Ricky Williams hopes to retire a Miami Dolphin

[DolFan619]

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/football/miami-dolphins/story/668271.html

Ricky Williams hopes to retire a Miami Dolphin

BY JEFF DARLINGTON
Miami Herald

The pre-algebra teacher was just making small talk when he approached Dolphins running back Ricky Williams on the star's first day of school at Nova Southeastern University last week.

''You look like a football player,'' the man said.

''Yeah, I play football,'' Williams replied.

The conversation then took its natural course, as the running back told the teacher he played for the Dolphins, which prompted the obvious question.

''What's your name?'' the teacher asked.

''Williams,'' he said, leaving off his first name.

''OK,'' the teacher said. ``So how's Chad Pennington doing?''

Yes, Williams is just a regular student these days, apparently unrecognizable to dozens of students and his teacher as he pursues an undergraduate degree he never got during his tenure at the University of Texas. It might not be long, though, before his anonymity in certain situations off the field in South Florida is wiped away again.

DOLPHINS CAREER

Williams, who signed a one-year contract extension this weekend, said Monday he wants to finish his playing career with the Dolphins. If Williams gets his wish, that will mean he is playing well enough to keep management from allowing him to ever become a free agent again.

''Ideally, that's what I want,'' Williams said, asked if he wants to eventually close his career here. 'And if I keep playing like this, hopefully I'll have that opportunity. Hopefully, every time we get to this point in the season, they'll say, `We like you and we don't want you to become a free agent.' ''

Of course, such a storybook close to a controversial career might be tough for plenty to imagine, since Williams has been far from reliable in the past. The running back has a history of changing his mind, not to mention his past inability to remain clean.

But the current regime has consistently expressed its faith in Williams, noting his history from the past eight months is all management can use to assess him. During that time, Williams ''has really been outstanding,'' coach Tony Sparano said.

Williams gave several reasons regarding his desire to sign the one-year contract extension before the season, as well as his desire to stay in South Florida as long as he can.

Perhaps the most intriguing reason, though, is Williams' return to school. Currently enrolled in a pre-algebra class and a writing class, Williams only devotes two hours per week on the evening of his off day from the Dolphins.

Next semester, he'll become a full-time student, needing 74 more credits to graduate. But he doesn't plan to stop there. Part of his reason for wanting to stay in South Florida is his desire to enroll in Nova's medical school.

HOLISTIC MEDICINE

Williams wants to become a doctor, and Nova has a program that will allow him to study Osteopathy.

''Hopefully, when I'm 40, I'll be starting my next career,'' Williams, 31, said.

These are obviously high aspirations, but Williams said he realized he was gifted in the field of holistic medicine, which is encouraged in Osteopathy, during his world travels.

''I like seeing people feel better, and I know what it feels like to deal with pain,'' Williams said.

Whatever happens after his career, though, is not what the Dolphins necessarily care about. It is his time this year and next that will ultimately dictate whether his desire to retire with the Dolphins is fulfilled.

If Williams and Brown can remain healthy -- and if Williams can continue to show his current level of dedication to football -- the controversial star said he believes the Dolphins are on the right track to success and he can help them get there.

''They just make everybody accountable,'' Williams said. ``I have much more confidence [in this regime]. The feeling I get from Tony is, he's not going to let us lose. . . . If we get into the fourth quarter in a close game, Ronnie and I should both be fresh to close it out for us.''

Then, Williams' teacher might start to know his name.

[Bubba]

few years back I had nothing good to say about him, but well I hope he proves me wrong.  I am glad he is around for now.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Ricky Williams hopes to retire a Miami Dolphin

ummmm....

Thats sounds familiar....didn't he already do that once?

Its like deja vue all over again. 

[Brian Fein]

damn, Hoodie, you stole my reply.

"He already did retire a Miami Dolphin" 

[DZA]

ummmm....

Thats sounds familiar....didn't he already do that once?

Its like deja vue all over again. 

LOL