News
Miami Dolphins' Williams Avoids Temptation During Bye Week
Dolphins running back Ricky Williams said the extra free time was the reason he was thinking of using marijuana.
Wed, Oct 01, 2008 1:37 pm
Source: Miamiherald.com
Dolphins coach Tony Sparano told his players to ''stay home'' and keep out of trouble during their three days away from the NFL grind last weekend. But he could never demand each player not be tempted by trouble.
And that's what running back Ricky Williams admitted happened to him, if only for a few moments.
Williams, in the NFL's substance-abuse program since 2002 and having tested positive four times, said Monday he was briefly tempted to smoke marijuana while the Dolphins had their bye weekend.
Williams said the extra free time was the primary reason for the temptation.
''Most definitely,'' Williams said. 'It's greater because, like, Thursday, coach told us we had Friday off, so automatically your mind, which is so constrained since training camp began -- every day is a grind, it's a grind, it's a grind -- and then Coach says `you're free.' And the mind says, `I'm free, what can I do?'
"So there was definitely an urge. But I just thought about what I have to lose and it was easy. The urge didn't last very long.''
Williams said he successfully combated the urge to smoke by meditating instead.
''I've done a lot of work at understanding myself a little bit more,'' Williams said. "So I recognize [the urge] was just a result of the feeling of being free, and I was just trying to maximize it. And I realize that I really enjoy meditating and when I can go home and sit in my room and meditate, I can get the same feeling.''
STAYING STRONG
Williams said he employs a game plan in case the urge ever gets strong.
''It's not my formula but the formula I use is the key,'' he said. 'A lot of times when people have some kind of addiction, what happens is they make a mistake and trip up and afterward say, `I don't know what I was thinking.' And so if you always try to be aware of what is going on in your mind, you won't ever get to that point where it's too late.''
If he were to give in to any urge, Williams is aware he would likely be out of football for keeps because he has already been dealt a four-game suspension and a one-year suspension for previous positive drug tests.
''There's no space, no wiggle room for me,'' Williams said.
So is that scary for him?
''Not really,'' he said. "I feel like I'm in control. I spend enough time thinking about it that I feel like I'm in control and I'm on the right path and doing the right things.''
TESTING TIME
Williams is tested nine times per month on a random basis. The man who administers the urinalysis for the NFL sometimes shows up at Williams' home before dawn.
''I have not failed,'' he said. "I've been good. To have a thought or have an urge is normal. It's just what you do with it. You monitor how long it lasts. If it lasts 10 minutes, 20 minutes, an hour, you're in trouble. You shouldn't get to that point.
"For me the NFL assigns a clinician and so if it got to that point and I was smart, I'd pick up the phone and I'd call him. Talking to someone about it, getting it out of your head will help calm you down.''
And Williams insists the urge has never gotten that strong.
''It hasn't even gotten close,'' he said.
The tests' frequency and even the occasional annoyance Williams suffers at times when a test is administered while he is traveling have not reached the level of offending Williams.
RESIGNED TO FATE
''I've been in the program since 2002, so I'm past that point,'' he said. "For the first couple of years I was more worried about how I could beat the test. Now that I'm dealing with the issue, I'm almost thankful for it. I like the testing guy and I'm used to it. It's just part of my life.''
Williams said he will not bow to marijuana's temptation again while he continues to play in the NFL.
''Yeah, I can say that,'' he said. "I feel confident saying that. It just doesn't fit my life right now. It would make life more difficult.''
But Williams realizes he cannot guarantee he will never smoke marijuana again after his career is over.
''I don't know,'' he said. "I'd be lying if I said I'm never going to do it again after I'm done. I don't know. I don't spend much time thinking about it.''
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anonymous
Oct 5 2008, 10:05 pm
Wait a sec
Oct 3 2008, 1:47 pm
Ricky smoking:
5 seasons, 70 games, 6,354 rushing yards (including four 1,000+ yard rushing seasons), 45 touchdowns and he averaged 117 total yards from scrimmage per game.
Ricky not smoking:
Parts of 3 seasons, 16 games, 908 rushing yards, 6 touchdowns and he’s averaged 65 total yards from scrimmage per game.
Single season high total yards and touchdowns:
Smoking – In 2002 he had an absurd 2216 yards from scrimmage and 17 TDs
Not smoking – 2005 was his bright spot with 836 yards from scrimmage and 6 TDs
When Ricky smoked pot he was one of the most durable and successful backs around. Since the league forced him to quit he’s not been the same (although he looks pretty strong so far this season).
Pot was helping him deal with severe social anxiety disorder and – obviously – wasn’t hurting his athletic ability.
Just have to hope he can stay strong long enough to pay off his debt to the Dolphins before he retires to a life of meditation and smoke.
Oh, and Eris, it's Obama.
Eris loos
Oct 3 2008, 10:39 am
joe is a joke
Oct 2 2008, 8:12 pm
StashZoo.com
Oct 2 2008, 3:44 pm
Part of the story:
When former Denver Broncos running back Travis Henry read the details of a federal cocaine case filed against him in court Wednesday afternoon, he smiled and shook his head.
But the charge against Henry, who spent most of a turbulent season with the Broncos challenging a suspension from the NFL for a positive marijuana test, is no laughing matter.
Henry faces a minimum of 10 years in federal prison and up to a life sentence if convicted.
The investigation that led authorities to Henry began just two weeks ago with a traffic stop in Montana. Authorities discovered a man on his way to deliver a cargo of cocaine, and he was almost immediately willing to talk about the former Bronco he said hired him as a drug courier.
Joe
Oct 2 2008, 12:37 pm
Redwolf
Oct 2 2008, 1:35 am
http://www.saferchoice.org
It is truly amazing how far the lies and fear spawned back in the 1930s have gone.
rickCHRON
Oct 1 2008, 11:18 pm
KillaCam
Oct 1 2008, 4:28 pm
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