Ricky Williams Speaks out on Johnny Manziel's Off-the-Field Behavior

Former NFL running back Ricky Williams is well-known for his eccentric personality, and he has never been a stranger to controversy. This time, the former Heisman Trophy winner spoke his mind about the off-field exploits of defending Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel.

According to KEYE TV in Austin, Texas, Williams believes that Manziel's higher profile since winning the Heisman Trophy has put more eyes on him and made it more difficult for him to avoid the limelight.

"You know once you win the Heisman Trophy, there's going to be more attention on you," said Williams. "You are probably not going to be able to get away with all the stuff you got away with before."

The former Texas Longhorn also referenced the Texas A&M quarterback's history and suggested that his recent issues aren't particularly shocking.

"To the media I would say, if the media did their research on who this kid was, nobody would be surprised."

It's possible that Williams has a point, as it seems like Manziel is getting himself into trouble at every turn. The first notable incident this offseason occurred when Manziel was a college coach and counselor at the Manning Passing Academy back in July.

According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, Manziel missed meetings and practices due to illness, which resulted in Manziel leaving the camp early. Despite that, rumors regarding Manziel's "partying" being the true reason behind his dismissal have persisted.

Manziel is currently dealing with an even more serious offense that could potentially cost him eligibility at Texas A&M. According to the Associated Press, the NCAA is investigating Manziel on the grounds that he may have received payment for signing autographs.

Williams is far from a saint in his own right, as he was suspended for testing positive for marijuana back in 2006. Williams had previously retired from football when he tested positive for a third time, but he returned to the Miami Dolphins soon after.

This led to Williams playing a year in the CFL for the Toronto Argonauts before returning to have a productive latter half of his career with the Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens.

Williams knows a thing or two about the pressures of being a star player, though, so perhaps he knows what he's talking about when it comes to Manziel.

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