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Post by CentreHice on May 30, 2006 23:50:29 GMT -5
I voted Disagree. After hearing Joe Theismann's rant this morning: HOT AUDIO Joe Theismann on the Morning Show. www.fan590.com/I tend to agree with him. The Argos are spinning the whole thing in terms of Ricky Williams being a classy guy, a solid individual, an intelligent human being. Yes, I believe in redemption. Theismann is saying that Williams hasn't respected the game of football...he does not abide by its rules. 4 times caught. One year suspension. He owes the Miami Dolphins in excess of $7 million for breach of contract. Yet he's getting his arse kissed by the Argonauts. In being the highest paid running back in the CFL right now, he's also taking someone else's place. I think the bottom line is just that: the bottom line. The Argos smell a full Rogers Centre and a Grey Cup. |
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Post by Skilly on May 31, 2006 5:56:56 GMT -5
I am still not sure how this happened. I hate Ricky Williams but if this was a legit contract I would not begrudge the Argos doing what they can to optimize their chances to win .... they have done it time and time again (see Rocket Ismail). But the Ismail contract was legit. As far as I know, the CFL has a rule that it can not sign players to standard CFL contracts if they are under contract to another team or another league. Ricky Williams is still a Miami Dolphin. He is suspended for this year, but his contract is good for the 2007 NFL year. So how did the CFL, in good faith, allow the Argo to sign him?
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Post by franko on May 31, 2006 5:58:42 GMT -5
Bang on, CH. And I'm the "redemption should be available" guy, the guy who is all for second chances. But the second part of the "he who is without sin" is "go and sin no more".
Ricky: clean up then come back.
It is indeed all about the money.
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Post by Skilly on May 31, 2006 6:00:13 GMT -5
Bang on, CH. And I'm the "redemption should be available" guy, the guy who is all for second chances. But the second part of the "he who is without sin" is "go and sin no more". Ricky: clean up then come back. It is indeed all about the money. I think he is getting paid $248,000 dollars. That's the highest paid running back in the CFL. Chump change for NFL running backs who don't piss errrr smoke their money away!  |
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Post by CentreHice on May 31, 2006 7:16:19 GMT -5
Bang on, CH. And I'm the "redemption should be available" guy, the guy who is all for second chances. But the second part of the "he who is without sin" is "go and sin no more". Ricky: clean up then come back. It is indeed all about the money. I think he is getting paid $248,000 dollars. That's the highest paid running back in the CFL. Chump change for NFL running backs who don't piss errrr smoke their money away! I think franko means it's all about $$$ for the Argos. That and a Grey Cup. $248,000 is also chump change for the Argos if Williams can indeed sell-out the Rogers Centre. That's why the spin is so incredibly "positive" from the Argos' brass. The potential profit margin is huge. It's now 8:17 am Wednesday, and Pinball Clemons is on the Fan 590.....some quotes: "Ricky Williams works harder than anybody at practice." "Miami sports media reported him as the most likeable guy in all of Miami sports." "Have you ever been involved in the process of helping to turn a person's life around?" "He's so bright, so intelligent. He has put considerable thought into who he was and where he should be." "In terms of the Argos being hyprocites, it takes courage to do what's right over what's popular." "Our message to the community isn't a mixed message....we're saying it doesn't matter what you've done. We're not coming to you as perfect people telling you what to do, we're coming as imperfect people, saying you can turn your life around." "The yoga that he's practicing....he's become a vegetarian, they don't believe in drug use. Collectively, the things he's done over the last year and a half mean a great deal. The discipline he now has in his life, the people he has around him, his agent." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What better mouthpiece for your organization than Pinball "Mr. Integrity" Clemons? I certainly hope he hasn't compromised it with this move. I trust that he actually believes what he is saying. If it doesn't work out, it'll be, "At least we made the effort. We extended the hand." The Argos spin is completely that of being the good Samaritan. Let he who is without sin, etc. So please, everybody....come spend your good money watching us turn a player's life around so he can go back and make mllions once again in the NFL. I still say Keith Pelley and the top brass smell a huge profit in terms of the $248,000 investment....they don't care which one of their regular running backs has to sit for a year, do they? There's some loyalty. I'm sure he's all for sacrificing a year of his career (will he still get paid his full salary?) to help Ricky Williams turn his life around. I'd say it's 99% business, 1% humanitarian....and it's being spun as 100% humanitarian. |
