May 14, 200422 yr Friday, May 14 By Jose Lambiet and Joe Schad Palm Beach Post Staff Writers Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams faces a $650,000 fine after violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, sources told The Palm Beach Post. This was Williams' second violation since he joined the Dolphins in 2002, sources close to the case said. Williams, 26, is appealing the fine that the league imposed when a drug test he took on Dec. 10, 2003, turned up positive for marijuana. Another failed test would result in a four-game suspension. The sources said Williams was seen at NFL headquarters in New York on April 16, the date of the appeal. "I'm in good standing with the NFL and the Dolphins,' Williams said when reached by the Post. "There is no story here," Williams said. "I was in New York a few weeks ago and I did visit the league headquarters. I guess that's how rumors get started. But I was just visiting friends in the city and I just decided to go in. I will be at training camp on Tuesday." The sources said Williams' lawyer, Fort Lauderdale criminal attorney Gary Ostrow, accompanied him on his visit to the league offices. "I'm not in a habit of discussing my relationship, professional or otherwise, with professional athletes," Ostrow said, adding that he would not comment further. According to NFL documents seen by the Post, Ostrow filed arguments with the league titled "NFL vs. Player #909965J." In it, Ostrow questions the integrity of the league's drug-testing system. Williams scored a 15 on the league's testing scale -- the NFL's lowest positive score and consistent with what an occasional marijuana user would score. Another sample taken from Williams the same day came back at 14, which would not have warranted league action unless the previous sample was positive. "Ricky is pretty confident he's going to beat this thing," one source said. "When he took the test, for example, he was dehydrated after exercising. Dehydration sometimes causes people who would be negative to test positive." The league is expected to give Williams its decision at the end of the month. He's been in New York this week with all of the crap that's been going on," a source close to Williams said. "If they tested all of us for weed, half of America would be out of work. I know the guy who's helping us out is good because he used to do the drug stuff for the NFL. I know the attorney. He's a good friend. Ricky should come out of this all right." The sum of $650,000 equals Williams's paychecks for four games. That is consistent with the league's fining schedule for a player whose test turns up positive for the second time while on a probationary program that the league calls "an intervention program." Williams said he is not in an intervention program, but the sources said he first tested positive for marijuana shortly after arriving in Miami from the New Orleans Saints in May 2002. Because it was the first offense, he was placed on the intervention program. The athletes on the program sign an agreement to be drug-tested up to 10 times a month. They also must undergo weekly drug group-therapy sessions and they must call a special NFL hotline, sometimes hourly, to report their whereabouts. "He was just weeks away from getting off the intervention program," one of the sources said. "Officially, he would have been off intervention on Super Bowl Sunday. He has tested negative more than 100 times before. But then, this thing happened. He now gets back into intervention for another two years." Dolphins spokesman Harvey Greene said the team "can't comment on any player because of the confidential nature of the program unless the league announces a suspension." http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/conten.../0514ricky.html
May 14, 200422 yr Author wow $650K for weed? :o And even worse, a 4 game suspension. Since it would be the second time he fails the test. He did get the lowest possible postive result, a 15. Which could help his appeal. I doubt the Dolphins could overcome 4 games without Ricky Williams, even with three of the first four games are against non division opponents. His first two games back would be at New England, and at Buffalo. This sucks.
May 14, 200422 yr Yeah, it's going to be tough for the Dolphins to overcome the new look Bengals period. But without Ricky... :mischief2 I like the sound of that! Seriously though, the NFL doesn't mess around with drugs. Wonder what the steroid policy is.
May 15, 200422 yr Let his team and their fans down by doing this. He deserves the boo birds and better yet stiffer penalties from the team. Also in terms of The PR, he is their biggest star, how do you promote a pot head in a positive light to kids?
May 15, 200422 yr "If they tested all of us for weed, half of America would be out of work. What an idiotic statement. IF half of working America smoked weed, it still wouldn't be an equal comparison. How many of yall (working folk) actually are tested periodically for weed? I know I'm not when I work (summers). I know my dad isn't. My mom isn't. My friends aren't. The NCAA randomly tests us (Furman) periodically, along with team testing. The NFL does likewise. That is unacceptable, Ricky. You are a fool for even toeing the line.
May 15, 200422 yr He should be so proud of himself, letting down his team. family, and friends for ca couple of hours of euphoria....loser.... :thumbdown
May 15, 200422 yr Another reason to hate the Dolphins. Did anyone read that article a couple weeks back in the Herald, that mentioned him smoking apple flavored tobbaco? Seemed suspicious.
May 15, 200422 yr And even worse, a 4 game suspension. Since it would be the second time he fails the test. He did get the lowest possible postive result, a 15. Which could help his appeal. I doubt the Dolphins could overcome 4 games without Ricky Williams, even with three of the first four games are against non division opponents. His first two games back would be at New England, and at Buffalo. This sucks. no, a 4 game suspension if he does it again. not this time
May 18, 200422 yr Ricky BETTER get suspended, because Torrance Marshall (LB, GBP) and Cletidus Hunt (DT, also a packer) both got 4 games for their 2nd violation. If Ricky doesn't somethings going on with the star treatment.
May 18, 200422 yr "Hi, my name is Ricky Williams and i'm a f***ing moron!" Jeez, people are so stupid.....
May 19, 200422 yr Ricky BETTER get suspended, because Torrance Marshall (LB, GBP) and Cletidus Hunt (DT, also a packer) both got 4 games for their 2nd violation. If Ricky doesn't somethings going on with the star treatment. Depends on the violation. They were suspended for Steroids and performance enhancing drugs I believe. Also, BTW, Hunt and Marshall aren't stars now? WTF is going on, I thought all Packer players were stars!
May 19, 200422 yr dumb move by the Dolp...I mean Ricky Williams. They both are so stupid. I follow them as my home team, root for them, go through the trouble of tuning my rabbit ears every Sunday during those weeks, and all they do is be dumb. ARGH!
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