Ricky Williams has become synonymous with athletes who have no respect for the game, right up there with Jose Canseco or a Pete Rose.

While on the surface, those comparisons seem justified. After all, we all remember Williams bowing out of the NFL right before the 2004 football season because he was tired of football. We also remember that Ricky freely admitted that he had been smoking marijuana, and he was not going to stop.

When Williams walked away from the game at the peak of his career at age 27, no one was quite sure if he would ever return or if he would be welcomed back in the league. That all changed when Williams was convinced to return to the Miami Dolphins by head coach Nick Saban in 2005. When Williams arrived (without his trademark dreadlocks), he apologized to his teammates. He stayed focus and worked hard and proved to be a quality mentor for the Dolphins’ running back of the future, Ronnie Brown. Williams served the four-game suspension, a penalty for missing a mandatory drug test, which is equivalent to a failure, and he went on to rush for more than 700 yards.

Now trouble has again surfaced for Williams when he failed another test this off season, though it was made clear that Williams did not test positive for marijuana but some other unidentified substance.  Williams failed to win his appeal to the league and will miss his second entire season in three years.

With this type of track record, many in the media have turned their back on Williams and question his every move. Even with all the scrutiny and problems that he has created for himself, Williams continues to wear a smile. He continues to maintain his sincere dedication to the game.

This seems to be quite odd considering he still owes the Dolphins more than 8 million dollars for walking away from his contract. But since Williams has returned to football, he has had the full support of his team and especially his coach.

Saban even testified on Williams’ behalf at his appeal. Saban has also continued to support Williams. And instead of choosing to sit out another season and travel the world like the old Ricky did in 2004, Williams recently signed with the Canadian football team, the Toronto Argonauts, so he can continue to play football and stay in shape to return to the Miami Dolphins.

After Williams signed with the team, he was blasted by former Argonaut Joe Theismann, who told ESPN Radio that Williams was “a disgrace to the game. The man doesn't deserve to play football.”

With all that Williams has done to prove his dedication to the game after walking away, his desire continues to be questioned.
People such as Theismann feel that Williams has been given too many chances. This may be true, but obviously no one has told Williams this because he is continuing to fight the uphill battle for renewed respect in the world of football.

Williams’ career in football has been nothing short of spectacular; he won the Heisman Trophy at Texas, he was the top selection in the ’99 draft and has 7,000 career rushing yards.

Even before he retired, Williams had other problems that have been well-documented in the press. Williams was diagnosed with social anxiety disorder early in his career while he was still playing for the New Orleans Saints. (Many of us may remember that Williams used to like to wear his helmet when being interviewed.) But when Williams walked away from the game in 2004, many could not fathom that a man that talented could walk away. But Williams expressed that he didn’t have the passion. He chose to walk away an embarrassment, if need be, instead of continuing to be an embarrassment and stick around.

Though he has been suspended for another season for his violation, I feel that Williams has done nothing but shown dedication to the game since he chose to return.

If he was not dedicated, he would have the support of his teammates or his coach. These are the people who have the right to judge Williams, not the media, because we do not get to witness what he brings in the locker room.

It’s quite ridiculous to think that a professional team would fully support someone that would rather smoke pot then help his team if he didn’t bring an outstanding outlook, presence, and work ethic to the table.

Kevin Ezell is a regular contributor to Atomic Sports Media. You can reach him at kevin.ezell@atomicsportsmedia.com.