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Post by HabSolute on May 31, 2006 8:11:28 GMT -5
Quite honestly, 3 weeks ago, I had never heard the name Ricky Williams before (don't follow NFL anymore). But it was so ALL over the radio that now I feel like I know him. I am starting to think the Argos fans are just like Leafs fans.... bunch of dump sheep. 3 weeks ago, when the story started to come out, 90% of people who called the talk show were outraged saying "why do we need a drug addict, if he's not good enough for the NFL, why does he come here, drugs and sports don't go together, bla, bla, bla....." and I suspect most of them had never seen him played before... Now that the Argos have done a "masterfull" job at cleaning this guy's reputation, 90% of the calls are about " Great move, redemption, second chance, who cares if he smoke pot, blablabla..." , they ALL love the guy and I still suspect most of them had never seen him played before... I'll bet if the guy is a bust, they will all call back and say: "I knew we should have never gone for this guy..blablabla..." Are fan just as bad and stupid on Montreal talk show ? I don't remember being that bad ? Anyway, being not really emotionnaly involve in this one way or another, my first reaction is similar to Theismanns. If a guy screws up once, it's one thing; but 4 times  ?? How many strikes do you get ? I remember thinking, how can they hire a guy that the NFL suspended ? What does it say about the CFL ? To me, it's not about Ricky Williams, you can replace his name with any other name. There is just something about this deal that doesn't sound right....unless you are a dump sheep.... |
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Post by Skilly on Jun 1, 2006 11:54:08 GMT -5
I hate Pinball Clemons too.
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Post by HabSolute on Jun 1, 2006 12:25:06 GMT -5
I hate Pinball Clemons too. He's like a God in Toronto.... |
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Post by Boston_Habs on Jun 1, 2006 16:18:32 GMT -5
I'm actually a longtime Dolphins fan. Ricky Williams is an interesting dude - quiet, thoughtful, and definitely marches to his own tune. He has a life outside football and had a little trouble staying away from marijuana, but that is a misdemeanor at best and not a crime. Still he knew the consequences of violating the substance abuse program and he got burned. I don't know what he got caught for this time but it wasn't weed. Still the NFL had no choice but to crack down even though the whole thing is a farce.
He got ripped by his teamates in Miami for bailing on them before the season a couple years back but the guy just decided that he didn't have the desire to spend the next 4 months getting knocked on his ass. When he came back last year, everyone in Miami (players, fans, media) was impressed with the way he carried himself.
He's in Toronto because he wants to play football and get paid. As long as he's there, he'll run hard, keep to himself, play by the rules and then return to Miami next year. This isn't a head case and violent criminal like Lawrence Phillips. Argo fans should be happy.
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Post by BadCompany on Jun 1, 2006 17:37:16 GMT -5
Ever read the book Pros and Cons, the Criminals who play in the NFL?
From Amazon.com:
Startling in its breadth, Benedict and Yaeger's investigation into the off-the-field violence and criminal behavior that pervades the culture of professional football is as eye opening as it is disturbing. That these guys get into trouble is nothing new, but when their offenses are collected in one place--with mug shots, court records, police reports, and interviews with arresting officers--the effect is as surreal as the statistics: 21 percent of the NFL's players have been charged with a serious crime.
How serious? The docket begins with assault, rape, and domestic violence and keeps spiraling out of control. These are not just blind allegations; the authors name names and match felonies to players. Some of the better-known examples: Cornelius Bennett--rape and sexual assault; Cortez Kennedy--domestic violence; Michael Irvin--cocaine and marijuana possession; Nate Newton--sexual assault; Warren Moon--domestic violence; Jake Plummer--sexual abuse; Andre Rison--aggravated assault; Bruce Smith--driving under the influence; and Deion Sanders--aggravated assault, disorderly convict, trespassing, and battery.
