Wannstedt glad he's free of headache
Monday, July 25, 2005
By Ron Cook, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
OK, so Ricky Williams actually reported to the Miami Dolphins' training camp yesterday. At 8:45 a.m., no less. And, presumably, clear-headed.
Let's go way out on the limb here and assume Williams didn't change his mind last night and go AWOL. What? You would be surprised if that happened?
Let's also assume that new Dolphins coach Nick Saban will embrace Williams with both arms at the first team meeting this morning, not so much to welcome him back to football, but to protect him from Dolphins veterans Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas, who, among others, presumably, would like to beat the snot out of him.
What happens now?
Are you thinking what I'm thinking?
Let's call Dave Wannstedt!
The new Pitt coach comes to the phone quickly, his voice clear and strong, the enthusiasm in it palpable. Wannstedt is still riding the high of his first eight months on the job, time in which he has worked tirelessly to get commitments from several top recruits, mend the fences with local high school coaches, rebuild the relationship between the football program and the university's students, faculty and alumni and generally enthuse Pittsburgh to the point we're going to be in for a real downer if the Panthers don't whip Notre Dame in that opening-night game Sept. 3 at Heinz Field.
Then, Williams' name is mentioned.
A couple of things are clear immediately.
One, Wannstedt is glad he no longer has to deal with the Williams headache. And two, Wannstedt's worst nightmare has nothing to do with the possibility of Pitt coming up short against Notre Dame.
His worst nightmare is Tyler Palko calling next week and telling him he's quitting football to become a priest.
"It was a week before camp when Ricky called. He told me his heart wasn't in football anymore," Wannstedt said, recalling the start of a sequence of events a year ago that led to the Dolphins' implosion last season, his dismissal as their coach at midseason and, ultimately, his hiring by Pitt.
Wannstedt had heard the rumors about Williams failing drug tests but said he couldn't get confirmation because of the NFL's confidentiality policy. He would have had a hard time believing it, anyway. "Ricky and I had a great rapport." Williams had worked hard in the Dolphins' offseason conditioning program.
Then, just like that, Williams told Wannstedt he was quitting football.
"I didn't feel as much anger as I did disappointment," Wannstedt said. "Ricky was our focal point. He was the heart and soul of our team. That's the way I set it up. That's the way he liked it."
It's clear now why Williams ran from football. He was a three-time loser in the NFL's drug-testing plan for marijuana and was facing a one-year suspension.
It's also clear why Williams wants to play this season. He has to play to have any chance of saving all or part of the $8.6 million in bonuses he is legally obligated to repay to the Dolphins.
What isn't so clear is why the NFL is giving Williams, in essence, credit for time served. He should still be looking at that one-year suspension -- he retired voluntarily, didn't he -- but instead will sit out just four games to start the regular season.
What also isn't clear is why Saban and Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga have agreed to take Williams back. The only possible reason is to give Williams a chance to show he still has game so the Dolphins can trade him and get something back from their investment. Right now, no other team would touch him.
You don't have to smoke that wacky tobacco to conjure a scenario in which Williams ruins the Dolphins' season for a second year in a row.
No one with the team knows what kind of shape he's in. He didn't work out at team headquarters. No one is going to know if he's clean until he is tested again. Certainly, no one can guarantee he'll stay clean all season.
It's going to be fun to watch Williams try to ingratiate himself with his old teammates, many of whom still despise him for bailing out on them last season. "They're smart guys. They'll say all the right things publicly," Wannstedt said. "Everyone wants a guy who can help them win, but ... "
It's also going to be interesting to see what happens when the Dolphins start talking money with Williams. How much of that $8.6 million will they ask back? Will Williams accept their figure? And will he be happy if the team, as expected, reduces his salary from $3.74 million to the veteran minimum of $540,000 plus incentives?
Then, there's playing time. By the time Williams is eligible to play in the fifth game, rookie Ronnie Brown -- picked No. 2 overall in the April draft -- figures to be the featured running back. Will Williams accept being the backup?
"I don't know about that one. Ricky liked being the star and wanted the ball," Wannstedt said.
All Wannstedt really knows is this: "He has a long way to go from walking into training camp to lining up and scoring touchdowns."
And, finally, this: "I really couldn't care less about what happens down there."
Wannstedt has enough worries getting ready for Notre Dame.
Palko, it's important to note, is not among them.
The star quarterback will report to camp with the rest of the Pitt team next month.
The priesthood is going to have to wait.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05206/543254.stm
yeah like you don,t really care what goes on down there either.