Welcome Back, Ricky: Why the Dolphins Should Embrace Williams

Can't you just picture it?

The NFL announces that Ricky Williams has been reinstated, and suddenly a delightful tune courtesy of a classic 70s TV sitcom can be heard all through South Florida:

"Welcome back, your dreams were your ticket out.
Welcome back to that same old place that you laughed about.
Well the names have all changed since you hung around,
But those dreams have remained and they're turned around.

Who'd have thought they'd lead ya
Back here where we need ya

Yeah we tease him a lot cause we've got him on the spot,
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back, welcome back."

What a fitting jingle.

Open up those arms, everybody—it's time to welcome back Ricky Williams.

I've always been an ardent supporter of Ricky—not just as a player, but as a person.  (You can read my impassioned defense of Ricky following his most recent suspension here.)

Most people dismiss him as some combination of foolish, selfish, or cowardly. 

I would call those people callous and insensitive.

Because social anxiety is a less tangible disorder than, say, painkiller abuse (anyone remember that shining episode of Brett Favre's unsullied career?), critics are quick to jump all over Ricky for the decisions he's made. 

Granted, I can't defend the way Ricky abruptly left the Dolphins with no warning, but the decision itself should be free from criticism.

It was obvious from the very beginning of Ricky's pro career that he was being swept along by a tidal wave he couldn't stop. He wasn't comfortable with his environment—but he couldn't do anything about it.

Eventually the situation became too much for him to handle, and he made the decision that was best for his own mental state.

And now he's ready to try it again.

Williams has said that his return to the NFL amounts to a personal test. Critics say he's just doing it for the money.

The truth?

Both considerations are probably contributing factors to his return.

Miami will have a two-week roster exemption for Ricky as they decide what to do with him. According to ProFootballTalk.com, league sources indicate that Miami intends to welcome him back.

And that is absolutely the correct decision—for several reasons.

First, the trade deadline has already passed, meaning that Miami can no longer get value for Ricky unless they hold on to him into the offseason. The Fins can bring him back now and let him work himself back into playing shape—then showcase him during the last month of the year.

At this point, I would gladly accept a seventh-round pick for Ricky, but I wouldn't be surprised to see some team offer as high as a fifth-rounder for him.

Second, if no team makes a deal for Ricky in the offseason, the Dolphins don't lose by keeping him.

Ronnie Brown recently tore his ACL—an injury that can take upwards of a year to recover from. Brown had been the best running back in the NFL this season before going down (yes, better than Adrian Peterson), and the Dolphins can't afford to rush him back.

With Ricky on the roster, Brown could be placed on the PUP list for the first six weeks of the season, leaving Jesse Chatman as the starter with Williams backing him up.

That's still a very capable duo—and it's a good bet that Miami will be able to find a RB-hungry midseason taker for Ricky (see Green Bay, Tampa Bay, and St. Louis this year) once Brown returns.

Third, as I have mentioned before, Miami must avoid going 0-16 and enduring the inescapable shame that would accompany the feat. 

If Ricky can help the team win even one game, he should remain on the squad.

Finally, Ricky will only cost the Fins somewhere in the ballpark of the league minimum.  For a player of his caliber, that's a bargain. There's no financial reason not to keep him.

Oh yeah—and if Williams were to be released and the Patriots picked him up and rode him to another Super Bowl victory, I think I'd cry myself to sleep for a very long time.

I'm sure most of you are waiting to gnash your teeth and rip into Ricky for the umpteenth time...but before you do I ask that you read the article linked above.

Then all you have to do is hum that little ditty, open your arms, and welcome Ricky back to town.

Check out Samuel's site Phinaticism for all your Dolphins news and commentary.