Ricky Williams to Return to the NFL?

Ricky Williams filed his application for reinstatement on October 1, 2007. In order to even have the chance to play again in the NFL, Williams will have to submit to drug tests and a doctor, or set of doctors, will have to submit their recommendation to Roger Goodell on whether Williams is in fact drug-free and fit to play. Williams has been delayed repeatedly due to violations of the NFL dug policyby testing positive for marijuana.

Even if Williams is reinstated by the NFL, his future does not appear to be too bright. Since being suspended from the NFL, Williams has only spent one season in competitive football up in the Canadian Football League with the Toronto Argonauts.

Williams' CFL career was far from stunning, as he logged 526 yards rushing on 109 attempts in an 11 game shortened season due to a fractured forearm (CFL.ca). Numbers like that are not going to impress many, if any NFL teams, including the Miami Dolphins, who he is currently under contract with should he return to the NFL.

Ricky Williams retired on August 31, 2004 from the NFL and that is where he should remain. Having not had a legitimate season since the 2003 NFL season, there is no way that Williams can be in shape and conditioned for the hits he would face as a running back in the NFL. He has been away from the game for too long and a 30 year old running back that has a history of serious injuries such as forearm and ankle fractures is not what NFL teams are looking for, especially when that same athlete has a history of drug problems and repeated violations of league policies.

However, before any teams can even consider proposing a deal with the Miami Dolphins to add Ricky Williams to their team, Roger Goodell must first allow Williams back into the league. Goodell has been far from lenient so far in his tenure as NFL Commissioner. Players such as Terry "Tank" Johnson and Adam "Pacman" Jones have faced very serious punishments ranging from eight game to full season suspensions for their actions.

Ricky Williams' past includes four separate violations of the NFL's drug policy, the most recent violation being in April of 2006 (Espn.com). Someone with this reputation does not appear to be the type of player that Goodell wants representing the NFL, so if Goodell decides to deny reinstatement, it should not come as too much of a surprise. The fact that Williams appears to be reformed and is now a yoga teacher (Espn.com) is great; however he has had too many issues in his past that have left a black mark on his record, which may have prevented him from ever returning to NFL football.

Sources used:
http://www.cfl.ca/index.php?module=roster&func=display&ros_id=859
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3045004