Ricky Williams' return no shock to Wannstedt
By Alex Marvez
Staff Writer
Posted June 2 2005
Dave Wannstedt said tailback Ricky Williams' plans to emerge from retirement and play again for the Dolphins should make for some "great talk radio" in South Florida.
"Nothing surprises me anymore," the former Dolphins coach said Wednesday in a telephone interview. "Just when you've think you've seen and heard it all, something else surfaces. Hopefully, Ricky will deal with things the right way and rebound and have a great career."
Courted by new Dolphins coach Nick Saban this offseason, Williams is in the process of taking steps toward NFL reinstatement.
Agent Leigh Steinberg said Wednesday that Williams will return to South Florida "soon" and is hoping for early re-entry into the NFL's substance-abuse program even though he won't officially apply to come out of retirement until late July. As a three-time offender following positive tests for marijuana, Williams is subject to 10 random tests a month for the rest of his NFL career. A failed or missed test would result in a minimum one-year suspension.
"We're taking this step by step," Steinberg said. "Ricky is highly motivated and looking forward to playing for the Dolphins."
Williams retired before the start of the 2004 preseason, which was the major blow in a series of events that led to Wannstedt's midseason resignation after having posted a 43-33 record in four-plus seasons with the Dolphins. Although declining to say whether he would welcome Williams back if still Dolphins coach, Wannstedt said he doesn't believe he could have done anything last summer to make the tailback change his mind.
"We were willing to do anything to try and help the situation," said Wannstedt, now head coach at the University of Pittsburgh. "I think everything was just beyond that."
Wannstedt said "drugs were never an issue" when it came to the Dolphins' research of Williams before trading what became two first-round draft picks to New Orleans for his services in 2002.
"We spent a lot of time and effort talking to a lot of different people that we trusted," Wannstedt said. "Now, were those people dishonest with me? I don't think so, but sometimes things change for whatever reason."
Williams still could change his mind about returning, especially if his 2005 salary becomes an issue.
Slated to earn $3.74 million this season, the Dolphins could try to lower that figure to the NFL-minimum salary of $540,000 by claiming Williams violated his contract by failing drug tests.
The Dolphins and Steinberg declined comment about Williams' possible salary. The two sides are believed to have not yet spoken about the situation.
But last August, a source said Williams contacted Wannstedt about a possible return provided he received a "significant raise" for having rushed for 3,225 yards the previous two seasons. The request was denied.
Williams already faces a reduced salary this season because he will not be paid while serving a mandatory four-game suspension for a third failed drug test. That translates to a loss of $880,000 if Williams were paid a $3.74 million salary and $127,059 for a $540,000 salary.
The Dolphins need to decide how much they are willing to pay Williams by late July because his $3.74 million salary would immediately count against the team's salary cap upon reinstatement. Such a lofty figure would likely force the Dolphins to clear cap room by either restructuring contracts, releasing players or trying to restructure Williams' deal.
The exact date of Williams' reinstatement also is uncertain. Williams is expected to argue the date should be July 23, which is one year to the day he informed Wannstedt of his retirement plans.
But the NFL may rule that Williams can't return until July 27 because that is when his retirement papers were officially filed with the NFL. The Dolphins will open training camp July 24 in Davie.
Williams can't return until one year has passed from his retirement date or he will be suspended for one year because of his status in the substance-abuse program. Williams can't visit team headquarters until reinstated, but he can have contact with Dolphins coaches.
Williams cannot practice while serving his suspension, which would end before an Oct. 16 game at Tampa Bay.
By Alex Marvez
Staff Writer
Posted June 2 2005
Dave Wannstedt said tailback Ricky Williams' plans to emerge from retirement and play again for the Dolphins should make for some "great talk radio" in South Florida.
"Nothing surprises me anymore," the former Dolphins coach said Wednesday in a telephone interview. "Just when you've think you've seen and heard it all, something else surfaces. Hopefully, Ricky will deal with things the right way and rebound and have a great career."
Courted by new Dolphins coach Nick Saban this offseason, Williams is in the process of taking steps toward NFL reinstatement.
Agent Leigh Steinberg said Wednesday that Williams will return to South Florida "soon" and is hoping for early re-entry into the NFL's substance-abuse program even though he won't officially apply to come out of retirement until late July. As a three-time offender following positive tests for marijuana, Williams is subject to 10 random tests a month for the rest of his NFL career. A failed or missed test would result in a minimum one-year suspension.
"We're taking this step by step," Steinberg said. "Ricky is highly motivated and looking forward to playing for the Dolphins."
Williams retired before the start of the 2004 preseason, which was the major blow in a series of events that led to Wannstedt's midseason resignation after having posted a 43-33 record in four-plus seasons with the Dolphins. Although declining to say whether he would welcome Williams back if still Dolphins coach, Wannstedt said he doesn't believe he could have done anything last summer to make the tailback change his mind.
"We were willing to do anything to try and help the situation," said Wannstedt, now head coach at the University of Pittsburgh. "I think everything was just beyond that."
Wannstedt said "drugs were never an issue" when it came to the Dolphins' research of Williams before trading what became two first-round draft picks to New Orleans for his services in 2002.
"We spent a lot of time and effort talking to a lot of different people that we trusted," Wannstedt said. "Now, were those people dishonest with me? I don't think so, but sometimes things change for whatever reason."
Williams still could change his mind about returning, especially if his 2005 salary becomes an issue.
Slated to earn $3.74 million this season, the Dolphins could try to lower that figure to the NFL-minimum salary of $540,000 by claiming Williams violated his contract by failing drug tests.
The Dolphins and Steinberg declined comment about Williams' possible salary. The two sides are believed to have not yet spoken about the situation.
But last August, a source said Williams contacted Wannstedt about a possible return provided he received a "significant raise" for having rushed for 3,225 yards the previous two seasons. The request was denied.
Williams already faces a reduced salary this season because he will not be paid while serving a mandatory four-game suspension for a third failed drug test. That translates to a loss of $880,000 if Williams were paid a $3.74 million salary and $127,059 for a $540,000 salary.
The Dolphins need to decide how much they are willing to pay Williams by late July because his $3.74 million salary would immediately count against the team's salary cap upon reinstatement. Such a lofty figure would likely force the Dolphins to clear cap room by either restructuring contracts, releasing players or trying to restructure Williams' deal.
The exact date of Williams' reinstatement also is uncertain. Williams is expected to argue the date should be July 23, which is one year to the day he informed Wannstedt of his retirement plans.
But the NFL may rule that Williams can't return until July 27 because that is when his retirement papers were officially filed with the NFL. The Dolphins will open training camp July 24 in Davie.
Williams can't return until one year has passed from his retirement date or he will be suspended for one year because of his status in the substance-abuse program. Williams can't visit team headquarters until reinstated, but he can have contact with Dolphins coaches.
Williams cannot practice while serving his suspension, which would end before an Oct. 16 game at Tampa Bay.
