http://www.thescore.com/nfl/news/1075416?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter You can read the full article, but I certainly agree with him. As it is, Ricky ran for 10,009 yards and 66 TDs in his career, and is the 29th leading rusher in league history. However, he had 6354 yards and 41 TDs in his first five seasons, along with 229 receptions for 1806 yards and 4 TDs before he was banished prior to the 2004 season for his drug use. After he came back, he played parts of six seasons covering eight total years, and started just 13 more games, rushing 842 times for 3655 yards and 25 more TDs. He was never his team's #1 back during that whole time, always sharing the load, and losing virtually three whole years due to suspension and getting hurt on a dirty play as soon as he stepped back onto the field in another. From 2005 onward, he averaged 4.34 yards per rush. If you were to say he had carried the ball 250 times a season during those last eight years (a much smaller number than his 2001-2003 load), then he would have averaged 1085 yards during those eight years, giving him over 15,000 for his career and putting him near the very top of the all time list. That assume no major injuries of course, but it also assume that he never again had another great season where he was at the top of the league, and is in line with his age 32 season in 2009, when he ran 241 times for 1121 yards and 11 TDs. A big season here and there, and its not hard to see him challenging Emmit Smith's all time mark.
He'd be in the HoF he hadn't decided smoking weed was more important to him than football. Time heals and I like the guy, but he's not the victim of injustice in this scenario.
As good as he was, and as fun as he was to watch, it was a decision that HE made. Retiring in 2004 was HIS decision. He had other priorities at the time. He made his bed, and now he lays in it. I don't feel sorry for him.
You may not like the relative penalties, but he knew the substance abuse policy. Like I said, he found smoking dope more important than playing football.
I think he should have been good for at least another 3,000 yds rushing, 16 TDs, 50 receptions, 350 receiving yards, and 2 TDs receiving. That'd have put him in the top 10 in rushing yardage, top 20 in rushing TDs, top 30 in overall TDs, and top 12 in yds from scrimmage. I think he almost assuredly would be in the HoF with those #'s.
He's not a victim. He chose to pursue a career in a system that has clearly defined rules about weed, and then chose to break those rules.
one could argue that the years he sat out kept his body fresh and thus he had those great years with the Dolphins.
I'd probably agree with him. What an electrifying and punishing runner he was. He had all the physical ability. As for the issue at hand and whether he was a victim or not. I'm not so sure I agree that he should have been as heavily punished as he was for simply pot use, if it were PED's, absolutely. Pot, I don't fully agree with that, but I'm on the fence about it. However, that being said... Ricky knew the rules regarding pot usage. He chose to not follow those rules. So, he's a victim here, sure... but of his own decisions. Whether he's right, or wrong about pot use and the NFL's stance on it, is irrelevant. The rules are there that forbid it, it's only his fault for breaking them. Now he can argue if they should be in place or not, but that's a whole other issue. Loved the guy though, man could he run.. I would have loved to see the rest of his career play out suspension free.
I 100% agree with him. His combination of speech, agility, vision, and power is one of the best I have ever seen.
I do agree that he broke the rule. I do know from a lot of my pot smoking friends, that pot helps a lot with social anxiety, which was one of his problems in the NFL.
If Ricky held down a guy while his friend stabbed him to death like Ray Lewis did, then he would have been selected.
I am also of the mindset that while pot should not be banned by the NFL nor should it be illegal, that Ricky knew the risks when he used it, and suffered the consequenses. However, to the point that had there been no consecquences, would he be in the HOF? Barring a career ending injury, I think he definately would.
I agree that he would probably be a HOFer and that it's stupid that pot is banned/punished as it is. That being said, RW is not a victim. He knew the rules going in and decided he didn't love football enough to follow those rules. Playing football, being in the HOF, not letting his team mates down, all of those things simply didn't matter as much to him.
I believe that marijuana being illegal, while alcohol and tobacco are legal is ridiculous. Yet Ricky knew the league policy when he signed to play in the NFL. This was a drug policy which also was approved by the players union and ratified by the majority of the players in the NFL. So Ricky has no one but himself to blame if he never makes it into the HOF. He certainly could have been one of the greatest running backs in NFL history, if he had just been able to abide by league policies during his time in the NFL.
I still remember that Jets game where he ran into a few defenders, kept himself upright by kneeling down and holding himself up from the ground, getting back up and taking off, all while making sure his knee never touched the ground. That 2002 season Ricky looked like a modern Bo Jackson. Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk
I agree that Ricky would have been a HOF had he not chosen to smoke point and ruin his career, it was his choice, he had to live with it. Granted with Dave Wannestadt being his coach the league should have made an exception and allowed him to smoke pot. Probably what kept him from killing Wannestadt.
Ricky, if your Aunt had nutz, she'd be your uncle. Well, if your aunt decided she was now a man she, er. He, would be your uncle that was formerly your aunt, and his wife would be your aunt. Yeah, I guess that doesn't work anymore.
To be fair, 35 carries in a game has to murder a guy's body. Especially a guy who ran like Ricky. Absolutely vicious. I believe he said he smoked pot because his body hurt so much from all the carries. Said the game plan wasn't even football...it was give it to Ricky up the gut. WOD ball he called it lol. Anyway, not an excuse, but I forgive him. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Rick was one of the best RB's in the past 15 years...but he had a meltdown mentally and abused marijuana to the point where his career will always be unappreciated by most. Dude was a fantastic RB, miss watching him break long runs vs BUF
He exited right before Wannstedt Campbellized his legs. Red-eye Jedi... The mini cuts he made before contact made any line look good...pre-exodus that is.
exactly. plus, he didn't like what the Dolphins did... or didn't do that offseason IIRC, ignored the quarterback position essentially. Which meant Ricky had to carry the load again.
yeah that Buffalo game, up there.. that was the best game I'd ever seen by a Dolphins back. not even close. 27 carries, 228 yards, 2 TD.s... and the Dolphins lost 38-21. typical.
I disagree. Maybe he'd be in the HOF if he had not been an idiot scumbum that was unable to follow the rules. I love Ricky (thus my screename) but c'mon. It's a poor musician that blames his instrument. He knew the rules and didn't follow them. He'll probably read this thread as he's a noted internet troll. The only really notable achievement he had as a player was the 1853 yard year (I think 2002). Other than that year, he never even led the league again in rushing. For the Dolphins, he was our best RB ever. But for the league, he was just an above average running back that brought bad publicity to the league.