http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-flspdolnote26sbaug26,0,3994634.story Ricky Williams, teacher's pet http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_football_dolphins/2008/08/ricky-williams.html Good read
I think that last answer is what bothers me the most. Ricky doesn't feel the love of football but understands that the money will come if he utilizes his talents. It was written on his face the first time he answered that question. That is the reason I'm still pulling for Ronnie to become the player he has all the ability to become and supercede expectations. You watch, by midseason Ronnie will be leading the offense in yards and points! That being said, I'm not against Ricky and I love watching him play I just still don't like where his head is at.
I'll be happier when he's gone to be honest. I just think he's had too many chances with the Dolphins. Plus I'm waiting for the next screw-up.
I will put my personal opinion and feelings aside for the betterment of the Dolphins. Ricky is a good insurance policy for whatever his motivations are. Until RB fully recovers Ricky Williams is the best running back we have but that is JMO. Whether you like Ricky Williams or not, he is still one of the most dangerous and explosive running backs in the NFL when he is on his game. Evidently Parcells likes him or you know he would be gone already.
Darloak and Hulkfish are exactly right and I have been on the get rid of Ricky bandwagon since he "retired." The guy has gotten more chances than anyone else in the history of this franchise, yet we keep going back to him. It is like the franchise is a battered wife. That answer scares me too. Ricky is not having fun. He hasn't had fun playing football in who knows how long. Ricky is strictly doing this to avoid paying Huizenga the eight million he owes him. Meanwhile this team continues to put its faith in a guy who has burned them time and time again and is one slipup away from a lifetime ban essentially. Curious stuff if you ask me.
I know its hard to let go of the past and people are still very skeptical of Ricky. Understandable. I, on the other hand, have faith that he will be very productive for us and I welcome him back. This FO are not putting all thier eggs in his basket, but they do realize that Ricky is a special talent and can produce big numbers on the field and that is why he was one of the first ones contacted by BP. I also feel that if BP did not get the right answers and the right vibe from Ricky he would not have been kept. They blew up this roster and yet he still remains. The FO wouldn't have kept Ricky very long if they did not think he was 100% commmitted to football and the Miami Dolphins. I really think Ricky has turned the corner and is playing for alot of reasons. Say money, say to repair his image, say whatever, the fact is he is here, giving 110% and I will support him and root for him each and everytime he touches the football.
Mullingan I completely agree... I don't think he deserves the boot though and MonstBlitz has the right idea. IF Ronnie is ready to go on Sept. 7 he should get the benefit of being the starter still. Ricky NEEDED the preseason with all the off-time he's had and should only be considered a VERY good backup, even if Ronnie can't go. He's fun to watch, to bad he doesn't have that passion for the game...
When Ricky left I was on the ban him for life side. After so many losing seasons, I just want to win. Ricky gives us the best chance for that right now. How many of you really love your jobs you are currently in? I can't say I loved my last 10 years in the military like I did my first 14, but I stayed and did what I had to do because I knew what was at the end. I think Ricky has matured enough to realize he has the talent to play this game at a high standard. If he excells this year, he gets his biggest contract ever. If he does this for a couple more years, he will never have to work again and his name gets a little better reception out here in the real world. Weather he loves his job or not.
The last few years Barry Sanders didn't have a passion for the game, but look how explosive he was right to the end. After so many losing seasons, I just want to win regardless if the players have a high passion for the game (although, I prefer they do).
good post gunn34, I like your take... And you are right. As long as he stays serious about his goal he'll be ok.
Meh, I could care less what or why they do something. Ricky was one of the best in the league, and right now may be way ahead of Ronnie. He's ahead of him for sure.
Ricky has the type of personality that is very unself righteous, he needs to play and be inspired by someone else to achieve his best. For example, Jake long running to him after every play and helping him up, a little thing to you and I, but a huge and inspiring thing to someone like ricky williams, just because of something like that he feels so respected that he will go out and run someone over JUST for that person and gesture. Parcells is a genoius getting inside the heads of eclectic intelligent players like this who dont quite understand how great they are or what kind of impact they can have
A lot of us have been able to look past Ricky's troubles for the potential he brings to the team. Thats not to say we condone what he has done or agree with it. For one season Ricky Williams was the greatest running back to ever play for the Dolphins, if he can bring some of that back to the team it will go a long ways in helping to turn this team around and make the rest of the league take notice and respect the Dolphins. If the coaches and his fellow players can look past his mistakes and accept him back, why can't we?
Gumbel weighs in on Ricky http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/..._ricky.html?cxntfid=blogs_inside_the_dolphins “
i don't know why everyone makes a big deal about questioning his "heart". he has made it clear he's going to do what he's good at, and often $$ is a bigger driver than "heart". as long as we don't put all our eggs in the Ricky basket like we did in 2004, we'll be just fine.
Makes no difference where his heads at, as long as his performance lives up to his and the coaches professional expectations. As much as I like Ronnie, he will never equal Rickies talent. Ricky has one more element to offer than Ronnie.
OK, Themole, you didn't say what your opinion of the element is... I like Ricky but Ronnie is a MUCH Better receiver and can carry the ball just as well from what we saw last year. The only thing Ronnie is lacking is the toughness which I'm hoping he develops.
Talent is difficult to gauge: - Ronnie is faster accelerating to top speed. - At their peak both have the same top speed. - Ronnie is the better receiver bar none. - Ronnie fumbles less. - Ricky has always had the better instincts. - Ronnie overall has more power when Ricky is not at his heavy weight pre-2002 form. - Ricky is ever so slightly more agile. - Ronnie is the better pass blocker. - Ricky is the better red zone back. They're fairly similar backs in some ways but as far as talent I would actually say Ronnie is more talented. Ricky is just the more natural and instinctual runner.
We fans see the team, the franchise, as a single entity from 1966 down to now. It doesn't matter if it's George Wilson's Dolphins, or Don Shula's Dolphins, or Jimmy Johnson's Dolphins, or Wannstedt's Dolphins, or Cam Cameron's Dolphins. For us it's just the Dolphins. But it isn't that way for Parcells & Sparano. They just got here. Ricky Williams cost the Dolphins 3 first round picks (two in 2002 plus the pick they had to spend on Ronnie Brown, which they probably wouldn't have used if they could have counted on RW). But he hasn't cost Parcells and Sparano anything. For them RW is just a really talented back making very little money. From their point of view, it's crazy not to try to keep him and get every yard they can out of him.
Sorry I didn't get back any sooner. I had to attend an election party. My man lost! 12 years as Superintendent of Putnam County Florida Schools with a Masters Degree in education, and a very good man, lost to a man with an AA degree. 70% of the people in this county didn't bother to vote today. Anyway, I'm not up to discussing the differences between two VERY good running backs at the moment. I'm a little ashamed of the voters of Putnam County right now. I, will say that I believe that we are very fortunate to have two running backs of the caliber of Ricky and Ronnie. Sorry for getting off topic, but I needed to vent.