A second record setting Miami Dolphins player has decided to hang up his cleats this season, with running back Ricky Williams, who spent the final one of his 11 year career with the Baltrimore Ravens, telling the team yesterday he would retire. Williams spent seven seasons with the Miami Dolphins, following a 2002 trade with the New Orleans Saints to bring in the former Heisman Trophy winner.
As Williams head off into the sunset, he leaves the game as the 26th player to break the 10,000 yards rushing mark, despite having missed nearly three entire seasons during the past thirteen years. Williams originally retired just two days before the Dolphins' 2004 training camp, choosing to leave the game than face a drug suspension.
He returned for the majority of the 2005 season, before being suspended for all of the 2006 season, again due to drugs.
After sitting out the beginning of the season, awaiting reinstatement from the league, Williams returned for six rushing attempts in November 2007, before Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons stepped on Williams, tearing Ricky's pectoral muscle and landing him on injured reserve.
Williams would return for the 2008-2010 seasons with the Dolphins, splitting carries with Ronnie Brown throughout most of the time. However, in 2009, with Brown out for the season, Williams would eclipse the 1,000 yard mark - setting the NFL record for longest span of time between 1,000 yards seasons at six years.
This past season, as a backup to the Ravens' Ray Rice, Williams averaged 4.1 yards per carry, over 444 yards with 2 touchdowns.
Williams is the Dolphins' second all time rusher, trailing just Larry Csonka. He holds the teams single season rushing yardage (2002 - 1,853 yards) record, and has the second highest season total as well (2003 - 1,372 yards), as well as the single season carries record and second highest totals (2003 - 392 carries, 2002 - 383 carries). His 2002 stats led the NFL, in both yardage and carries.
Williams also has the franchise record for most rushing yards in a game, with 228 yards in a December 1, 2002 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Which brings us to the question. Does Ricky Williams belong in the Dolphins' Ring of Honor? Vote below to let us know how you feel.
1 recs | 73 comments
I know he has worked his way back into alot of fans' favor recently....
But I simply can’t forget the damage he did to this team 6 and seven years ago. I have forgiven, but I cant forget it, and I think he still needs to be a little accountable for his complete disregard for this franchise during that time. So if that means no ring of honor, then thats what it should mean. I can’t help but think this team was ready to be a serious contender before he walked out on us back then, after we had given up quite a bit to acquire him. Sorry, I just cant move completely past it….
Brantner78 - February 8, 2012
He had to get his dope on!
Learning the hippy way of life! Yes, he made mistakes, but who hasnt… he who has no sin, cast the first stone. No one has asked you to forget anything, but part of forgiving someone is looking at what they DID do for the team, rather than what they didnt do during a questionable time in his life. Most people have a mid life crisis at some point in their lives. Rickey’s just happens to be publicised due to his being in the spotlight. He was THAT good
jdelsandro - February 8, 2012
Thats all fine. Im not killing the guy...
I don’t want him strung up to a tree, but I do think the ring of honor is not the place for him. And when he was running for us in the last few years, I rooted for him. But I just think after the nonsense taht went on, he doesnt belong up there next to the great names of players that would have never walked away from the team. But its not like I hate the guy…
Brantner78 - February 8, 2012
Like Larry Csonka and Paul Warfield....
Who would NEVER walk away from the team.
Well, unless the WFL offered them more money….
Kevin Nogle - February 8, 2012
Heh heh heh
Alpha6 - February 8, 2012
Yeah, thats perfectly fair....
Brantner78 - February 8, 2012
Her'smy question though....
And I really dont know the answer, becasue it was before my time. Did they leave at the end of a contract? Or did they just Bail mid-contract like Ricky did? And did they announce it two days before training camp? TO mne, those are big difference makers in the situation….
Brantner78 - February 8, 2012
nice
Tunaflipper - February 8, 2012
His actions probaby ruined his chances...
to join the NFL Hall of fame.. and your points are valid regarding the ring of honor… Could you imagine what would have happened if he chose to not ditch the team to learn how to smoke it up and live in peace? He probably would have broken records as a perennial pro-bowler,, In the end he hurt himself and the team but he did make it right by coming back and running for a thousand yards twice. I think his actions could definitely be counted as selfish and detestable, but in the end, i think he DID try to make things right and ran hard, risking injury, for a team grew to love. Just my opinion… Larry Csonka was a beast and will always be the best running back in Dolphins history. but Ricky at his best COULD HAVE been better.
jdelsandro - February 8, 2012
^^ This and rec'd
Yea, please. We went through this before. Ricky Williams on the field nor off the field did anything to warrant getting into the RoH. Being a very solid running back for a couple of years with a great rushing title year doesn’t get you in, sorry.
