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Retired running back Ricky Williams is scheduled to meet Thursday with the NFL to seek permission to immediately rejoin the Miami Dolphins, despite his multiple violations of the league's substance abuse program.
William David Cornwell, an attorney representing Williams, and the NFL Players Association will also attend the meeting in California.
"We are anxious to present the case for permitting Ricky to rejoin the Miami Dolphins this year and to clarify his status under the league's substance abuse program," Cornwell said in a statement Monday.
In July, Williams said he learned shortly before retiring that he had failed a drug test for marijuana -- his third violation in the program since 2002.
Because of the violations and Williams' subsequent retirement, the Dolphins say their understanding is that he is suspended for the entire season. The NFL has declined to comment.
If Williams were to play this year, it would likely be with Miami, because the league trade deadline is Tuesday.
The Dolphins haven't won a game since the 2002 NFL rushing champion retired. At 0-6, they're the league's lone winless team and off to the worst start in their 39-year history.
Cornwell declined to address Williams' motivation for coming out of retirement.
"It is not appropriate to discuss our rationale for rejoining the Dolphins until after the NFL and NFLPA hear from us directly," Cornwell said.
Contributing to the change of heart was an arbitration ruling Sept. 24 that Williams must repay more than $8.6 million to the Dolphins for breaching his contract. He has done without his $3.5 million salary while traveling in Australia and Asia.
Source: AP
William David Cornwell, an attorney representing Williams, and the NFL Players Association will also attend the meeting in California.
"We are anxious to present the case for permitting Ricky to rejoin the Miami Dolphins this year and to clarify his status under the league's substance abuse program," Cornwell said in a statement Monday.
In July, Williams said he learned shortly before retiring that he had failed a drug test for marijuana -- his third violation in the program since 2002.
Because of the violations and Williams' subsequent retirement, the Dolphins say their understanding is that he is suspended for the entire season. The NFL has declined to comment.
If Williams were to play this year, it would likely be with Miami, because the league trade deadline is Tuesday.
The Dolphins haven't won a game since the 2002 NFL rushing champion retired. At 0-6, they're the league's lone winless team and off to the worst start in their 39-year history.
Cornwell declined to address Williams' motivation for coming out of retirement.
"It is not appropriate to discuss our rationale for rejoining the Dolphins until after the NFL and NFLPA hear from us directly," Cornwell said.
Contributing to the change of heart was an arbitration ruling Sept. 24 that Williams must repay more than $8.6 million to the Dolphins for breaching his contract. He has done without his $3.5 million salary while traveling in Australia and Asia.
Source: AP