1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

Ricky Williams: I left the NFL due to Dolphins' bad QBs

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by CaribPhin, Oct 30, 2014.

  1. Alex44

    Alex44 Boshosaurus Rex

    20,810
    8,965
    0
    Jan 7, 2008
    Hollywood, Florida
     
  2. keypusher

    keypusher Well-Known Member

    1,351
    448
    83
    Nov 29, 2007
    Yeah, probably. But he inherited an amazing defense and Fiedler and Lamar Smith were fairly effective in 2000. Fiedler had his best year in 2001, such as it was, though Smith was terrible -- probably ruined by the 50-carry game against the Colts and general overuse. Wannstedt was death to running backs.
     
  3. Rosco 35

    Rosco 35 New Member

    89
    5
    0
    Oct 12, 2014
    wait a minuet n 2002 we played Oakland in the second round and was leading until the Fiddler on the roof threw 2 interception s

    I thought it was 2003 that we played the Ravens . which year was it where we were beating the socks of the patriots 27 -7 and then they came back and won it. that was the game Jamar Fletcher kept getting burnt .
     
  4. Rosco 35

    Rosco 35 New Member

    89
    5
    0
    Oct 12, 2014
    that's true its sort of Wannstedt was to runningbacks as Sparano was to field goal kickers
     
  5. jdallen1222

    jdallen1222 Well-Known Member

    2,752
    1,373
    113
    May 31, 2013
    Plantation, Fl
    Of what? No playoff appearance in 2002 from our Dolphins.
     
  6. PhinFan1968

    PhinFan1968 To 2020, and BEYOND! Club Member

    Don't really care why he left...ancient history...doesn't matter.
     
  7. Fineas

    Fineas Club Member Luxury Box

    18,216
    23,517
    113
    Jan 5, 2008
    He did inherit a good defense but he got more from it than the guy he inherited it from (JJ). Someone somewhere deserves some credit for getting fairly effective play out of Fiedler and Lamar Smith. Maybe its not Wanny, but someone. As much as Dolphin fans like to wax poetic about those defenses and the running game, the overall offensive talent level was very, very low. And from my recollection, as good as those defenses were they did have a tendency to give up key plays at inopportune times.

    Also, I don't believe any RB has been "ruined" by overuse in a single game. Yeah, he had a bad game the next week, but it was only 8 carries, and he had a lot of bad games before that too.

    As to whether Wannstedt was "death to running backs," I guess it depends on what you mean by that. Ricky had his best years under Wannstedt. Lamar Smith had his best years under Wannstedt. So did Rashaan Salaam. And Raymont Harris.
     
  8. LiferYank

    LiferYank New Member

    3,088
    765
    0
    Oct 1, 2012
    I perhaps worded it wrong... That is what i meant.
     
  9. keypusher

    keypusher Well-Known Member

    1,351
    448
    83
    Nov 29, 2007
    In 2000 we beat the Colts in OT (and Lamar Smith had 50 carries and over 200 yards; Fiedler threw 3(?) picks in the first half; Peyton and Vanderjagt choked). The next week we got killed by the Raiders 27-0.

    In 2001 we got smothered by the Ravens.

    In 2008 we got smothered by the Ravens.

    Unless I'm forgetting something, that's it for the playoffs for us in this millennium.
     
  10. MonstBlitz

    MonstBlitz Nobody's Fart Catcher

    21,176
    10,130
    113
    Jan 14, 2008
    Hornell, NY
    The Dolphins O-line that season was a meat grinder. If I were Ricky staring at that situation, I can't say I blame him.
     
  11. keypusher

    keypusher Well-Known Member

    1,351
    448
    83
    Nov 29, 2007
    In 2000, Lamar Smith had 309 carries (honestly thought it was more) and 1139 yards (3.7 per carry). The next year, he had 313 carries, 968 yards (3.1 per carry). That was pretty much the end of the road for Lamar Smith.

    In 2002, Ricky had 383 carries, 1853 yards (4.8 per carry). The next year he had 392 carries, 1372 yards (3.5 per carry). The next year he quit.

    Maybe you can't blame Wannstedt for Smith. Lamar was 31 his last year in Miami, and that is very old for a tailback. But it was painful seeing him get fed into defenses and wind up with numbers like 23 carries, 42 yards (I swear that happened).