Ricky only had 3, YES 3 1,000 yards rushing years for the Dolphins. He stood up in front of his teammates and talked about being a leader then abandoned them to smoke dope. O yea, the suspension? Then was a solid back up to Ronnie Brown? All this gets you into the Fins RoH? No way, never. (IMO)
Neo - February 8, 2012
Sorry didn't mean to flag, meant to rec'd...my bad
Neo - February 8, 2012
lol... dork
Alpha6 - February 8, 2012
ikr
Neo - February 8, 2012
I loved the guy and long since forgot about the past but NO!
texascowpunk - February 8, 2012
It's not the Hall of Fame... this is just a local and smaller accolade...
so I think it would be ok to do so.
Shit, they got cocaine sniffers up there, so why not him?
The diss on the team was an atrocious act. Most because of why he had left.
Had he just retired and returned or something like that, I believe people would be less offended.
Alpha6 - February 8, 2012
But the coke sniffers didnt abandon the team to do it....
Im not saying he doesnt belong up there because of substance abuse (Although I personally think pot is pretty harmeless), I dont like that he walked away, which no one else on that ring would have ever done…
Brantner78 - February 8, 2012
yeah
Except for the fact that czonka and warfield both did it
AnishB15 - February 8, 2012 via mobile
lol
Phinphinatic - February 8, 2012
Its not all about the smoking of dope?
What did he do in a Fins uniform? Three 1,000 yards rushing years, 1 rushing title. Abandoned the team right before preseason, got suspended, then came back and was a back up? One rushing title gets you into the RoH? Since when?
Neo - February 8, 2012
yes, but he changed, and he changed in interesting and significant and intelligent ways. he's a prodigal who overcame a lot of nonsense in his life. he would like to have stayed here his last season, and
he was an inspiring athlete.
fortunatey, we don’t have to decide about ricky and the ring of honor this minute or this spring.
a1a - February 8, 2012
yes, but he changed, and he changed in interesting and significant and intelligent ways. he's a prodigal who overcame a lot of nonsense in his life. he would like to have stayed here his last season, and
Well good for him.
He still didn’t do enough to get in the Fins RoH IMO. The Fins RoH is to honor players for what they did for the Miami Dolphins, not themselves.
Neo - February 8, 2012
ricky like any player can be evaluated both as an individuals and a member of the team. as others here have said, even sparano and
certainly many other dolphins players both in ricky’s heyday and in his mellower, and i would argue very compelling and intelligent reformed period of the past few years, have found him an inspiring player. another comment asks us to name another dolphin player in the nfl rushing top 25.
i’m not entirely sure what your phrase ‘well good for him’ actually means other than an unaccountable put down of ricky for your opinion that his life and struggles mean nothing except as a form of craven selfishness. i don’t see it that way for such a talented and unusual pro athlete. what he did was for himself and i think in the end helped the team.
i’m not yet convinced that ricky belongs in the ring of honor (hence my view that we don’t have to decide this now) but i’m not so convinced he’s not.
a1a - February 10, 2012
We were on the cusp of being an every year playoff team...
Our offense was structured around him and we didn’t need an awesome quarterback. We had an awesome defense that still had Jason Taylor AND Zach Thomas. We were ready to be a dominant team and his retreat created one of the most disappointing periods in Dolphins history. I liked the effort and productivity he gave us when he came back and was one of my favorite players when he was here. However, he royally screwed the franchise and shouldnt be honored in that way.
SonsOfDisaster - February 8, 2012 via mobile
One player can royally screw only an inept franchise.
Tunaflipper - February 8, 2012
Ricky is a unique guy
I feel like he was being used and abused by Wanny and I applauded him walking away when I thought he was pulling a Barry Sanders. It was disappointing when it turned out to be much more complicated, but i forgive him and all that.
He’s a different guy — and i really like his personality and being ‘real.’ watching the espn 360 documentary on him a while ago made me want to just give him a hug, because man – he seems like he’s really trying and hurting. He was the franchise after Marino and I will root for him to get into the ring because i see it as a redemption story of a guy with the franchise on his shoulders that did his best.
