NFL: Williams' comeback under way

The running back returns to training camp with the Dolphins and apologizes for his abrupt retirement last year.
DAVIE, Fla. - Ricky Williams made all the right moves on the field with the Miami Dolphins yesterday. - NFL Football -
First, he showed up. Then he reached the end zone on his first carry, smiled at cheering fans, apologized for leaving the team in the lurch, said he was done with dope and calmly submitted to a media interrogation regarding his one-year retirement.
One question - the first one - momentarily stumped him, though: Why did he return?
"Why? Why? I don't know. I don't know," he said.
Uh-oh. This roller-coaster ride still seems a little rickety. - NFL Football -
Greeted with hugs from teammates and cheers from fans, Williams returned to the Dolphins for their opening training camp practice under new coach Nick Saban. Lining up for his first play since the 2003 season, Williams took a handoff from quarterback Gus Frerotte and sprinted 20 yards to the goal line. - NFL Football -
But there was no defense on the field, and he is sure to meet stiffer resistance in the weeks to come as he tries to regain favor and reclaim a starting job.
"Look, we're kind of in the risk-taking business," Saban said. "I've talked to the team about it. I think everybody is accepting of his ability and respectful of him as a competitor. I think everybody is anxious to see that he is committed and to evaluate his level of commitment."
At a team meeting Sunday after players reported for camp, Williams spoke and apologized for the impact caused by his retirement a year ago last weekend. The Dolphins went into a nosedive and finished 4-12, their worst season since the 1960s. - NFL Football -
"There were things about life that I wanted to explore outside of football, and I had never had the chance," Williams said at a news conference after practice. "I realize by making that decision, I affected the team in a negative way and upset a lot of fans. - NFL Football -
"I'm very regretful that people were hurt in the process of me doing that. I do realize that to a lot of people it comes off as being very selfish. So I do offer an apology to all the people who were negatively impacted."
When the topic turned to his admitted use of marijuana, Williams said he no longer smokes it. He faces a four-game suspension at the start of the season for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. - NFL Football -
"Being an NFL player, I had a problem with some of the rules," he said. "I wasn't very comfortable with it, and I decided to walk away from it. Being away and having a chance to learn a lot about myself, I realized that freedom is having the strength to be in any situation and be content with that situation." - NFL Football -
His words of contrition seemed to satisfy teammates, including center Seth McKinney, who a year ago called Williams a quitter. - NFL Football -
"In the team meeting, he did what he had to do," McKinney said. "He's a man about it. We're all being men about it. Nobody is holding any grudges. We all want him back."

The Associated Press