NFL MEDIA ANALYSTS WARY OF RICKY WILLIAMS

MIAMI - As the Dolphins report to training camp today, some analysts
are questioning Nick Saban's decision to bring back Ricky Williams.

"I wouldn't want him on my team," ESPN's Joe Theismann said. "You have
a guy who was a habitual drug user. Williams confirmed marijuana use.
You have to assume the potential for him to be the drug addict he was
is very strong. You're going to take practice time away from Ronnie
Brown and give it to someone who you're trying to justify giving $8
million to? Let him go off with Lenny Kravitz and sit with the Dali
Lama. I have no use for him."

ESPN's Paul Maguire concurs: "If I were Saban, I would not bring him
back. He deserted his teammates. I don't know how you make it a better
team when you demoralize it."

ESPN's Merril Hoge, a former NFL running back, said even though he
would welcome back Williams, he doesn't think he will be an elite back
again.

"Ricky was on the downslope in 2003," Hoge said. "He quit hitting the
hole, ran out of bounds and got dragged down from behind. He was
trying to prolong his life. You can't survive that way. He was more
physical three years ago - it wasn't even close."

Hoge said Williams "will get more energy because he knows it won't be
just him anymore. I could see him having 800 to 1,000 yards. An elite
back is 1,500 yards, and that isn't going to happen."

Not everybody is dismissing Ricky. "If he gets back in shape,
genetically he's in a different area code than other players," CBS'
Phil Simms said. "Maybe taking a year off will prolong his career.
Some players will be uncomfortable. But if I was the quarterback
there, I would say let's bring him in. We don't have to like him."