Ricky Fights Urge to Smoke Pot

[SportsChick]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-dolphins-williams&prov=ap&type=lgns


Report: Ricky Williams fights off urge to use pot

1 hour, 46 minutes ago

MIAMI (AP)—Ricky Williams says he was briefly tempted to smoke marijuana during the Miami Dolphins’ bye weekend, an act that could have ended his roller-coaster NFL career.

Williams has been in the league’s substance-abuse program since 2002 and has tested positive for marijuana.

Williams told The Miami Herald for Tuesday’s editions that when players were given Friday off, “automatically your mind, which is so constrained since training camp began … says, `I’m free, what can I do?”’

“So there was definitely an urge,” he said. “But I just thought about what I have to lose, and it was easy. The urge didn’t last very long.”

Since 2004, the Dolphins running back has played only 16 NFL games, including three this year. If Williams were to smoke marijuana again, he would likely be out of the NFL for good because he has already violated the league drug policy four times.

“There’s no space, no wiggle room for me,” Williams said.

He said that doesn’t scare him, because he feels he’s in control and on the right path. He said he successfully combated the latest urge to smoke by meditating instead, which gives him the same “feeling of being free” as marijuana.

“A lot of times when people have some kind of addiction, what happens is they make a mistake and trip up and afterward say, `I don’t know what I was thinking,”’ he said. “If you always try to be aware of what is going on in your mind, you won’t ever get to that point where it’s too late.”

The 1998 Heisman Trophy winner and 2002 NFL rushing champion said it’s normal to have an urge to smoke. Williams is tested nine times per month on a random basis. The man who administers the urinalysis for the NFL sometimes shows up at Williams’ home before dawn.

Williams said he will not smoke marijuana again while he’s in the NFL, but he’s uncertain whether he’ll abstain when his career ends.

“I’d be lying if I said I’m never going to do it again after I’m done,” he said. “I don’t know. I don’t spend much time thinking about it.”

[TonyB0D]

and people wonder why I still hate on the guy.   keep your mouth shut and play football, drug addict.

[Frimp]

and people wonder why I still hate on the guy.   keep your mouth shut and play football, drug addict.

I'd bet that someone contacted him, and asked if he had any urges. I seriously doubt he called up the media and said "Hey guess what! I thought about smoking pot on the bye week!"

[Tenshot13]

Re: Ricky Fights Urge to Smoke Pot

Don't we all?

[Phishfan]

Don't we all?

Some don't fight it.

[ethurst2]

I love Ricky as a person but it's getting harder to defend this guy when he comes out and says he had the urge to light one up.

Great revelation with the Chargers coming to town.

He should have kept his thoughts to himself on this one.

Just when you think that Ricky has turned the corner, he drops hints at lighting up again. Let's say that the Dolphins go on a six game losing streak and he get's depressed. Now we know that he is heavily tempted to get a dime bag.

I see his comments as a major distraction this week. I bet you teammates are saying, "Man, you should have just kept quiet and let people read about it in your book after you retire".

Please Ricky, do us a favor. Be quiet and try to at least get through this season. We need all the help in the backfield that we can get.

[Defense54]

and people wonder why I still hate on the guy.   keep your mouth shut and play football, drug addict.

Well said. ^^ TMI asshole! Thanks for telling the world and the kids that watch you that your not sure if your gonna break the law or not when your done sucking up the Million $$$ Payday. Just keep it to yourself. Moron.

[SCFinfan]

I appreciate the candor.  I'm glad he's off drugs, even if he is struggling.  No one says that working to end an addiction is easy.  I hope he can continue to do it successfully and not torpedo our season... again.

[simeon]

Don't we all?

No, I have absolutely no urge to smoke pot, never have, never will. Then again I have never smoked it in my life.
I agree Ricky should be talking about football and not about pot smoking.

[Deof Movestofca]

I love Ricky as a person but it's getting harder to defend this guy when he comes out and says he had the urge to light one up.

Great revelation with the Chargers coming to town.

He should have kept his thoughts to himself on this one.

Just when you think that Ricky has turned the corner, he drops hints at lighting up again. Let's say that the Dolphins go on a six game losing streak and he get's depressed. Now we know that he is heavily tempted to get a dime bag.

Another way of looking at it, though, is that however much he had the urge, he didn't yield to it.  I would think that would count for something.  Furthermore, his admission underscores the the dangers of doing drugs.  Even if one buys the argument that marijuana isn't addictive, it's still hard for some people to give up even if they want to.

[Dave Gray]

It's probably better that he talk about it, than keep it all bottled up.   ...not that the general public is his therapist. 

But that's one thing I like about Ricky.  I don't think he's a bullshitter.

[MaineDolFan]

Let me get this straight.  The guy is human (1) and honest (2) and you clowns have a problem with that?  Come on.  Lighten up.  I would rather hear the truth and have zero issues with him admitting that he's tempted.

[simeon]

It's probably better that he talk about it, than keep it all bottled up.   ...not that the general public is his therapist. 

But that's one thing I like about Ricky.  I don't think he's a bullshitter.

They have groups for things like that. Maine I have no problem with Ricky being honest, but he should be talking about football and not smoking pot. He spoke this to the media and now he has people rolling their eyes. So you would have no issue if Josh Beckett says he struggles from smoking crack between starts?

[Defense54]

I'm sure Someone has explained to him to just keep it to himself or to close friends by now.  Hell the first thing I'm probably gonna do when I retire is light up a fatty.........but I'm not gonna go publicize it.   Umm on second thought........disregard this post..........

[MaineDolFan]

So you would have no issue if Josh Beckett says he struggles from smoking crack between starts?

First of all there are a few small, minor, not signifigant differences between CRACK and pot.  You know, like the small difference between and airplane and a horse drawn buggy.

Josh Hamilton is an addict and has said that he's fought urges this season himself.  I value honesty.  Only a fool would believe an addict if they told you they never fight urges.

Addicts fight urges.  This isn't rocket science.  Ricky, like it or not, is an addict.  It's not a question of "if" he falls off the wagon, but when.  The fact that he's open about it speaks volumes to his success in battling his demons.  People need to calm the heck down about Ricky and understand that he's human under those football pads.

Judge not, folks - not unless you're perfect yourself.