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**BU54** · 11-07-2007, 07:30 AM

Ricky's agent remains optimistic
By TIM GRAHAM

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

The agent for suspended Dolphins running back Ricky Williams expects the NFL to rule "any day" on his application for reinstatement.

There were rumblings over the weekend that the league would not let Williams play this season, but agent Leigh Steinberg said he and his client are optimistic.

Williams is serving a suspension that dates to April 2006, when he violated the NFL substance-abuse policy for the fourth time. He subsequently failed a drug test during his treatment.

Williams, who's second on the Dolphins' all-time rushing list, filed for reinstatement Oct. 1.

"I expect to hear any day," Steinberg said.

Williams this summer completed four months of NFL-mandated therapy at a Boston facility. The clinical report of his rehabilitation, believed to be favorable, was forwarded to the league.

"Ricky is emotionally and physically in great shape," Steinberg said. "He's upbeat. The dedication and focus that he exhibited this last summer should result in his return to play in the NFL.

"The NFL's substance-abuse program is designed to be rehabilitative, not punitive, and it would be a major victory for the NFL policy to have a healthy Ricky Williams back on the playing field."

ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported over the weekend that the NFL likely would not approve Williams' return because of a difference in opinion regarding treatment of Williams' social-anxiety disorder.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Tuesday "there has been no decision on Ricky Williams' petition for reinstatement. It continues to be under review."

Steinberg insisted he wasn't aware of any such disagreement within the league but didn't deny that there could be.

The substance-abuse policy states that once a suspended player applies for reinstatement, NFL doctors have 45 days to submit a recommendation to the commissioner. The commissioner then has 15 days to render a decision.

When the Dolphins were in London to play the New York Giants on Oct. 28, an NFL spokesman said Commissioner Roger Goodell, who attended the game, would begin to review the case when he returned stateside.

Steinberg said he has been in regular contact with the Dolphins' front office but claimed no insight as to whether the club would welcome back Williams, who led the league with 1,853 rushing yards in 2002. The Dolphins have said they would not comment on his possible return while he remains suspended.

Williams, who turned 30 in May, is living in Boston with his fiancée. If he were reinstated, the Dolphins' only options would be to keep him or waive him because the trade deadline has passed.

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Ricky's agent remains optimistic

dougp23 · 11-07-2007, 12:28 PM

By the time he comes back clean, if that's possible for him to do, I can't see where he'd be worth much to any team. Maybe he's still incredibly athletically gifted, but last I looked at his doings in Canada, they weren't that spectacular.