DCDolphan - February 8, 2012
Fact
Throughout my life I’ve owned two football jerseys. Keep in mind I’m 22 and from Indiana. Jersey #1 was a Jim Harbaugh jersey when he played for the Colts. Jersey #2, Ricky Williams. I will forever keep and wear my Ricky jersey. Ronnie Brown filled that whole Ricky left, but now with Ronnie gone as well, there will never be a player I love as much as I did Ricky Williams. Ricky will forever be my favorite player. Reggie Bush is QUICKLY becoming my favorite Dolphin, but I don’t think anyone can replace Ricky.
Ricky just had that thing about him that you loved and it didn’t have to do with footbal. I can’t begin to explain it. He was just a special player. And while JT and Zach Thomas rank as my favorite defensive players, they’ll never compare to Ricky.
With that in mind, I hope Bush changes my mind and Wake changes my mind defensively.
Jared Maier - February 8, 2012
No Way ...
… admired his game ( uh, when he was on the field) ,
but after all he put the team through , he went out like a punk – with no class.
Really liked him till his exit speach …
Toof Chippah - February 8, 2012
fail
Tunaflipper - February 8, 2012
enabler
Toof Chippah - February 8, 2012
chuckle...
Good one.
Tunaflipper - February 9, 2012
count me as a yes.
no matter what anyone thinks of the man personally, he was nothing but productive ont he field. He played with passion and determination the last couple of seasons for us and stepped up when we needed him a couple years back. For all of those who are still hurt because Ricky “abandoned us”, the man did what the man had to do. God forbid someone put you in that position and fans try and tell you that their favorite sports team is more important than your family and your own mental health.
Ricky Williams is a person before he is a football player. He played great football and could have been one of the best to ever play the position. The man unfortunetly is also mentally ill and has some limitations.
Phinphinatic - February 8, 2012
I’m all for “did what the man had to do”. Sure – do what ya gotta do.
But have some dignity and go out with style and class while doin’ it.
He keeps his mouth shut on the way out, we’re not havin’ this conversation …
Toof Chippah - February 8, 2012
he is a mentally ill individual
what did he say that bothers you.
Phinphinatic - February 8, 2012
This diss on Sparano?
Alpha6 - February 8, 2012
if it was a diss on sparano
then 90% of this site would never be allowed near the ring of honor.
Phinphinatic - February 8, 2012
... even if we went to India to find ourselves.
Hell, some of us don’t even get close to the toilet ring.. lol
Alpha6 - February 8, 2012
lol
Phinphinatic - February 8, 2012
No way
He’s earned respect back but he doesn’t deserve that title for his wrong doings.
54 - February 8, 2012
NO WAY
I don’t hate him or anything, but ring of honor is for people like ZT JT MARINO etc. Anyone who quits on the team and does nothing special in his return is not ring of honor worthy.
AFCrunsthruMIA - February 8, 2012
I VOTED NO,...
I think he has made his amends, but he did F up big time,…..and it hurt the team. However asking this question the day of his retirement, IMO, should be a landslide for voting against him on the ROH.
If we revisit this subject in 5-10 years,……maybe I’ll soften my stance.
Ohiofinfan4life - February 8, 2012
In the ring of honor, maybe
In the smoke rings of honor, definitely
Phinsphana - February 8, 2012
The ring of honor is for players that both brought something to the team on and off the field
Imo, if we base it off of those facts, he does not deserve a spot.
He may have ran harder than any Dolphin that didnt play in the seventies, but he also ran FROM the team harder than any player to don a Dolphins Uniform.
Did Marino throw his coaches under the bus every time they didnt win the super bowl? Did Csonka ever leave the team holding their jockeys to go find himself? We say he was mentally ill, but is even our own Brandon Marshall using that as an escape clause or excuse? I see Marshall holding himself accountable as well as those around him. Not putting coaches and players in the spotlight to disquise his own faults.
Sure he did a lot of good for us, but he also hurt the team as well. Not just the fans, but coaches that took a chance on him, players that supported him, and the biggest part is that he hurt himself and his chances by playing hard, but being selfish in the process.
