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Titans expect Dolphins to let Williams return

By JIM WYATT
Staff Writer


For controversial running back Ricky Williams, walking out on the Miami Dolphins might have been the easy part.

Walking back into a locker room filled with some of those same teammates could prove to be an even bigger challenge.




"He'll be faced with being a rookie again,'' Titans tight end Erron Kinney said of Williams, who is expected to file for reinstatement by the NFL in late July. "He'll have to earn everyone's trust back, from his teammates to his coaches to the fans, and that won't be easy.

"He bailed out on them, and I'm sure guys will be leery. Personally, I'd be able to forgive him. But at the same time it would be hard to hang a hat on him.''

Prior to last season, Williams abruptly announced he was retiring from the NFL after five seasons and 6,354 career yards. He acknowledged shortly after that he failed drug tests and faced suspension for testing positive three times for marijuana.

But in the months that followed Williams seemed happy with his decision. He spent time in India doing yoga and holistic medical training, hung out in California, and reportedly dropped his weight from 226 pounds to 195. Now he wants to play again, and the Dolphins front office, including new head coach Nick Saban, seems open to the idea of welcoming him back.

So which is it Ricky — do you want to play or not?

The Titans haven't dealt with a scenario like the one facing the Dolphins and Williams, but many players say he'd have to prove himself in a hurry.

"There will be some hard feelings probably with the guys that were there last year. When you are playing on a team that is what it is all about — everybody working together. I'm sure when he left and left guys out to dry a little bit they weren't happy,'' center Justin Hartwig said.

"I think if he is going to come in he is going to have to show his teammates he is dedicated and committed. Obviously the guy is a player, but he has to come in and show he is willing to work hard and show he is committed to them. I am sure I would have a little doubt in my mind, whether or not the guy really wants to be there.''

Linebacker Keith Bulluck, for one, is willing to give Williams the benefit of the doubt.

Williams, 28, has to stay retired until late July to avoid a full season's suspension under the league drug policy. He is still subject to a four-game ban. He's already received early re-entry into the NFL's substance–abuse program.

"If the dude didn't want to play football any more, he didn't want to play football any more. Yeah, it is messed up. He just left his team the way he did, and maybe you owe it to your teammates to be a little more responsible, but at the same time maybe you owe it to yourself and your family more,'' Bulluck said.

"Whatever his reasons were for leaving the NFL, if he feels it was justified then he has to worry about that. In life you have to make choices and decisions for yourself, and in this league from what I have seen organizations are going to do what they need to do for themselves too. Each player has to do what is best for himself, too. Maybe the guy just needed some time off to clear his mind.''

Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth agreed with Bulluck's assessment.

"He lives his life like he wants to,'' he said. "I wouldn't put a guy like that on my 100 percent trust list, but it's his life.''

Titans Coach Jeff Fisher spent some time with Williams in Hawaii at the Pro Bowl following the 2002 season.

He knew Williams "had some issues' but thinks the moment he walks into the locker room, those things should be put behind him.

'You give him a second chance,'' Fisher said. "He is a great player and he still has a great future in this league in my opinion. My personal approach would be to help him, to make sure he avoids that potential temptation once again and make him understand that once he comes back you expect a commitment out of him. In most cases, the easiest way to handle someone (like Williams) is to not treat him any different than anybody else.''

A year ago, the Titans and the rest of the NFL benefited from Williams not being around. The Titans beat the Dolphins 17-7 in the season opener, holding Miami to a measly 65 yards rushing.

The Dolphins never ended up finding a consistent back, and finished the season at 4-12. With Williams running for 1,372 yards and nine touchdowns in 2003, the Dolphins finished the regular season with a 10-6 record.

In April, the Dolphins used their first-round draft pick on another running back — Auburn's Ronnie Brown — so whatever happens with Williams they'll be covered.

The Titans face the Dolphins on December 24 this season.

"Ricky Williams, when he left, he was one of the top three running backs in this league and if he comes back he'll be one of the top 10 if he comes back in football-performance shape. Plus they've got (Brown), so that's pretty potent,'' Bulluck said.

"But (Ricky) better be ready if he comes back. It would hurt him if he doesn't come back in football shape and his mind doesn't come back ready to play football, yeah it will hurt him. Or somebody will hurt him.''