Yet, as disturbing as the names and numbers are, Benedict and Yaeger's contention, backed by exhaustive research, is even worse: the league pretty much looks away, tacitly condoning the havoc caused by these overpaid, coddled men-children, whose very propensity for unchecked mayhem fills stadiums on Sunday. But, then, in the NFL's view of things, football is the law. Make no mistake about Pros and Cons though; as sensational as much of it is, this is a serious work with serious footnotes compiled by serious journalists, who, in the end, do something the game's establishment has avoided: they offer a detailed "Game Plan" for addressing the issues they raise. It begins with respecting law and imposing order. --Jeff Silverman
From Library Journal
When the authors checked a sample consisting of a third of the players on National Football League teams during the 1996/97 season, they discovered that 21 percent had been arrested or indicted for serious crimes ranging from fraud to homicide. Upon investigating the specific instances behind the statistics, they uncovered a disturbing trend?the NFL continues to employ players with multiple arrests and multiple convictions, just as long as they are capable of playing winning football. About the only thing that drew official sanction was the public revelation of extensive gambling activity because that was perceived as casting doubt on the integrity of the game. Benedict is the author of Public Heroes, Private Felons (LJ 10/15/97), and Yaeger has authored or coauthored a number of sport-related books. Expect a lot of demand for this book in the coming months since it is a perfect candidate for the talk-show circuits. Most public libraries will wish to purchase, as will many academic libraries with sports or sports ethics collections.?Terry Madden, Boise State Univ Lib., ID
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Jamal Lewis, Ray Caruth, Ray Lewis (who if he didn't actually fire the gun that killed two people, knows d*mn well who did), the list goes on and on. I don't know what the statistics actually are, but anecdotally, I would say the majority of transgression NFL players are involved in involve beating up women. How so very manly of them. Perhaps a side effect of steroids, which despite the obvious evidence, the NFL somehow seems to get a free pass on.
Ricky Williams smokes pot, and at one point he decided that he wasn't going to be able to give 100% to his team, so he walked away. As far as crimes go, the first is minor (and legal in Canada), and the second may even be noble. After all, how often do we dog certain players on the Habs, for not giving it there all? If he knew ahead of time he wasn't going to be able to do it, then good on him for walking away.
As for the Argos signing him, as a big Alouettes fan I am disappointed, but it was a smart and good move by them. As BH points out, Williams is no Lawrence Phillips, who had about the same number of assault on women charges against him when he was signed by the Als, as Williams has drug charges against him...
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Post by IamCanadiens on Jun 1, 2006 17:41:47 GMT -5
Williams will be on pace to crush the single season rushing record until his first road trip to BC where he will discover BC's finest which his true passion.
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Post by jkr on Jun 1, 2006 18:08:00 GMT -5
At first I was upset but than I ( as an Alouettes fan) remembered that this has happened before , frequently. I cringed when the Als cut Mike Pringle and signed Lawrence Phillips - by all accounts a bad dude. All was forgiven I guess because Montreal won the Grey Cup but I guess that's what it's all about.
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Jun 1, 2006 22:38:07 GMT -5
If Ricky thought Miami was boring and had to smoke, just wait until he spends a weekend in To. He'll be smoking more than a Renault Dauphine with an empty radiator.
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Post by jkr on Jun 2, 2006 6:53:57 GMT -5
If Ricky thought Miami was boring and had to smoke, just wait until he spends a weekend in To. He'll be smoking more than a Renault Dauphine with an empty radiator. LOL Where do you come up with this stuff. Do you have professional writers on staff?  |
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Post by MC Habber on Jun 7, 2006 0:35:53 GMT -5
Matthews rips CFL, Argos over WilliamsTSN.ca Staff 6/6/2006 12:35:16 PM The Don isn't happy with the CFL.Now that the ink has dried on Ricky Williams' contract with the Toronto Argonauts, Alouettes head coach Don Matthews ripped into the league and the Argonauts for making the CFL appear "second-rate". "I've been in the league a long time and I've watched a lot of things happen," Matthews told reporters Monday. "But I've never been as embarrassed as with how this situation has unfolded." The Globe and Mail reports that while Matthews and general manager Jim Popp are of similar opinion on the Williams matter, it appears that Als owner Robert Wetenhall supported the move. "I would think your getting Ricky Williams would be great for the CFL's gate and really great for U.S. television exposure," Wetenhall wrote in an e-mail a couple of weeks ago to Argos owners David Cynamon and Howard Sokolowski. While CFL Commissioner Tom Wright has suggested that the league may want to close the "loophole" that allowed the Argos to sign Williams in the first place, Matthews insists that a loophole didn't exist until the CFL created one with this signing. "Paragraph 22 says you cannot sign in our league if you are under contract to another league," Matthews pointed out. "The kid is a good kid, I have no problem with him," Matthews said. "I have a problem with how the league put its head in the sand and pandered to the NFL. I'm embarrassed. I'm not being strong, I'm just being honest."