    In 2003 Ricky was still just 26. I remember seeing an article in the 2000s that 375 carries or more in a season was pretty much death to a running back's effectiveness. Williams was Exhibit A, but there were a lot of others.
     
    Rick 1966 and Unlucky 13 like this.
  12. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

    10,488
    12,821
    113
    Nov 1, 2009
    Then consider that he was basically doing it for free in one of the worst contracts ever written in the NFL (not based on personal accomplishments, but team accomplishments and playoff wins). I would have walked too....and Ricky only came back because they gave him a new contract. That alone would drive anybody to be a pothead.
     
    SICK likes this.
  13. finfansince72

    finfansince72 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    13,843
    10,283
    113
    Dec 18, 2007
    Columbia, South Carolina
    Most NFL players have been in bad situations like Ricky was, they just don't quit. Look I love Ricky, I think he's a smart, articulate guy who is open and thoughtful. I thought he was the best Running Back to come into the NFL since Barry Sanders or Eric Dickerson, I think he could have had a HOF career if he wanted it, he was just incredible to watch, maybe the most talented player we have ever had in Miami and that is saying something. But he did quit and thats on him. Maybe he had his reasons and maybe they were good ones but he left in the prime of his career over the roster decisions the coaching staff was making? If he wanted to save his health and move on thats great but I don't think he does himself any favors when he shoves the responsibility on to other people. I mean did he ever approach the coaching staff about this or try to get a trade? I don't know, I've moved on from what Ricky did to the franchise a long time ago but as a fan I just wish I could have seen him play more in his prime, he was amazing. Its too bad he couldn't stay away from the drugs and couldn't make it work here until it was too late.
     
  14. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

    51,927
    63,005
    113
    Apr 24, 2012
    Troy, Virginia
    Yeah, you really hardly ever see that anymore. Growing up in the era of 300+ carry, 1500 yard running backs, I still see that as normal, but it probably shouldn't be.
     
  15. bran

    bran Senior Member

    4,525
    1,505
    113
    Dec 20, 2007
    New Hampshire
    ii think it was a whole host of reasons why he quit, but its ancient history now. im just glad i got to watch him run on sundays, it was an absolute treat.
     
  16. GreysonWinfield

    GreysonWinfield Release The Hounds

    3,982
    1,434
    113
    Nov 1, 2009
    Reading some of these posts only re-enforces by belief that athletes are underpaid.
     
  17. Fin D

    Fin D Sigh

    72,252
    43,684
    113
    Nov 27, 2007
    That talent should have been in the AFCCG every damn year.

    He cost us glory and set the franchise back so far, we are still suffering for it.
     
    Rick 1966 and Coral Reefer like this.
  18. GARDENHEAD

    GARDENHEAD Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    11,681
    10,413
    113
    May 7, 2008
    New Orleans
    Ricky is a selfish prick. No surprise he had multiple illegitimate kids. Only cares about his whims.

    Great runningback. ****ty guy.
     
  19. Arodgers12

    Arodgers12 Well-Known Member

    992
    1,384
    113
    Oct 18, 2010
    Didn't he get into drugs pretty bad?
     
  20. FearTheBeard

    FearTheBeard New Member

    2
    0
    0
    Oct 31, 2014
    A lot more civil than the conversation over at finheaven (50 pages worth...part of the reason I'm here now). Loved Ricky, loved his personality and he was just such an amazing all around back. Only knock I could understand is that he did it so abruptly, but the man had his issues and management quit on him not knowing what in sweet **** they were doing.
     
  21. FearTheBeard

    FearTheBeard New Member

    2
    0
    0
    Oct 31, 2014
    He smoked weed, so no. But he probably didn't help the way he was wired a hell of a lot either.
     
  22. Coral Reefer

    Coral Reefer Premium Member

    10,281
    5,232
    113
    Nov 25, 2007
    Back in Miami
    Rick 1966 and gunn34 like this.
  23. Coral Reefer

    Coral Reefer Premium Member

    10,281
    5,232
    113
    Nov 25, 2007
    Back in Miami
    Amen!
     
