RICKY WILL DO DRUG REHAB

DAVIE - Ricky Williams is a changed man, his agent says, and is willing to
undergo drug counseling to prove it.

Williams, the former Dolphins running back, will reenter the NFL's
drug-treatment program as soon as he moves back to South Florida, his agent
said Thursday.

"We've told them we want to be back in the program," Leigh Steinberg said.

That would be the first step for Williams to rejoin the league and the
Dolphins for the season. It would be a significant turnaround for a player
who retired in July and said that his desire to smoke marijuana freely
clashed with the strict drug-testing regimen the NFL imposed on him.

If he returns to the NFL, he would be subject to as many as 10 surprise drug
tests a month.

"He accepts that," Steinberg said.

Steinberg said Williams will begin treatment locally, and that should be a
sign to the Dolphins that he is serious about returning.

"He never really lost his drive to play football," Steinberg said. "He's
always had a desire, a love for the game."

Williams has said that he smoked marijuana to deal with his social anxiety
disorder because it worked better than prescription medication.

But in the past year Williams has studied holistic medicine in California
and yoga in India, Steinberg said, adding that both disciplines discourage
drug use. Williams has made friends within those circles who have acted as
his support system and helped him "heal his body and his mind," Steinberg
said.

Williams would have to overcome several obstacles before he could don a
Dolphins uniform.

The yoga has left Williams strong and limber, but thin. Steinberg said
Williams weighs about 195 pounds. The Dolphins listed him last year as
5-feet-10 and 226 pounds.

Williams would have to serve a four-game suspension for failing a third NFL
drug test last year.

The Dolphins, who sought to recover bonuses paid to Williams, have an $8.6
million judgment against him for breaking his contract. Even if the Dolphins
forgave all or part of the judgment upon his return, there is the question
of his contract. Because he refused to play last year, he might have to
accept the league minimum of $540,000 instead of the $3.7 million specified
in the original deal.

"I think both sides are going to be conciliatory," Steinberg said. "It
doesn't make sense that they're going to stick Ricky Williams with a
$500,000-a-year contract."

Dolphins coach Nick Saban was not available for comment Thursday.

If Williams does return, it's possible that the Dolphins could use him as
trade bait. They drafted running back Ronnie Brown with their first pick in
last month's draft and already have Lamar Gordon, Sammie Morris and Travis
Minor under contract.

"There haven't been any discussions about trading Ricky," said Steinberg,
who added that Williams would return with a true desire to play and make
amends.

Center choices: The Dolphins have options at center. Although Seth McKinney
re-signed in the off-season, new line coach Hudson Houck moved Wade Smith
from offensive tackle to center this spring.

Smith said all the lineman are learning to play every position on the line.
Smith, a center at Memphis, said getting playing time is what's important.

"My favorite position is the one that's going to get me on the field," Smith
said.