fire sale special for 2007. They will let the Raiders have him for say "$ 8 million". Ha, ha, ha.
posted by usroute17 at 07:33 PM on April 27, 2006
well...looks like those folks who have Ricky on their fantasy team are kinda screwed...what a waste of talent...