What happened to Ricky Williams?

He was abducted by aliens and probed to find out how he could look so bad being the supposed BEST NFL running back. They broke his arm in the process and now he's out at least a month. Curse those drat aliens!

cant play in nfl for a year so he went to play in the cfl and broke his arm hes out 4-6 weeks

He broke his arm while playing, and is out 4-6 weeks

If you mean his injury...I fracture or minor break in his forearm.

If you mean why he's not having a very good year in the CFL....the Argos have a weak O-Line. I don't think any NHL running back would be doing any better than him to be honest.

Gotta love him though, big-time pot smoker it seems!

Broke his arm

Ricky Williams (born Errick Lynne Williams, Jr. May 21, 1977) is a gridiron football running back for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League, whose NFL rights are held by the Miami Dolphins. He played college football for the Texas Longhorns, winning the 1998 Heisman Trophy; held the NCAA career rushing yardage, rushing touchdowns, and scoring records; and was the first round draft pick of the New Orleans Saints in 1999.

He was suspended from the NFL under its drug policy for the 2006 season and is playing the 2006 season for the Toronto Argonauts, since the CFL does not honor the NFL's ban. [1]

Contents [hide]

1 Biography

1.1 Personal life

1.2 College career

1.3 Early professional career

1.4 Early retirement from football

1.5 Return to football

1.6 Canadian Football League

2 References

3 External links

[edit]

Biography

[edit]

Personal life

Ricky Williams was born, along with his twin sister Cassandra, on May 21, 1977, in San Diego, California. Williams was born to relatively young parents, who ultimately separated when Williams was six years old. Although the mother was awarded custody of Ricky and his siblings, Williams still has a close bond with his father. [2]

Williams excelled in school and was involved in his school's accelerated program. However, Williams and his twin sister were allegedly victims of racist remarks from other students while growing up. This resulted in accumulated anger, which Williams sometimes vented by bullying other kids. [2]

In San Diego's Patrick Henry High School, Williams primarily played baseball and football, but also ran track and wrestled. On the football field, Ricky gained 2,099 yards and scored 25 touchdowns. He was named "Offensive Player of the Year" by the San Diego Union-Tribune. [citation needed]

Ricky Williams as a Texas Longhorn.Ricky Williams has admitted being very shy and was diagnosed with social anxiety disorder, which he struggled to cope with during his football career. Williams was treated with therapy and medication. To alleviate his symptoms, he smoked marijuana during the NFL football season and was consequently penalized.

Williams was briefly a spokesperson for the drug Paxil as treatment. He worked with the drug company GlaxoSmithKline to educate the public about the disorder. [3] Williams later quit Paxil saying the drug didn't agree with his diet.

Ricky Willams said marijuana had been a better treatment since it produced fewer side effects (than Paxil). [4] In an interview with ESPN, Williams stated, "Marijuana is 10 times better for me than Paxil."

Williams admitted in a 60 Minutes interview that one of the main reasons for his retirement was to avoid the humiliation of his marijuana use being made public (with his third failed drug test).[5] After his retirement he quickly went to California to get a prescription for medical marijuana (which he had no problem securing). He now claims he doesn't need or use marijuana, but doesn't criticize others' choices on the matter.[6]

Williams is a qualified yoga instructor. He has stated that one of his main reasons for joining the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts is for the opportunity teach free yoga lessons at a local Toronto yoga facility.[6]

While not married, Williams has four children, and a fifth is on the way as of 2006. Ricky is a vegetarian, supporter of animal rights and active member of PETA.[7]

[edit]

College career

A tremendous athlete, he was selected out of Patrick Henry High School in the 8th round of the 1995 baseball amateur draft by the Philadelphia Phillies, and played four years at the Class A level. He was then taken in the 1998 Rule V Draft by the Montreal Expos, who sold his rights to the Texas Rangers. He played college football for The University of Texas at Austin and was backed up by all-star Chiefs running back, Priest Holmes. Williams holds or shares 20 NCAA records, and became the NCAA career rushing leader in 1998 with 6,279 yards (broken one year later by University of Wisconsin's Ron Dayne). He also broke the NCAA division 1A career rushing touchdowns and career scoring records in 1998 with 73 and 452 respectively (topped one year later by Miami University's Travis Prentice), and rushed for 200 or more yards in twelve different games (an NCAA record he shares with Dayne and USC's Marcus Allen). Williams won the 64th Heisman Trophy, becoming the second Texas Longhorn to win this honor, joining Earl Campbell. His favorite class at UT, Austin was his Spanish 3 class Spring, 2000.