IMO, while he will always be remembered and hold a spot in our hearts, that is all he’s earned and should not be honored the way Marino, Csonka, Mandich and other greats who played well, but did it unselfishly are.
dolphinfan4lyfe - February 8, 2012 via mobile
This is exactly what I was trying to say up top....
You just said in a much more effective way. Nice job. I should have just left the debate up to you….
Brantner78 - February 8, 2012
Thank you :)
dolphinfan4lyfe - February 8, 2012 via mobile
PS, if he deserves a spot, so do the Marks bros. as well as CC.....
dolphinfan4lyfe - February 8, 2012 via mobile
mark clayton and mark duper appear to be in the ring, at least the one on the fins web site. is this correct?
a1a - February 8, 2012
Yes.
They went in together in 2003.
Kevin Nogle - February 8, 2012
i honestly dont remember, i havent seen the ring in about 15 years though :/
dolphinfan4lyfe - February 8, 2012 via mobile
brandon marshall has a personality disorder
ricky williams has an organic chemical inbalance in his cabesa.
Phinphinatic - February 8, 2012
Ricky also has one. He just tried to "self medicate".
texascowpunk - February 8, 2012
... and went the herbal medicine way.
No Cymbalta for him!
Alpha6 - February 8, 2012
at least it wasnt viagra on the football field.
that would have been an awkward handoff or tackle.
Phinphinatic - February 8, 2012
New meaning to pounding it up the middle....
Alpha6 - February 8, 2012
dude...lmao
Phinphinatic - February 9, 2012
It could be the first time an offensive player can be called for Roughing the Passer.
Finhead83 - February 9, 2012
Would help
when you need to pick up those last 6-8 inches.
Blue or CONKZILLA - February 8, 2012
Think he has earned the right to be inducted
2 seasons of almost 800 carries is enough to make anybody turn to pot. Not to say he was right in the choice he made, but no one here can question his drive whenever he took the field. Holding any team record and 2nd in team history in rushing yard should at least get you into the ring of honor. Coming back and facing the music should at least put him in our honorary circle. Al Pacino’s climatic speech in “Scent of a Woman” fits this scenario to a T.
fin4three5yrs - February 8, 2012
Say allo to my lil friend?
Alpha6 - February 8, 2012
Absolutely, yes.
To say he “walked away” only espouses the view of the unaccountable fan. He “hurt” no one on this blog.
The idea that once you’re in the NFL you sign your soul to them is an idea past. Ricky needed to assess himself after the “Wannstedt trials” and he had every right to step back. He did nothing to the franchise that it had already done to itself.
Across the years his yardage contribution, demeanor, and ethic are equal to a spot o the ring.
I’d like to query the current ring inductees for their opinion…
Tunaflipper - February 8, 2012
Across the years his yardage contribution, demeanor, and ethic are equal to a spot o the ring.
BS.
Nine years he was a Miami Dolphins, lets see…
First 2 years 1000 each year and a rushing title, great start!
Year 3 – DNP…Quit on team retired (possibly cause he was getting suspended for failed drug test?) Right before preseason no less.
Year 4 – 743 yds 6 TDs
Year 5-6 – A total of 1 (ONE) game played. A total of 1 (ONE) carry for six yards
Years 7-9 – BACK UP to Ronnie Brown, does have a a 1,000 yard season.
So in your opinion his yardage contribution = equal to a spot. Not mine.
His demeanor equals a spot? You got to be kidding me? In his latter years (like the last 3). But for about half his time here his demeanor had been highly questionable.
Ethic? I’m not even gonna to respond to this one.
Look, if one likes a player, fine. If one is happy for Ricky for the way he turned his life around (like I am), great. His latter years does NOT excuse, nor make up for a lack of contribution over a period of a career, sorry.
Of course this IMO.
Neo - February 8, 2012
Of course this IMO
… mine too , tru be dat.
Toof Chippah - February 8, 2012
Are you succumbing to the stat line?
Fair enough.
Consider this:
First two years he was pile driven into the sod. Good for him.
Year three he didn’t realized pot was a performance enhancing drug. Damn those twinkies and star crunch cakes!
Year four was playing under Nick Saban. Need I say more?
Years five & six were CFL years.
Btw, name every Dolphin with more rushing yards. Name the 25 (total) in the NFL.
In the seven through nine years he was a back up. How many back ups generate a 1000 yard season in fewer than six games.
