DAVIE - Although facing other obstacles toward a return to the NFL, Ricky Williams was prepared this week to rejoin the Dolphins until the running back learned the team had no interest in giving him a new contract, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported today.
Unhappy with an incentive-laden deal that would pay him $3.73-million in 2004, Williams approached coach Dave Wannstedt and general manager Rick Spielman about the possibility of a return provided he received "a significant raise." Williams was told that wasn't a possibility, and owner H. Wayne Huizenga would never agree to financially reward a player whose abrupt retirement in late July caused so much harm to the franchise, the newspaper reported.
Agent Leigh Steinberg, who also reportedly spoke with Wannstedt and Spielman, did not return telephone calls seeking comment. Wannstedt and Spielman declined comment.
The Dolphins recently sent Williams a letter warning he had until Monday to report or face the recoupment of $8.6-million paid by the team and the New Orleans Saints over the previous five seasons. Williams and Steinberg agreed to recoupment provisions in a restructured contract the Dolphins gave him in 2002.
There is growing resentment toward Williams as he takes shots at the Dolphins from a distance. Williams' latest gripes about the franchise concerned his unhappiness with logging an NFL-record 775 carries over the past two seasons and the promotion of Chris Foerster to offensive coordinator instead of Marc Trestman when Joel Collier resigned in May.
The Sun-Sentinel reported Williams thought his heavy workload was going to continue under Foerster, while Trestman would have presented a more diversified offense.
JAGUARS: Jacksonville signed 14-year veteran placekicker Steve Christie, adding much-needed experience. The 36-year-old Christie spent the previous three seasons with San Diego, where he connected on 42 of 57 field goals. Josh Scobee, a fifth-round draft pick, was the only other kicker on the roster. He converted just one of his four field goals in two preseason games.
TEXANS: Houston placed inside linebacker Marcus Bell on injured reserve with a shoulder injury he suffered last weekend in a game at Pittsburgh. Bell, 27, was in the running for a backup job after sitting out the 2003 season. Bell, a fourth-round draft choice in 2000, spent his first three seasons with Seattle before getting cut last August.
