Ricky Williams Says It's 'Kind Of True' He Quit Football To Smoke Marijuana
By Rahul Lal
Former Dolphin Ricky Williams is considered of of the most talented running backs to ever touch a ball. More recently though, Williams has been the subject of a Sports Illustrated film set to debut on July 13.
The film, 'Ricky Williams Takes The High Road,' catches up with Williams five years after his NFL career ended and digs deep to find his opinions on the NFL drug testing program, medicinal marijuana and how he feels his image has been affected because of his support of the drug.
"It's kind of true, but not the way that people see it, that I quit football to go smoke weed," said Williams.
Williams tested positive for marijuana in 2003 and faced both a fine and a suspension for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy. After being rumored to have failed more drug tests, Williams announced his retirement in 2004 to study Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of holistic medicine.
Williams returned to the Dolphins in 2005 and served a suspension upon his activation of four games. Later that same season, Williams had tested positive for the fourth time for marijuana use and was suspended for the entire 2006 NFL season. Williams took to the Canadian Football League while he served his suspension in 2006. Williams went on to play in the NFL until the end of the 2011-2012 season when he would retire with over 10,000 yards to his name.
With the nature of the NFL, Williams touches on how marijuana use could help heal major injuries and keep many players calm and out of trouble.
Today, Williams is a college football analyst for the Longhorn Network, a running backs coach at a small San Antonio University and is a business owner for a gym that allows marijuana use after athletes complete a work out to better manage their pain.
Rahul Lal is an LA native stuck in a lifelong, love-hate relationship with the Lakers, Dodgers and Raiders. You can follow him on Twitter here.
