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Dolphins renew Williams contract


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dneal@MiamiHerald.com

Bill Parcells apparently has reached out to at least one player whose Dolphins future appears in doubt -- Ricky Williams.

Williams' agent, Leigh Steinberg, wrote in an e-mail to The Miami Herald that Williams received a letter from the Dolphins dated Dec. 31 and signed by Parcells renewing Williams' contract for 2008.

Steinberg wrote that he will wait until Parcells has a chance to settle in with the Dolphins before contacting him. Steinberg also wrote that Williams is doing well in his rehabilitation from a torn pectoral muscle that ended his 2007 season after six carries against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov. 26.

Such a letter would seem to indicate that Parcells wants Williams back next season. That is not surprising from a practical perspective. There is no certainty how soon -- or if -- Ronnie Brown will recover from a torn knee ligament that ended his season as he was piling up 100-yard rushing games at 5.0 yards a carry. Even if Brown recovers fully, having a healthy Williams would give the Dolphins the kind of two-back tandem that is popular in the NFL.

Also, if Williams can shake off the rust of being a 31-year-old who has played 12-plus games in the past four seasons, it would give the Dolphins another asset they could trade. New Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland doesn't have a track record as far as trade tendencies, but his direct boss is well-known for being willing to deal, and he might encourage Ireland in that direction.

Williams is set to make $730,000 next season, hardly expensive for a running back playing well.

Twice recently, Parcells made statements that seemed to preclude Williams rejoining the Dolphins.

At his introductory media session last Thursday, Parcells said: ``I'm interested in good-character people. I don't want thugs and hoodlums on the team. I really don't. I don't want bad-character guys. I don't want problem children. I'm more willing to let someone else try to address those things with other people.''

On Monday, Parcells spoke to the Virginia Tech team, in town for the Orange Bowl: ``I'm not looking for any dope heads, lazy guys. I'm looking for football players.''

There's no record of anyone who has met Williams accusing him of being a thug or a hoodlum. In fact, he is shy and polite, and many people from across a massive economic and ethnic range find him an interesting conversationalist -- particularly if the topic isn't football. Teammates have all but sung praises to Williams' work ethic. Brown has credited Williams' diligent example in 2005 for helping him understand what it took to be a professional.

Williams' substance-abuse issues with marijuana -- multiple failed drug tests leading to his 2004 ''retirement'' and his suspension for the 2006 season -- would seem to throw him into the ''problem child'' category.

But it also should be noted that Parcells spent 10 seasons with the Giants -- two as a defensive coordinator and eight as head coach -- benefiting from Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor's game-transforming greatness on the field and dealing with Taylor's substance-abuse problems off the field.

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dneal@MiamiHerald.com

Bill Parcells apparently has reached out to at least one player whose Dolphins future appears in doubt -- Ricky Williams.

Williams' agent, Leigh Steinberg, wrote in an e-mail to The Miami Herald that Williams received a letter from the Dolphins dated Dec. 31 and signed by Parcells renewing Williams' contract for 2008.

Steinberg wrote that he will wait until Parcells has a chance to settle in with the Dolphins before contacting him. Steinberg also wrote that Williams is doing well in his rehabilitation from a torn pectoral muscle that ended his 2007 season after six carries against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov. 26.

Such a letter would seem to indicate that Parcells wants Williams back next season. That is not surprising from a practical perspective. There is no certainty how soon -- or if -- Ronnie Brown will recover from a torn knee ligament that ended his season as he was piling up 100-yard rushing games at 5.0 yards a carry. Even if Brown recovers fully, having a healthy Williams would give the Dolphins the kind of two-back tandem that is popular in the NFL.

Also, if Williams can shake off the rust of being a 31-year-old who has played 12-plus games in the past four seasons, it would give the Dolphins another asset they could trade. New Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland doesn't have a track record as far as trade tendencies, but his direct boss is well-known for being willing to deal, and he might encourage Ireland in that direction.

Williams is set to make $730,000 next season, hardly expensive for a running back playing well.

Twice recently, Parcells made statements that seemed to preclude Williams rejoining the Dolphins.

At his introductory media session last Thursday, Parcells said: ``I'm interested in good-character people. I don't want thugs and hoodlums on the team. I really don't. I don't want bad-character guys. I don't want problem children. I'm more willing to let someone else try to address those things with other people.''

On Monday, Parcells spoke to the Virginia Tech team, in town for the Orange Bowl: ``I'm not looking for any dope heads, lazy guys. I'm looking for football players.''

There's no record of anyone who has met Williams accusing him of being a thug or a hoodlum. In fact, he is shy and polite, and many people from across a massive economic and ethnic range find him an interesting conversationalist -- particularly if the topic isn't football. Teammates have all but sung praises to Williams' work ethic. Brown has credited Williams' diligent example in 2005 for helping him understand what it took to be a professional.

Williams' substance-abuse issues with marijuana -- multiple failed drug tests leading to his 2004 ''retirement'' and his suspension for the 2006 season -- would seem to throw him into the ''problem child'' category.

But it also should be noted that Parcells spent 10 seasons with the Giants -- two as a defensive coordinator and eight as head coach -- benefiting from Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor's game-transforming greatness on the field and dealing with Taylor's substance-abuse problems off the field.

Wow, Ricky Williams and Keyshawn Johnson.

These guys would make one heck of a team...

...If it were 2002.:roll:

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Parcells is a ****ing hypocrite! In his presser accepting the VP position with the Dolphins, he mentions he doesn't want any bad character guys on the team...so, he reaches out for a player that's been banned how many times?

He also apparently gave a speech to Virginia Tech players recently in which he said he wouldn't want any dope heads on his team.

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Parcells is a ****ing hypocrite! In his presser accepting the VP position with the Dolphins, he mentions he doesn't want any bad character guys on the team...so, he reaches out for a player that's been banned how many times?

Williams isn't a bad character guy, he just has a taste for the weed.

He's also a great RB, and I'd love to trade Jones for him.

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How do you "renew" someone's contract that hasn't expired?

I was wondering the same thing myself.

I have to assume what actually happened was, there has been a lot of talk on S Florida sports talk that the Tuna probably wouldn't want Williams back.

Bill probably probably just sent his agent a letter saying they did want him back, and make sure he is in shape, and straight

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Williams isn't a bad character guy, he just has a taste for the weed.

He's also a great RB, and I'd love to trade Jones for him.

Well, I would hate to be preaching to my team (especially rookies) how I want good character type guys and behind me is a guy that's been banned from the league like 4 times...regardless of what the reason was for.

I can hear Parcells now..."Hey guys, smoke all the weed you want and if you get caught and suspended, that's okay by me...just don't do anything to jeopardize your character". Right.;)

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Well, I would hate to be preaching to my team (especially rookies) how I want good character type guys and behind me is a guy that's been banned from the league like 4 times...regardless of what the reason was for.

I can hear Parcells now..."Hey guys, smoke all the weed you want and if you get caught and suspended, that's okay by me...just don't do anything to jeopardize your character". Right.;)

There has always been two sets of rules for "Parcells Guys".

Just ask LT

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