THANK YOU LEN PASTABELLY!!!!!!

[YoFuggedaboutit]

ESPN.com writer Len Pasquarelli has a good scoop on what actually went down with Ricky.  Here it is:

Several league sources said Monday night that the case against Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams, who reportedly violated the NFL's substance-abuse policy for a fourth time and who faces a possible one-year suspension, already is in the appeals process, ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli reports.

A source told ESPN.com's John Clayton that the team was aware of Williams' appeal.

None of the sources would divulge when the reported violation occurred or precisely when the appeal was filed through the NFL Players' Association. Two sources did acknowledge the appeal was submitted before reports surfaced Sunday evening of Williams' latest apparent violation.

The timetable for resolving such appeals, which could be heard by commissioner Paul Tagliabue, varies by case and might take several months. Sources on Monday suggested Williams' appeal will likely take one-to-three months to resolve.

Meanwhile, sources told ESPN's Hank Goldberg that Williams' violation of the league's substance-abuse policy is not a matter of a missed test. Williams has failed a drug test, the sources said.

The substance discovered is not known publicly but a source told ESPN.com's Clayton that the drug for which Williams was said to have tested positive was not marijuana. Williams has three times prior tested positive for marijuana use.

The Miami Herald quoted a source who called the Williams' situation "confusing." When asked what substance he might have been using, the source told the newspaper, "This whole thing is a little confusing. I'll just leave it at that. The best way to say it is he violated the program."

Denver television station KDVR first reported Sunday night that Williams again had violated the league's policy. An NFL spokesman told ESPN that the NFL had no comment on the report.

Because of the confidentiality guidelines of the NFL system, it is not known how many appeals have succeeded, but reversals are believed to be rare. In 2000, however, then-Miami running back J.J. Johnson won his appeal against charges that he had violated the substance abuse policy, and he was spared a four-game suspension.

The basis of Johnson's appeal remains unknown.

Williams has tested positive for marijuana three times and served a four-game suspension when he returned to the NFL last season following a one-year retirement.

Williams' agent, Leigh Steinberg, did not wish to discuss Williams' situation except in hypothetical terms, according to the Herald.

"Assuming that something like this happened, an appeal would have been filed. In the best case, that appeal would probably not have been heard until April, but now that all this information is out, it's impossible to know what might happen. I would be blown away if Ricky Williams used drugs, and that's how most of the people around him also feel," Steinberg told the newspaper.

The report caught Williams' mother by surprise. On Sunday, Sandy Williams told the Palm Beach Post that her son is currently in India, that they had not spoken of late, and that she'd "bet my life he's not smoking marijuana."

Steinberg said Williams has been in India for approximately two weeks and is not scheduled to return to the United States until early April. He said Williams could have received permission from the NFL to leave the country for a period of time and not be tested under the league's substance-abuse policy.

Williams abruptly retired from the NFL in July 2004 and the Dolphins fell apart, losing their first six games and finishing 4-12 -- their worst season since the 1960s.

At the time of his return, Williams was ordered to pay the Dolphins $8.6 million for breaching his contract, although there has been no financial resolution between him and the team. He was scheduled to be paid the league minimum of $540,000 last season but was docked four games' pay because of his league-mandated suspension and was fined another four games in pay, reducing his take to $285,882.

Williams' base salaries for the two coming seasons are $545,000 and $670,000, the minimum for a player (he entered the league in 1999) of his NFL tenure.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

Guys, this is EXCELLENT news.  The fact that the substance is not known publicly means that it was something in one of the dietary supplements he was taking for his yoga classes in India.  I'd bet the farm on it.  And if that is true, he has a better-than-average chance of winning this appeal. 

[Philly Fin Fan]

Guys, this is EXCELLENT news.  The fact that the substance is not known publicly means that it was something in one of the dietary supplements he was taking for his yoga classes in India.  I'd bet the farm on it.  And if that is true, he has a better-than-average chance of winning this appeal. 

I took at as "not known publicly" meaning that we (the general public) do not know what the subtance was because the NFL has not told anyone.

[Brian Fein]

I took at as "not known publicly" meaning that we (the general public) do not know what the subtance was because the NFL has not told anyone.

That's exactly what that means.  Not known PUBLICLY, but it is known privately.  Stop giving this douchebag the benefit of the doubt, jeez!

[jtex316]

Why thanks?? Even if this is an appeal - it's still more drama and BS. 

[YoFuggedaboutit]

I'll be ready to take a beating if I'm wrong..... but I'm guessing there was something in one of those yoga supplements.  Stuff like this happens all the time, in every sport.  Athletes test positive for banned substances they didn't know were in the LEGAL supplements they were taking. 

Remember, any test failed starting with the third becomes public knowledge, so the substance that is not known publicly is probably not very widespread.  Additionally, just the fact that it wasn't marijuana is good news.  If it had been marijuana, he would've been fucked.

[jtex316]

Who cares.  He's nothing but trouble.  If not this, something else will happen.  I don't get the love affair with this guy.  He's not even that great of a running back in the first place - he fumbles too much, and every offseason there is turmoil.  He's been a thron in the side of this team since he got here, and you people constantly, CONSTANTLY love him and give him chances.

[run_to_win]

Yeah, I gotta agree.  Every year half a dozen not so great running backs rack up 1850+ yards on teams with poor offensive lines and weak passing games.  

[fyo]

run_to_win, I have to assume jtex is talking about the "new" RW. The old Ricky was clearly one of the very best in the league.

[Denver_Bronco]

Maurice Clarett is available

[YoFuggedaboutit]

run_to_win, I have to assume jtex is talking about the "new" RW. The old Ricky was clearly one of the very best in the league.

And it's clear that the new RW can be one of the best as well. 

[The_Phinatic]

Because of the confidentiality guidelines of the NFL system, it is not known how many appeals have succeeded, but reversals are believed to be rare.

What part of this makes you think he has a great shot at winning an appeal?  Even if it's a yoga supplement, if it's banned it's banned.  It's not like players aren't made aware of what they can and can't take.

[Brian Fein]

What part of this makes you think he has a great shot at winning an appeal? Even if it's a yoga supplement, if it's banned it's banned. It's not like players aren't made aware of what they can and can't take.

CBS4's Jim Berry reported on the news last night that the suspected Yoga Supplement is legal but creates a false positive on the NFL drug tests...

I guess the NFL never expected any of their players to be Yoga-loving hippies.

[DolFan619]

CBS4's Jim Berry reported on the news last night that the suspected Yoga Supplement is legal but creates a false positive on the NFL drug tests...

I guess the NFL never expected any of their players to be Yoga-loving hippies.

     That's the thing with these drug tests, sometimes ordinary and legal medications can set off a positive result.  Look at the Winter Olympics in Torino.  There was a guy who got kicked out because he tested positive for Propecia, the hair growth supplement.

[Phishfan]

He could have even eaten poppy seed bagels the morning of a test and tested positive.