Reinstatement? Who Wants Ricky Williams?
October 3, 2007 by David Kindervater
Filed under NFL - NFL
Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
As Ricky Williams applies for reinstatement into the NFL, one can’t help but wonder who wants this guy on their team? Assuming he is, in fact, allowed back into the league, the team that currently owns his football rights, the Miami Dolphins, doesn’t need nor want him. They haven’t even had any contact with him. But they’d better start talking because there’s value there — trade value.
Ricky violated the NFL’s substance abuse policy four times. Under the league’s substance abuse program, when a player applies for reinstatement, doctors have up to 45 days to submit their report and recommendation to the commissioner. He, in turn, has up to 15 days to make a decision. That means the process could take up to 60 days from the day Ricky applied to be reinstated (which was this past Monday). Knowing this, it’s hard to say who might be interested in his services, but a few teams are worth mentioning:
- Despite their 4-0 start, the Green Bay Packers have the NFL’s worst rushing offense. But this team is happy and won’t be inviting any potential distractions. And Ricky Williams would be a distraction by simply being on the team.
- Ricky played college ball at Texas. And Jerry Jones is just crazy enough to add this personality to the mix.
- Speaking of crazy (Al Davis), the Oakland Raiders like to run the ball. They’re currently first in the NFL and they already have Lamont Jordan and Justin Fargas, but you can’t have too many running backs. If you look at the types of players the Raiders typically take a chance on, Oakland has to be considered.
- I know he’s already made the rounds here, but with Deuce McAllister out for the season, New Orleans might work.
- The Detroit Lions need something to compliment their high-octane aerial attack.
Ricky certainly needs the NFL more than the NFL needs him, but he’s got a right to make a living and if he can keep himself on the straight and narrow path, he might just help a team with their ground game. And playoff chances.
I live in Canada, and I saw him play a couple of times in the CFL last year. Based on that, I don’t think it matters where he ends up – he won’t make any impact anyway.
Ricky has more than just potential, and marijuana is not an athletic ehancer. If the general public, but more importantly the legislatures would classify drugs with some level of consistancy, marijuana is less harmful than alcohol, cigarettes and caffiene, marijuana would not be illegal.