What Now, Ricky?

I’ve held off on the Ricky Williams topic for a day or so. I just needed to sleep on it. It would be easy to add my tiny voice to the cacophonous chorus lamenting the latest Ricky racket.

I’m a big second chance guy. How many is this for Williams? His agent says Williams has been in “outstanding behavioral mode” for six months, and that no one should jump to any conclusions. Okay, let’s not leap. Many media sources are reporting that Williams failed an NFL-mandated drug test, and that he is facing a suspension from the league of one year.

Reporting indicates the substance in question was not marijuana, an affection for which Williams has publicly proclaimed. If we are to read between the lines, this mystery substance which set alarms clanging has something to do with Ricky’s spiritual journey toward serenity, contentment, whatever.

Whatever, indeed. Let’s distill this: whatever Williams is not (model citizen comes to mind), there’s one thing he is: weird, an enigmatic cat, to be sure. He is a great athlete. That’s undeniable. The 1998 Heisman Trophy winner from the University of Texas and 2002 NFL rushing champion, he is spending time in India studying yoga and holistic medicine. He’s searching for something,no doubt. He couldn’t find contentment in New Orleans when he played for the Saints. He apparently was unhappy in Miami playing for the Dolphins, and sat out the 2004 season. Once he decided to return to pro football (owing the team more than eight and a half million dollars for breaching his contract), he had to miss four games because a violation of the NFL’s drug program, his third infraction.

This does not take into account the drugs he’s taking legally. When he was in New Orleans, William was diagnosed with some kind of social anxiety disorder and was quite publicly being treated with the prescription drug Paxil. At the time, sick of his shenanigans, I began referring to him on the radio as “Paxil boy.” I hesitate to even bring it up, because it was so harsh. I regret it, and he didn’t deserve to be mocked.

Well, here we are again, and I’m sick of his shenanigans.
Guilt and a certain amount of empathy, however, are compelling me to give him the benefit of the doubt this time. Dolphins coach Nick Saban, a man I’ve enjoyed working around for a number of years, praised Williams openly last year, calling him a leader. Williams got to a point to where he could laugh at himself and even use the word “weird” about his behavior. It appears that Williams, who gained 743 yards despite missing four games and sharing playing time with a rookie hotshot, has really been working at rehabilitating himself and his image.

He is appealing the positive drug test, and I’m prepared to let this play out. It will take a couple of months for the process to reach a conclusion. I’m guessing things will go Williams’ way this time, because as so many much louder voices have said over the last couple of days: Williams just can’t be that stupid.

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