Dolphins unsure if they'll bring Ricky back
Ricky Williams' suspension ended after more than 18 months Wednesday when he was reinstated by the NFL. Still unclear is whether the Miami Dolphins want him back.
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Miami head coach Cam Cameron met with the Dolphins on Wednesday, informing the team that Williams had been reinstated, sources told FOXSports.com's Jay Glazer. But Cameron told the team he has not made a decision on whether Williams would be allowed back, and that he would not make the call until speaking to Williams personally, a source said. Cameron will meet with Williams on Thursday morning, FOXSports.com's Alex Marvez reports. Miami players have told Glazer that they support Williams coming back to the team.
Linebacker Joey Porter, for one, said he would love to have Williams as a teammate "just because we're 0-9."
"I don't care who you got ... if you could run the ball like Ricky did," Porter said. "I mean, right now I'd do anything for a victory."
Williams will travel to South Florida Wednesday night, agent Leigh Steinberg told Marvez. Williams could return to practice as early as Friday if the Dolphins want him in their future plans.
"The minute he was reinstated, he and I had a phone conversation (for) probably five or six minutes," Cameron said Wednesday afternoon. "He and I will visit tomorrow. There's nothing to visit (with the media) on today further until he and I sit down and talk one on one. I will update you on that discussion and the direction we will be headed with him."
Cameron, still seeking his first win as an NFL head coach, refused to shed light on his talk with Williams but said, "I think it's important to sit down with a guy and look him in the eye. I think phone conversations can be very misleading. Why go down that road when you don't need to?"
Steinberg said the Dolphins were noncommittal with him previously, but following the reinstatement announcement, he was encouraged by a phone conversation with Matt Thomas, the team's general counsel-football administration.
"His indication was they were interested in Ricky," Steinberg said. "The spirit of the discussion was welcoming. It was a very similar discussion to what you would have regarding a draft choice or any returning player. The only contingent was whether they would have him practice Friday or Monday."
Steinberg said Williams weighs 230 pounds, which is roughly 10 heavier than when he last played for the Dolphins in 2005, and "has been keeping in terrific shape." Steinberg said Williams spent the past five-and-a-half months in Boston receiving psychological help after a failed drug test for marijuana in April.
"Ricky has shown real dedication in facing his underlying issues and coming to terms with them," Steinberg said. "He's heavily motivated, and he's sitting on pins and needles. He can't wait to play again.
"He wants this. He's had to go through a lot to get back. It isn't like something that's been given to him. He's had to fight for it. He's realized how precious pro football is to him."
The 2002 league rushing champion, who has played in only 12 games since the start of the 2004 season, was in the Canadian Football League last season and applied for reinstatement Oct. 1.
He was suspended last year after violating the league's drug policy for the fourth time and tested positive again for marijuana in April, delaying his return through the first half of this season.
Williams remains under contract with the Dolphins. The trading deadline has passed, leaving the Dolphins with limited options. They could cut Williams, or keep him but not play him and hope to work out a trade in the off-season. Another alternative: Work him into an offense that has scored one touchdown in each of the past two games.
The league said Williams is eligible to attend team meetings and practice immediately, but will not be able to play in a game until Miami plays at Pittsburgh on Monday night, Nov. 26. The team will have a roster exemption for up to two weeks if and when he starts practicing.
"Ricky worked extremely hard to meet the requirements for reinstatement," said his attorney, David Cornwell. "He is grateful for commissioner Goodell's decision. Ricky is committed to making the most of the opportunity to rejoin the NFL."
While Porter was outspoken in supporting the return of Williams, other players declined to discuss the issue — sort of.
"Cam asked all of us not to comment on it, so I'm going to abide by that," kicker Jay Feely said. "The guy's my teammate ... and I'll embrace him."
Williams rushed for 3,225 yards in the 2002 and 2003 seasons after being traded to the Dolphins from New Orleans. He then retired in 2004, traveling in India and Australia before returning to the Dolphins in 2005, when he ran for 743 yards alternating with rookie Ronnie Brown.
Brown is on injured reserve, leaving the Dolphins short on running backs. But they may decide to keep Williams inactive
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