Having read about the NFL's decision regarding Ricky Williams, I think it is a shame. A shame not just to waste all of that talent and natural ability, but also a shame that the NFL was so strict in dealing with him. I understand that Ricky screwed up before; his recreational marijuana use caused his disgraceful retirement a week before the season began in 2004. That poor decision cost the head coach his job and has since shaped Miami in becoming the team that it is now. Ignoring that, all reports that I have read have made mention that this time he did not knowingly take any substance or drug and that he was not caught smoking again. That is why all of the coaches tried to defend him and everyone made mention of his standup character after he returned from his hiatus. Last season he stepped into the locker room knowing that he was going to be watched, but he was successful in turning the attention into a positive and leading by example, working harder than anyone else on and off the field. Many of you have differing opinions of the man, but I see him as a tragic hero forever chained to the game that he loved and loathed so much. The beating his body took, caused by his great ability to give it-for every run and broken tackle that he made, he received pain and attention, two things he did not want. The pain was a part of the job, but he suffered through more than his share of it. He carried 383 times in 2002; he followed that with 392 in 2003. To put that in perspective, only one other person has reached 380 since 2002-Jamal Lewis did so during his record setting season. To say that the beating he took from the numerous carries was not a factor in his recreational drug use is like saying that corrupt CEO's were not responsible for Enron. He used marijuana for many different reasons; on top of whatever else he used it for, it was also his self medicating way of dealing with his social anxiety disorder. At this point in time, it does not matter how or why he struggled so mightily with a marijuana dependency (or at least a strong affinity towards). What matters is his future, and his future is in doubt. He has been suspended for the entire year, both thrusting Ronnie Brown into first round fantasy draft territory and also leaving the possibility of another return in doubt. People point to his increasing age (He will be 30 when he is able to play again, ancient in running back years) as an indicator that he will never play again, but I think the very reason he was driven to leave the league might very well keep him in it. All of the carries that he had and all of the beating that he took caused him to realize that he did not want to suffer for the rest of his life because of his profession-he did not want to run himself out of existence or become the Ali of football. That is partially the reason for the sabbatical, if you would like to call it that, and with a year off, three quarters on and another year off, he is better for two reasons. One, even though he will be 30, the reason 30 is thought of as an old age is because of the consistent wearing down of the body. In his case, instead of further wearing his body down, he has found himself again and has treated his body with plenty of rest and holistic medicine. Those two years off will definitely help his body heal and restore after many years of football, giving him slightly fresher legs than when he left. The second and more important reason this has helped him: during his original year off, he lost a lot of weight and came back to the league much lighter. In 2005, he no longer attempted to run through the defenders, instead using his speed and elusiveness to scamper around them. He was not as dominant at first, needing to get his legs under him, but his talent was there nonetheless. You need look no further than at his rushing towards the end of the season; in the last three games, he shined. Against the Jets he rushed 14 times for 70 yards, a full 5 yards per carry. He stepped it up the following week against the Titans, enjoying a 172 yard romp through their defense. He finished with the season finale, running a hard-fought 108 yards against the New England Patriots. What this means to me is that he is not done-I can only hope that some other team agrees with me. I want to see him come back and show his talent again; show his shiftiness in eluding defenders and thereby allowing himself to extend his stay at the professional level. If nobody else will take him, I hope that Belichick will make another smart move and sign him, ignoring the growing concern like he did with signing Corey Dillon. As debatable as that move was, it led directly to a Super Bowl, and I think Ricky Williams has that level of ability even now.