Associated Press
Monday, September 1, 2008
Ricky Williams is signed up for two more seasons in the NFL. The Miami Dolphins are hoping he plays out his contract this time.
The Dolphins signed Williams to a one-year contract extension through the 2009 season yesterday, putting their faith in the controversial running back even though he's bailed on them in the past.
Speaking publicly for the first time in months, Dolphins General Manager Jeff Ireland said the team wanted to extend the 31-year-old so he didn't become a free agent after this season.
"I wasn't here in the past so I don't really know if he had a lack of dedication," Ireland said. "[But] he's done everything that we've asked him to do. And we feel very good about our decision to extend him."
Williams won the NFL's rushing title in 2002 before flunking the league's substance abuse test five times, announcing an early retirement and torpedoing the Dolphins, who have missed the playoffs in six straight seasons.
· GIANTS: New York shored up its defensive end position by signing former Eagles first-round pick Jerome McDougle.
The Super Bowl champions lost seven-time Pro Bowler Michael Strahan to retirement in June, and two-time Pro Bowler Osi Umenyiora was sidelined with a season-ending knee injury a little more than a week ago.
· PATRIOTS: John Lynch, the longtime Pro Bowl safety signed by New England two weeks ago, was released.
The Patriots have regularly signed veterans and released them, only to sign them again if needed. Coach Bill Belichick made comments indicating that Lynch, 37, might be in that category.
· RAVENS: Baltimore cut defensive tackle J'Vonne Parker, filling the final two spots on its roster by signing defensive tackle Lamar Divens and place kicker Steve Hauschka.
Divens and Hauschka are rookies and were claimed off waivers from the Chargers and Vikings, respectively.
· LIONS: Detroit signed veteran linebacker Ryan Nece and claimed rookie running back Marcus Thomas.
The team also signed eight players to the practice squad, including former baseball prospect and Cowboys quarterback Drew Henson.
· 49ERS: San Francisco claimed linebacker Ahmad Brooks, a former Washington Post All-Met and Defensive Player of the Year from Hylton, off waivers from the Bengals, waiving linebacker Dontarrious Thomas to make room on its 53-man roster.
· BENGALS: Cincinnati released 11th-year defensive tackle Michael Myers, picked up guard Frank Davis and defensive tackle Orien Harris on waivers and placed center Dan Santucci on injured reserve.
View all comments that have been posted about this article.