[edit]

Early professional career

Ricky and coach Ditka on an ESPN Magazine cover.Williams was selected as the fifth pick of the 1999 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints. Head coach Mike Ditka traded all of the Saints' 1999 draft picks to get Williams, the first time one player was the only draft pick of an NFL team. Williams and Ditka posed for the cover of ESPN Magazine as a bride and a groom with the heading "For Better or for Worse." Rapper Master P's organization No Limit Sports negotiated his contract. Williams later made Leigh Steinberg his agent. Ditka was later fired for the team's poor performance, and Williams was traded after 3 seasons to the Miami Dolphins on March 8, 2002 for two first-round picks. In his first season with the Dolphins, he was the NFL's leading rusher and a Pro Bowler with 1,853 yards.

Williams was noted for his dreadlocks, but shaved them off during a solo trip to Australia. His shyness also makes Williams somewhat of an odd ball. "Ricky's just a different guy," Saints receiver Joe Horn explained. "People he wanted to deal with, he did. And people he wanted to have nothing to do with, he didn't. No one could understand that. I don't think guys in the locker room could grasp that he wanted to be to himself, you know, quiet. If you didn't understand him and didn't know what he was about, it always kept people in suspense." Besides keeping to himself, Williams was also known for conducting post-game interviews with his helmet on and avoiding eye contact.

[edit]

Early retirement from football

It was announced on May 14, 2004 that he tested positive for marijuana in December 2003 and faced a $650,000 fine and a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy. He previously tested positive for marijuana shortly after he joined the Dolphins; shortly before training camp was to begin in July 2004, Williams publicly disclosed his intent to retire from professional football.

Rumored to have failed a third drug test before announcing his retirement, Williams made his retirement official on August 2, 2004, was ineligible to play for the 2004 season and studied Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of holistic medicine at the California College of Ayurveda that autumn in Grass Valley, California. He has recently converted to Hinduism.

Williams maintains (to this day) that he doesn't regret the retirement decision. He feels that it was the "most positive thing" he has ever done in his life, allowing him time to find himself.[8]

[edit]

Return to football

Williams officially returned to the Dolphins July 24, 2005 and completed his four game suspension for substance abuse. At his return press conference, Williams expressed his apologies for leaving the team two days before the start of training camp, which led the Dolphins to their worst season in years, only winning 4 games in the 2004 season. Ricky Williams finished with six touchdowns and a 4.4 yards per carry average on 168 carries and 743 yards this season. In week 16 he had 172 yards, and in Week 17 he had 108 yards.

Williams has paid back a percentage of his signing bonus as part of his return.

On February 20, 2006, it was announced that Williams had violated the NFL drug policy for the fourth time. His mother reportedly said she doesn't think it was another marijuana violation and that he may have been in India when he was supposed to be tested. Nevertheless, on April 25, 2006, Williams was suspended for the entire 2006 season for testing positive for a drug other than marijuana. It has been suggested that the substance may have been an herb related to his interest in holistic medicine. [9] Williams can apply for reinstatement for the 2007 season and return after approval from the NFL commissioner.

[edit]

Canadian Football League

With Williams suspended for the entire 2006 NFL Season, the CFL's Toronto Argonauts decided to put Ricky on the negotiation list for the 2006 season.[10] This guaranteed the Argos Williams' CFL rights, should Williams' NFL contract be terminated at any point in time.[11] The Dolphins have allowed Williams to play for the Argonauts after they ensured that Williams would play for the Dolphins in 2007.

Williams signed with the Argonauts on May 28, 2006 for a reported salary of close to C$240,000, the highest salary, by far, for a CFL running back, and will wear number 27.[12] Reportedly, Williams could make up to C$500,000 when incentives are factored in, although both the Argos and the CFL have denied this larger figure is accurate.

The signing drew the ire of former Argonauts quarterback Joe Theismann. On May 30, 2006, Theismann was interviewed by Toronto radio station The Fan 590 whereupon he criticized the Argonauts for signing the suspended Williams. Theismann claimed he was disgraced to be associated with a team that would knowingly sign "an addict" such as Williams. The CFL has no substance-abuse policy currently in place, nor does it prohibit its teams from signing players suspended from other leagues, despite Williams being under contract with the Dolphins for the 2006 season. (Click here for an audio download of the interview).

