MJZiggy
04-28-2006, 09:30 AM
DOLPHINS
The Toronto Argonauts contacted the agent for suspended running back Ricky Williams to gauge the player's interest.
BY JASON COLE AND ARMANDO SALGUERO
jcole@MiamiHerald.com
HEADING NORTH? Suspended Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams has drawn interest by the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.
The Canadian Football League is interested in suspended running back Ricky Williams.
But if Williams hopes to play north of the border, he will need permission from the Dolphins.
The Dolphins on Thursday clarified information they game to the media a day earlier, saying Williams can indeed play in the CFL. However, under the NFL's standard player contract, he must first gain permission.
Agent Leigh Steinberg said Thursday he received a call from Toronto Argonauts assistant general manager Greg Mohns about the possibility of Williams playing. Steinberg said he will talk with Williams, and said any discussions would include the Dolphins.
''[Mohns] inquired into Ricky's interest in playing for a year while on suspension,'' said Steinberg, who later spoke with Dolphins president Bryan Wiedmeier. ``I left a message with Ricky, but I haven't had a chance to discuss it with him.''
Steinberg said he would discuss this relatively soon with Williams, but gave no indication of what might happen. Under CFL rules, players can't earn more than $150,000 in a season. Training camp for the Argonauts opens May 21, he said.
Williams was suspended Tuesday for a minimum of one season for a fourth violation of the NFL's substance-abuse policy. Despite that, he still is subject to rules of his contract.
The ''other activities'' paragraph of the contract reads as such: ``Without prior written consent of the club, player will not play football or engage in activities related to football otherwise than for club or engage in any activity other than football which may involve a significant risk of personal injury.''
Dolphins spokesman Harvey Greene said the team has not been approached by Williams to seek permission.
''Ricky is under contract to the Dolphins and we're not going to speculate on any hypothetical situations,'' Greene said.
TALKS WITH WALKER
The Dolphins have sought and received permission to negotiate a contract with Green Bay Packers receiver Javon Walker for the purpose of working out a trade for the former first-round draft pick from Florida State.
Miami has only an outside chance of landing Walker, however, because the Packers reportedly are further along in negotiations with the Denver Broncos and New Orleans Saints, teams Walker was scheduled to visit Thursday and today.
The Dolphins are in the mix with Kansas City, New England and Philadelphia -- teams that joined the negotiations after Denver and New Orleans.
The reason the Dolphins seem handicapped in their pursuit of Walker is because they don't have the salary-cap space to rival New England or Philadelphia and don't have as high a draft pick to meet Green Bay's asking price as the other teams.
The Packers are looking for a first-round pick, but likely will settle for a second-rounder in this weekend's draft. The Dolphins don't own a second-round pick, but seem willing to offer their third-round selection.
Walker is coming off knee surgery, but has maintained he will be ready for training camp in July. He has threatened to sit out the first 10 games of the season unless the Packers trade him.
The Toronto Argonauts contacted the agent for suspended running back Ricky Williams to gauge the player's interest.
BY JASON COLE AND ARMANDO SALGUERO
jcole@MiamiHerald.com
HEADING NORTH? Suspended Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams has drawn interest by the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.
The Canadian Football League is interested in suspended running back Ricky Williams.
But if Williams hopes to play north of the border, he will need permission from the Dolphins.
The Dolphins on Thursday clarified information they game to the media a day earlier, saying Williams can indeed play in the CFL. However, under the NFL's standard player contract, he must first gain permission.
Agent Leigh Steinberg said Thursday he received a call from Toronto Argonauts assistant general manager Greg Mohns about the possibility of Williams playing. Steinberg said he will talk with Williams, and said any discussions would include the Dolphins.
''[Mohns] inquired into Ricky's interest in playing for a year while on suspension,'' said Steinberg, who later spoke with Dolphins president Bryan Wiedmeier. ``I left a message with Ricky, but I haven't had a chance to discuss it with him.''
Steinberg said he would discuss this relatively soon with Williams, but gave no indication of what might happen. Under CFL rules, players can't earn more than $150,000 in a season. Training camp for the Argonauts opens May 21, he said.
Williams was suspended Tuesday for a minimum of one season for a fourth violation of the NFL's substance-abuse policy. Despite that, he still is subject to rules of his contract.
The ''other activities'' paragraph of the contract reads as such: ``Without prior written consent of the club, player will not play football or engage in activities related to football otherwise than for club or engage in any activity other than football which may involve a significant risk of personal injury.''
Dolphins spokesman Harvey Greene said the team has not been approached by Williams to seek permission.
''Ricky is under contract to the Dolphins and we're not going to speculate on any hypothetical situations,'' Greene said.
TALKS WITH WALKER
The Dolphins have sought and received permission to negotiate a contract with Green Bay Packers receiver Javon Walker for the purpose of working out a trade for the former first-round draft pick from Florida State.
Miami has only an outside chance of landing Walker, however, because the Packers reportedly are further along in negotiations with the Denver Broncos and New Orleans Saints, teams Walker was scheduled to visit Thursday and today.
The Dolphins are in the mix with Kansas City, New England and Philadelphia -- teams that joined the negotiations after Denver and New Orleans.
The reason the Dolphins seem handicapped in their pursuit of Walker is because they don't have the salary-cap space to rival New England or Philadelphia and don't have as high a draft pick to meet Green Bay's asking price as the other teams.
The Packers are looking for a first-round pick, but likely will settle for a second-rounder in this weekend's draft. The Dolphins don't own a second-round pick, but seem willing to offer their third-round selection.
Walker is coming off knee surgery, but has maintained he will be ready for training camp in July. He has threatened to sit out the first 10 games of the season unless the Packers trade him.