It looks as if the Nate Newton School of Grass and Turf Management has another distinguished NFL player plying his trade in the real world, to the detriment of himself, his fans and his team—no, I’m not talking about Chris “The Birdman” Anderson (he’s on another level entirely). I’m talking about Ricky “Rastaman” Williams.
You have to hand me some Visine and help me clear the red from my eyes, because I just cannot believe how many brain cells this guy has killed. Williams, facing a one-year suspension, has appealed his fourth failed drug test since he entered the league in 1999 out of the University of Texas.
Following three failed tests for marijuana, Williams suddenly retired in the middle of the 2004 off-season, without any warning to his team, the Miami Dolphins. After a one-year hiatus in which the Dolphins plummeted to their worst record in 40 years, Williams was welcomed back by his new coach, former Louisiana State head honcho Nick Saban, as a changed man (who was in desperate need of a paycheck). He played reasonably well, rushing for 743 yards after a four-game suspension for his past drug use.
This is the 1998 Heisman Trophy winner and NCAA all-time leading rusher upon graduation. Ex-New Orleans Saints Head Coach Mike Ditka traded away all of his draft picks to take Williams, the NFL’s 2002 rushing champion. But now Ricky, who is sometimes tested up to 10 times a month because of his failed past, has tested positive for something other than marijuana.
You must be joking. If I had messed up as badly as Williams, abandoning my team for an entire season, only to be accepted back when I should have been shunned, I would have done everything in my power to stay away from pot, pills, needles or any substance that isn’t secured in a Burger King wrapper.
But not Ricky. He must push the envelope. He keeps jokingly telling everyone he’s different, “weird” and just not made for life in the spotlight—all so he can have an excuse every time he doesn’t come up clean. Well at least he’s got the “weird” part right.
Ricky isn’t the only drug user in the NFL. He’s just the only one stupid enough to get caught—not once, but four times. Personally, I’m sick and tired of the Dolphins and his agent peddling him around like he can still be a valuable asset to a professional franchise, pumping up his trade value when there is none there.
Frankly, they are just blowing smoke. Williams is not what he used to be, nor will he ever be. For a professional athlete, his priorities are completely out of whack.
Williams’ agent, Leah Steinberg, is pleading that people don’t jump to conclusions, but that plea went out the window a long time ago. As I write, Williams is in India studying yoga and holistic medicine and “not smoking marijuana,” his mother told the Palm Beach Post.
Yeah, right. And I’m going to Jamaica for spring break to do some humanitarian work for a week.