Argo ownership responded to Theismann's criticism, noting Theismann's son, Joe, pleaded guilty in 2002 to a felony charge of possessing drug paraphernalia. He received a 10-year suspended prison term, was placed on five years of probation and fined. "It's really a delicate subject for him to attack someone if he has that in his own family," Argo co-owner Cynamon said. "If I was his son and he's calling (Williams) a drug addict and he should quit and he's a loser, I'd be shattered. This thing is really bothersome."[13]

Williams made his official CFL debut on June 17, 2006 in a home game against the Tiger-Cats at the Rogers Centre. In that game, he rushed for 97 yards on 18 carries, with his longest carry for 35 yards in the fourth quarter. Williams also caught two passes for 24 yards as the Argonauts defeated the Tiger-Cats 27-17.

On July 22, 2006, Williams suffered a broken bone injury in his left arm in a game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Regina, Saskatchewan.[14] He underwent surgery on July 23, 2006[15] to repair the broken bone, and will be out an estimated four to six weeks.[16]

[edit]

References

^ Cole, Jason. "Suspended Dolphins RB Ricky Williams reaches deal with Toronto", Miami Herald, 2006-05-28. Retrieved on 2006-05-28.

^ a b Ricky Williams - Biography. Site Vip. Retrieved on 2006-05-28.

^ "Social anxiety disorder: Miami Dolphin Ricky Williams", USA Today, 2002-10-22. Retrieved on 2006-05-28.

^ http://www.mpp.org/releases/nr080404williams.html

^ "Ricky Williams Returns", 60 Minutes, 2005-09-18. Retrieved on 2006-07-21.

^ a b "Yoga helps Williams find his karma", The Globe and Mail, 2006-05-30. Retrieved on 2006-05-31.

^ Santiago, Jennifer. "Ricky Williams: Taking the Veggie Plunge", PETAWorld. Retrieved on 2006-06-09.

^ "Lost and found: Ricky Williams interviewed", Toronto Sun, 2006-05-29. Retrieved on 2006-06-01.

^ "NFL suspends Ricky Williams for 2006", The Sporting News, 2006-04-25. Retrieved on 2006-05-28.

^ "Argonauts looking at Ricky Williams", TSN, 2006-04-27. Retrieved on 2006-05-28.

^ "Ricky Williams interested in joining Argos", TSN, 2006-05-03. Retrieved on 2006-05-28.

^ "Williams headed to CFL, signs with Argonauts", ESPN, 2006-05-29. Retrieved on 2006-05-29.

^ "Argos owner blasts Theismann", Associated Press, June 1, 2006.

^ "Williams out indefinitely with broken arm", TSN, 2006-07-22. Retrieved on 2006-07-22.

^ "Toronto Argonauts Statement - Ricky Williams", Toronto Argonauts press release, 2006-07-24. Retrieved on 2006-07-25.

^ "Williams needs surgery to repair broken arm", Globe and Mail, 2006-07-24. Retrieved on 2006-07-24.

"Deal needs his approval, NFL's blessing", ESPN, November 23, 2004.

"Williams ready to share his compassion", Associated Press, November 23, 2004.

"Williams trades demands of NFL for travel", ESPN, July 25, 2004.

"Williams now on his way to Miami", Associated Press, March 8, 2002.

"Dayne delivers again with Heisman", Associated Press, December 11, 1999.

NFL Draft: Ricky Williams, Running Back. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved on May 13, 2005.

"These guys are just terrible teammates", FOX Sports, November 11, 2005.

[edit]

External links

ESPN.com Ricky Williams Profile

Ricky Williams warming up video

Heisman Trophy Ricky Williams Profile

Current Stats

Video clip of the Toronto Argonauts announcing Ricky Williams' signing

Press release and audio clips of Ricky Williams at the Toronto Argonauts' press conference

Toronto Argonauts player introduction at YouTube

Preceded by:

Charles Woodson Heisman Trophy Winner

1998 Succeeded by:

Ron Dayne

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricky_Williams%22

Categories: American football running backs | Miami Dolphins players | New Orleans Saints players | Texas Longhorns football players | Toronto Argonauts players | AFC Pro Bowl players | Heisman Trophy winners | African American football players | American vegetarians | People from San Diego | Sports-related flops | Fraternal twins | People with social anxiety disorder | 1977 births | Living people

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