His demeanor was press fodder for years. He wasn’t the “NFL prototype” media celeb (see pot smoking demon) and we unaccountable fans demanded his head.
His work ethic? I know Sparano is now regarded as a demon, but how about this quote?
“The guy takes tremendous care of himself,” Sparano said on Tuesday. “This guy has worked like crazy for the year and a half that we’ve been here. Watching him work the way he works, you wouldn’t think he’s 30-plus years old.”
State one negative comment about Ricky from any player on the Dolphin or Raven roster.
Redemption, my friend, is wholly measurable against the stats, the media, the NFL, and we, the fans.
(time for sleep)
Tunaflipper - February 9, 2012
Sorry, the Btw comment regarding rushing yards, references the 10,000+ club.
Tunaflipper - February 9, 2012
How many rushing titles
did #39 win?
Blue or CONKZILLA - February 8, 2012
Yes
I’d put Ricky in the Ring…but he’s not going to the Hall….had he not missed those 3 seasons, then it would probably be much different. I blame Pornstaches misuse of him for some of Ricky’s problems, but not all…800 touches in 2 years is alot.
Blue or CONKZILLA - February 8, 2012
I am in agreement with most here...
He did as much damage by walking away back then as he did playing hard for this team. To put him in the ring of honor with an asterisk maybe? Yeah…..
Dolphinator - February 9, 2012 via mobile
Yeah, the fan's perspective.
So does one player dictate the team?
(see peyton manning)
Tunaflipper - February 9, 2012
Williams is borderline Ring of Honor material
I may lean slightly towards no because he had only a few very good years for us. Even when he ran for 1,372 yards, he only averaged 3.5 YPC. I consider Ricky to have about as many very good years in Miami as did Trace Armstrong and Brock Marion, but neither of them are worthy of Miami’s Ring of Honor.
I’d also say that Zach Thomas, Sam Madison, and Patrick Surtain are more deserving of the honor as well. Of course, so is Jason Taylor but there is little doubt he will be there.
Finhead83 - February 9, 2012
Put him in
And Zach. And JT. We need somebody in the ring that played beyond 1990..
Little Nicky 21 - February 9, 2012 via Android app
I say no
Based on the fact that he had two great years when he got here does not warrant getting into the Ring of Honor. I’d say in total, Ricky had three great/good years for the Dolphins. 2003, 2004, phenominal, 2009, impressive for his age. Other than those three years, he has a good back-up stat line.
Also, to leave the game in your prime because you’re worn out, that’s fine. To retire from the league to avoid a suspension (which no matter how you look at it, that’s what he did). Remember, he really only came back to play for the Dolphins because there was a ruling that he had to return his signing bonus which was already gone. If that ruling never gets handed down, he doesn’t return to the NFL, let alone the Dolphins. In which case we never get the solid years of his platoon work with Ronnie Brown.
In my opinion, him returning to the team and playing hard once he got here is admirable, but it is not Ring material. A lot of players have a couple of good years, but it doesn’t warrant their recognition as outstanding.
And just for good measure, he fumbled too much.
Cokes_03 - February 9, 2012
NO
dolfanjack - February 9, 2012
Seriously
This is being asked? He’s a nice guy with issues and a great RB in his day but the damage he did does not warrant anything more than a slam of the door on his way out.
Mike777 - February 11, 2012
He'd only make the ROH for the promise he showed rather than the production he had
He quit, man. Yeah, he eventually came back…but he quit. Sure, some of his reasons were sound…but he quit. All these players today and yesteryear could make an excuse and walk away. There’s lots of reasons. Health. More money elsewhere. But Ricky QUIT on the eve of training camp, and he left the team in the lurch doing so. He was selfish. That ROH is about the guys who put it all out there on the field for the TEAM.
Honestly…If I want someone to show me how to roll a joint, i’ll call Ricky. If I want to know how to pitch a tent and live for 6 bucks a day, i’ll call Ricky. If I want to heal a bunyon using only Karma and the moth larvae of the Serengeti, I call Ricky…
…but if I want to put a name on the ROH I call Zach Effing Thomas.
I wish Ricky all the best going forward. Thanks for the great games. But ROH? No. The example has been set and Ricky doesn’t emulate that example one iota. Nor would putting him in the ROH set a good precedent for younger players in the future.
mikem1224 - February 17, 2012
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