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Post by franko on Jun 7, 2006 7:03:45 GMT -5
Matthews isn't happy with the Argos? Let's see . . . what happened last season that would make him unhappy? Heard that there are a few teams unhappy with the signing . . . because the Argos beat them to it! And if I recall, Ricky isn't the first suspended NFL'er to be brought up to the CFL. In fact, did Montreal not have a questionable signing or two? Don . . . worry about your own team . . . |
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Post by Polarice on Jun 7, 2006 11:47:17 GMT -5
Am I the only one who thinks this signing is good for the CFL? Come on, look at the press, and who know maybe we could lure some other pot smoking football players to cross the boarder!!  |
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Jun 7, 2006 15:45:40 GMT -5
Am I the only one who thinks this signing is good for the CFL? Come on, look at the press, and who know maybe we could lure some other pot smoking football players to cross the boarder!! Where there's smoke there's fire. I have it on good authority that Rickey put the lit joint to his lips, but didn't inhale. I value the honesty of individuals who tell the truth about their exploits instead of covering them up. I'm sure that hillary would give Ricky another chance. |
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Post by Skilly on Jun 9, 2006 7:21:55 GMT -5
Matthews isn't happy with the Argos? Let's see . . . what happened last season that would make him unhappy? Heard that there are a few teams unhappy with the signing . . . because the Argos beat them to it! And if I recall, Ricky isn't the first suspended NFL'er to be brought up to the CFL. In fact, did Montreal not have a questionable signing or two? Don . . . worry about your own team . . . If you are talking about Lawrence Phillips, well he wa snot under contract to another team. Ethically, it was probably a bad choice to bring in his kind of character to the team ... but legally there was no issue. Ricky Wiliams is cut from the same moral fibre as Phillips. Which I dont have a problem with actually (I am a Cowboys fan and have seen some poor characters over the years), as long as they back their crap up on the field. But Williams is under contract through next year with the Dolphins .... the CFL deliberately circumvented that rule .... and here is the question: "Did the CFL notify all teams that they will waive Clause 22 for Williams and may the highest bidder (or team Ricky likes most) win" ... or did the Argos approach the CFL and say "Hey we can get Ricky Williams, make him the highest paid CFL running back, and the gates and every city will be huge this year". |
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Post by jkr on Jun 9, 2006 17:38:13 GMT -5
Matthews isn't happy with the Argos? Let's see . . . what happened last season that would make him unhappy? Heard that there are a few teams unhappy with the signing . . . because the Argos beat them to it! And if I recall, Ricky isn't the first suspended NFL'er to be brought up to the CFL. In fact, did Montreal not have a questionable signing or two? Don . . . worry about your own team . . . "Did the CFL notify all teams that they will waive Clause 22 for Williams and may the highest bidder (or team Ricky likes most) win" ... or did the Argos approach the CFL and say "Hey we can get Ricky Williams, make him the highest paid CFL running back, and the gates and every city will be huge this year". I believe they did Skilly. Apparently every team in the CFL except Hamilton agreed to this arrangement. |
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Post by jkr on Jul 9, 2006 5:44:54 GMT -5
I wonder if Williams thought he was going to come in and dominate the CFL. He had 13 yards in Winnipeg last week. Yesterday - 9 carries, 6 yards.
I know Damon Allen isn't playing & teams can focus on Williams but he is not the difference maker Toronto thought he would be.
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Post by Skilly on Jul 9, 2006 10:40:51 GMT -5
I wonder if Williams thought he was going to come in and dominate the CFL. He had 13 yards in Winnipeg last week. Yesterday - 9 carries, 6 yards. I know Damon Allen isn't playing & teams can focus on Williams but he is not the difference maker Toronto thought he would be. He should give Grant Fuhr a call ..... both apparently can only play when high. |
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?? How many strikes do you get ? I remember thinking, how can they hire a guy that the NFL suspended ? What does it say about the CFL ? To me, it's not about Ricky Williams, you can replace his name with any other name. There is just something about this deal that doesn't sound right....unless you are a dump sheep....
