Ricky Williams is Ready...So He Claims

If the Dolphins are to be successful, some of it will depend on - yes - Ricky Williams. Depending on perhaps the most undependable NFL player sounds like a risky affair, and it is, but I like what I'm hearing.

PhinFever gives us reason for optimism with this piece on Ricky's current mindset. Here's a bit:

"What I like about this version of Ricky is that he is coming out and talking to media and fans once again. I miss the Ricky Williams that had a web site for the fans, answered fan letters, and met you online to play Madden. Let's face it though, this is a one year Rent-a-Ricky and I am pulling for him to succeed."

I'm pulling for him too. Behind all his eccentricities, he's really a good guy.

The Old Hearing Aid Excuse

In today's Sun-Sentinel we find out that the current rift of many rifts between Duane Charles and Jason Taylor wasn't a rift at all. The problem? He didn't hear him.

No, seriously.

However, last Saturday, Taylor admitted that the widely circulated reports were accurate and that he did feel snubbed by Parcells when he made a brief appearance during a film session at team headquarters last month while on a break from his stint on ABC's Dancing With the Stars. Taylor added that their encounter was not "confrontational."

"I was in the room there with a lot of people," Parcells said. "I have hearing aids. I didn't have them with me that day. I didn't see anybody walk into the room directly.

The quick and interesting read drops some more Parcells nuggets:

On running back Ricky Williams: "I've always had a high regard for the player. ... We're hoping he could recapture some of what he had because what he had was pretty special, so I'm rooting for him."

Aren't we all...

On Patriots coach Bill Belichick's Spygate episode: "I think it was overblown. If the competition is victimized by someone spying on you — if that happened — it's your fault because you could take precautions to keep that from happening if you're smart enough."

Appeasing the AFC East gatekeepers. Laud them with praise, then attack the champs. Interesting approach.

Insert pre-requisite Dancing With The Stars clip:

Phin-Mates the New Bengals?

We've had a lot of positive coverage of the Parcells-era Dolphins lately. You all know I've even been a bit ridiculous, projecting playoff possibilities. As Jason Taylor keeps improving on Dancing With the Stars, so are the Dolphins in their offseason standing.

I regret to inform you, then, that there's a disturbing trend developing among Dolphins players: arrests. Phinfever tells us that the Dolphins now have four arrests this year, thanks to some misbehavior from CB Will Allen. PhinFever's thoughts:

"Even though I am one of the biggest supporters of "innocent until proven guilty" at Phinfever, this is starting to get irritating. It's only May and we already have four arrests on our record for the 2008 season."

Keep in mind that the modern-day record was set by the 2006 Bengals, who managed double digits in arrests. At four, the Dolphins aren't far behind. Right now, Ricky Williams is looking like the most upstanding citizen on the squad.

Dolphins RBs Looking Good

Here's a quick update on the Dolphins RB situation. As many of you recall, the two-man force of Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams was dominant a couple years ago, but various "off the field" problems sidelined Ricky Williams, while Ronnie Brown suffered a torn ACL. Here's an update on their progress:

Phinsider tells us that Ronnie Brown is ahead of schedule in his recovery. This from the Sun-Sentinel:

"Ronnie is way ahead of schedule. He spoke to the rookies at the recent minicamp and they were impressed by Brown's size, particularly, Jalen Parmele. With an ACL, you never know how complete the rehab is until he starts cutting. He still has more than two months before he has to face that."

I find that very encouraging.

As for the more mercurial of the two (and by that, I mean Ricky Williams of course), there's good news on that front too. As FinsNation informs in a way only he can (lashing out at Jets fans):

"Jets fans better be on their guard because I'm gonna show up and verbally kick them out of other people's houses! They cannot stop me or Ricky with conventional doucheyness. Their doucheyness has no power over us! Their doucheyness only makes us stronger!!! Bring it on, I say!

So, yea, Ricky is looking strong."

Great stuff. I can't wait to see the two-headed monster in action again. Maybe Ricky can even give Ronnie some of his weed to ease the pain.

Just a Thought...

As the Dolphins continue to draft, I can't help but wonder where the 'fins are going to get their points from. There's the so-far unimpressive John Beck or Chad Henne calling the plays. Ronnie Brown should be back, but healthy? He remains to be their one, lone threat. Ricky Williams will be back, for a few weeks anyways until he remembers he's Ricky Williams and disappears into the Amazon. Ted Ginn, Jr. is their biggest threat at WR, and he didn't exactly stand out in his rookie year. Behind Ginn on the depth chart is Greg Camillaro, Derick Hagan, David Kircus, Tab Perry, and Ernest Wilford. Not exactly a yellow brick road to the endzone.

I think its clear Parcells wants to build up front. But even if you give Beck (or Henne, or McCown) 10 mississippi's, if no one's open he's gonna be in trouble. I'm a little nervous that defenses will simply stuff 8 or 9 in the box to stop Ronnie and force the Dolphins to beat them through the air. I would have loved to seen Miami take an Early Ducett or Mario Manningham or Andre Caldwell in the 3rd round. We'll see what is left for the 'fins in the last few rounds.

Lorenzo Booker traded to the Eagles

Lorenzo Booker was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles for their 4th round pick. #16 in the round, #115 overall.

While it is good that we are stockpiling picks to rebuild, I have to admit that I was somewhat excited by the idea of the Fins using LoBo as a Reggie Bush/H-back type of player next season. Using a player like that in dual-RB sets with some back-field dump-offs can be pretty dangerous.

On the bright side, however, this could also mean that Sparano and Parcells have been impressed enough with Ricky Williams that they do not think they need LoBo anymore.