  24. Coral Reefer

    Coral Reefer Premium Member

    10,281
    5,232
    113
    Nov 25, 2007
    Back in Miami
    Whooptie.

    He rode a very talented defense and a RB to wins until he destroyed both of those as well.
     
    Fin D likes this.
  25. BlameItOnTheHenne

    BlameItOnTheHenne Taking a poop

    15,112
    7,311
    113
    Aug 15, 2010
    Davie

    Hot take! How well do you know the guy?
     
  26. finserg

    finserg Well-Known Member

    1,690
    252
    83
    Dec 16, 2007
    Linden,NJ
    We were running him into the ground , I would have quit too
     
    SICK likes this.
  27. danmarino

    danmarino Tua is H1M! Club Member

    15,355
    20,976
    113
    Sep 4, 2014
    Ricky had/has mental problems. Not in a "I'll murder you" way, but more of an "I have no idea what I want to do tomorrow, or the day after that, or the day after that...etc".
     
  28. Fineas

    Fineas Club Member Luxury Box

    18,216
    23,517
    113
    Jan 5, 2008
    Smith never did much of anything before that either, so there's not much reason to think he was "ruined" by Wannstedt. As I said, Wannstedt was really the only HC that got any real production out of him. And as you note, he was already 31 his last year in Miami.

    Ricky also had his best years under Wannstedt. He was ou7t best offensive player and we used him as such. That's what you do. Should we have been throwing 45 times a game with Fielder and the WR corps we had? I certainly don't think so.

    That 375 carry thing is pretty arbitrary and not really true. It's OK to have 365 carries, but 375 is too much? Eric Dickerson had 4 375+ carry seasons and rushed for 1650+ in each one. Walter Payton rushed for 1551 yards at age 32 a season after having 381 carries. John Riggins rushed for 1239 and 14 TDs at age 35 a season after having 375 carries. Edgerrin James had 2 1500+ yard seasons after his 387 carry season. Emmitt Smith had 4 365+ carry seasons and had more than 1450 yards in each one. LaDanian Tomlinson had 5-6 great seasons after his 372 carry season. Notably, none of those guys, or any of the other 375+ carry guys (other than Ricky) retired because they got too many carries. Nor are the coaches who had those backs criticized for using their stud RBs too much.
     
  29. Fin4Ever

    Fin4Ever Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    9,297
    2,738
    113
    Aug 26, 2014
    Vero Beach, FL
    Fiedler....uggh..I could not stand him or Wanny as head coach. I still think Sage was the best option and they should have played him..we would have had a much better passing game.
     
  30. Jimmy James

    Jimmy James Ron Swanson

    16,293
    5,467
    0
    Dec 11, 2007
    Robert Smith of the Vikings also left with a lot in the tank. In fact, I think he had a ton left in his tank. He quit after his best season. I think he was one of the first to really appreciate the trauma he was causing to his body. I have a lot of respect for him for a lot of reasons.

    I genuinely like Ricky. He was a character and I think was true to himself in the face of enormous pressures in the NFL. That said, I've done things in my past I struggle to explain. I think that's what this is.

    To me, the list of reasonable Ricky grievances look like:

    1) Horrible ****ing offensive coordinator -- if the Dolphins had Chan Gailey calling the shots instead of horrid *** Norv Turner, there's little telling what they could have done
    2) Horrible offensive line -- again, if the team could have had the 2000-2001 line during 2002-2003, things would have turned out a lot better
    3) Horrible coaching generally -- ugh just ugh
    4) Horrible trade for Feeley -- ugh ugh ugh
    5) A limited but spirited Jay Fiedler...if he even had the athletic ability of Ryan Tannehill, he'd have won so much. Dude was an amazing QB with the very limited talent he had.
     
    Unlucky 13 likes this.
  31. Griese's Glasses

    Griese's Glasses Well-Known Member

    1,388
    438
    83
    Oct 16, 2013
    Ottawa, ON
    Could have been a HoFer...maybe the last HoF RB.....what a shame...
     
  32. GARDENHEAD

    GARDENHEAD Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    11,681
    10,413
    113
    May 7, 2008
    New Orleans
    Screw Ricky. We just won 37-0.
     

Share This Page