Ricky just wants to play
October, 23, 2007
10/23/07
7:10
PM ET
Leigh Steinberg, the agent for Ricky Williams, is hopeful his client will come off the NFL's suspension list within the next week or two. The league has not hinted when it will decide whether it will restore Williams' eligibility, but Steinberg is optimistic. He said Williams has spent a good portion of the past four months in Boston working with league-appointed drug counselors. Through what has been an intense process, they have been able to examine Williams' life and find out why he became so involved with marijuana. Steinberg says Williams can't wait to get back on a football field. He's in shape and is eager to play again.
What's Miami to do?
If Ricky Williams is cleared to return to the league, it'll be interesting to see what the Dolphins decide to do with him. The odds favored Miami releasing him because of the great play of Ronnie Brown, but Brown's season was declared over Monday and the 0-7 Dolphins might need running back help to get through the rest of the season. Since taking the job as coach, Cam Cameron has never committed one way or the other to Williams. Cameron could consider keeping Williams. He might need him.
Stacked for the Bills:
Owner Ralph Wilson scored some points Tuesday with the idea of regionalizing his Buffalo Bills. He briefed owners at their fall meetings in Philadelphia of his plan for playing some preseason and regular-season games in Toronto. "The discussion was constructive and encouraging," Wilson said in a statement. "When the matter is finalized, it will be referred to commissioner Roger Goodell for his announcement." You get the feeling that the owners and Goodell are going to go for the idea. If it helps the area in keeping the Bills, the NFL and owners would be for it.
Not a deep cut:
Bobby Petrino is apparently using the bye week to change a few things around the Falcons. The first move, to get a little younger along the defensive line, came with the release of veteran tackle Grady Jackson, whom they gave an extension to at the beginning of the season. The Falcons have been banged up most of the year along the interior of their defensive line, but they were at their healthiest heading into the bye week. During the offseason, Jackson got into a legal battle with the Falcons over the release of some of his medical information. Atlanta settled by locking him up to an extension that was supposed to keep him beyond this season. Jackson's release was a little bit of a surprise, but at 1-6, it's not a surprise Petrino would part with a veteran.
Quick and to the point: The Rams wasted no time Tuesday releasing guard Claude Terrell, who had just been arrested for allegedly assaulting his wife in a suburban Houston hotel. Since 2006, Terrell was on probation on a charge of causing bodily harm to a family member. His loss further depletes one of the thinnest lines in the league. The Rams have lost four offensive linemen to season-ending injuries. Terrell is the first to go for off-the-field reasons.
Wait till next year: It would have been a great story, to think Browns cornerback Gary Baxter could come back this season from such devastating knee injuries. Baxter blew out the patella tendon in both off his knees on Oct. 22, 2006. He made the 53-man roster but didn't play a down. Cleveland didn't feel as though it could wait for him any longer, so now the hope is Baxter will be ready for the 2008 season.
Texans will find out: A few people around the league wondered how Joe Echumandu would fit into a Mike Shanahan-type of running offense. Echumandu might finally get that chance. He was added to the Texans' roster Tuesday and has a chance to work in the offensive scheme of coach Gary Kubiak, a Shanahan disciple. The Texans signed Echumandu off the practice squad Tuesday and released Sam Gado, who had been the Texans' third-string running back.
Ray's rant targets Billick:
On his radio show,
Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis spoke out about Brian Billick's play-calling in Sunday's loss to the Bills. Three times in the game, Billick called for passes on 1-yard situations and the attempts fell incomplete. Lewis spoke out how similar types of plays may have cost the team in a loss to the Bengals, as well. Lewis would have preferred running plays for Willis McGahee, who has been running well.
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