Ricky Williams says he's clean, ready to return

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"Dolphins running back Ricky Williams, who has applied for reinstatement to the NFL, told ESPN Radio on Friday that he hasn't gotten high on drugs "in maybe three years" and has no need to resume using marijuana because yoga has eased his stress.

Last April 26, Williams was suspended for one year for violating the league's drug policy. He said reinstatement involves sending a hand-written letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and going for a clinical evaluation.

"For the most part, as long as you follow the rules, you have a pretty good shot to be reinstated," Williams said. "Half of it is testing and the other half is you have to talk to someone on a weekly basis."

Asked by Dan Patrick the last time he was tested, Williams said ''two minutes ago.'' Patrick asked if he passed. "Sure, yeah," he said.

Williams said "at one time, I was probably smoking too much. To fail a drug test and be suspended, the normal person would say that's too much. Anytime someone gets to the point where they fail a test, it's beyond recreation, even if they say it's recreation."

Williams said that when he played in the NFL before his temporary retirement in 2004, "stress levels got really high. The only thing that really helped was to go home, relax on the couch, roll up a joint and take a couple of puffs."

http://www.miamiherald.com/416/story/66000.html

[Awsi Dooger]

1. I'd like to bet under three years since the last time he got high

In fact I'm sure I remember contradictory statements from him. Maybe his definition of getting high has changed.

Still, I like Ricky and hope Cameron brings him back. I don't want to depend solely on Ronnie Brown and all his limitations. When Ricky plays, Miami's won/loss record is always significantly better than when he's gone. A lot of that has to do with basic football: sufficient number of rushing attempts.

[nickgutierrez]

2. I like Ricky a lot

I actually thought he had a chance to have a nice, long career, if not for the suspensions. For a back that gets the ball as often as he did when he was going really well, he never seemed to take a lot of big hits - diving at would-be tackler's feet, getting an extra yard that he might not have gotten otherwise, and keeping himself in pretty good shape. He's probably got three or four more really good seasons left in him.

[trumad]

3. Well---let's think about this...

3 years ago was April , 2004.

On Sept 18th 2005---he was interviewed by Mike Wallace-- Here's an exchange:

Sept. 18, 2005

Why? Why did he return to football? Correspondent Mike Wallace of 60 Minutes went to Miami to find out. But first, take a look at Ricky Williams a year ago.When 60 Minutes first met him, he was studying the ancient Indian science of Ayurveda, hoping to become a holistic healer. Instead of roaring crowds, he was listening to what his instructor called "the whisperings of his soul." And he told 60 Minutes with some conviction that being free to focus on his mind, his body, and his soul was worth much more to him than the millions he'd turned his back on.

Bob Marley, the legendary reggae star from Jamaica, inspired Williams to wear dreadlocks for years, and he and his hero have something else in common: "He smoked a lot of marijuana, yeah ... I have done the same."

"Could you pass an NFL drug test today?" Wallace asked him last December, and Williams said, "No."

The exchange continued:

Wallace: "So you still smoke marijuana?"

Williams: "Uh-huh."

Wallace: "Anything worse than that?"

Williams: "Worse? What do you mean by worse?"

Wallace: "More addictive, more dangerous, conceivably?"

Williams: "Sometimes I have sweets. Sugar."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/12/16/60minutes/main661572_page3.shtml

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A year before that was September 2004.

Me-thinks Ricky officially quit the herb around March of 2005 --- a couple of months before he was reinstated the first time..... I do believe he hasn't smoked since then and I welcome the dude back with open arms.

[SidDithers]

4. He had a good year in Toronto...

well, not a good year performance-wise, big, north-south backs aren't really built for the CFL. And he did break his arm. That said, he was great in the community, and with the other members of his team. Was also very good with the media.

Argo fans wish himm all the best in his return to the NFL.

Sid