With a new look - and a new jersey number - Ricky Williams joined the Toronto Argonauts on Sunday, looking to put a sullied reputation behind him.
The enigmatic Miami Dolphins running back signed a one-year contract with the Argonauts, allowing him to play football while serving a one-year suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy for a fourth time.
Freshly shorn and clean-shaven, Williams - who came to be known for his scraggly beard and dreadlocks - explained his decision to come to the Canadian Football League was largely a desire to start fresh. He felt Toronto was the perfect place to do that.
"Ever since I first arrived in Toronto, I've been surrounded by nothing but positivity," said Williams, who will wear jersey No. 27. "Everyone has been so nice. It's really an uplifting feeling to be in this kind of environment."
Despite concerns about the potential of a career-ending injury, the Dolphins allowed Williams to negotiate a deal with the Argonauts. His contract does not include an option for 2007, and he is free to return to Miami next year if he is reinstated by the NFL commissioner.
In Williams, the Argonauts get one of football's premier power backs still in his prime. Toronto coach Michael (Pinball) Clemons was ecstatic at the prospect of having a former NFL rushing champion on his roster.
"(He) has super-sized talent," said Clemons. "(He's) explosive, physical . . . he's powerful. At times, he's dominant as a football player."
The five-foot-10, 220-pound Williams comes with a hefty pricetag - at least, by CFL standards. His deal is believed to be worth around $240,000, making Williams the highest-paid running back in the league.
Williams, 29, was recently suspended by the NFL for the entire 2006 season after a fourth positive drug test. The former Heisman Trophy winner missed Miami's first four games last year following his third positive test. His first two positive tests came in 2002 and 2003, both for marijuana.
Despite his past drug troubles, Williams believes he can still be a good role model for Canadians.
"Everyone has experienced adversity in their life," said Williams, who will still be tested up to 10 times per month as part under the NFL's drug policy. "A real role model is someone who shows (people) how to deal with that adversity and make it a positive. I think my time here will serve as a great example of how I can turn something negative into a positive."
Argos president Keith Pelley said he had no doubt Williams is drug-free.
"I'm not a gambling man, but I'd bet my house that this man is clean," said Pelley.
Toronto placed Williams on its negotiation list Apr. 28 - shortly after his suspension began - and had been speaking with both agent Leigh Steinberg and the Dolphins about securing permission to sign him ever since.
Williams and Steinberg spent the past five days in Toronto, and met with Argos ownership and Pelley. But because he still has two years remaining on his contract with Miami, the sides couldn't officially hammer out a deal until the Dolphins gave Williams their approval.
That blessing came grudgingly.
"We expressed to Ricky our concerns about playing in Toronto in 2006," Dolphins coach Nick Saban said in a statement posted on the team's website. "We are relying on assurances made by Ricky, his agent, the Toronto Argonauts, and the commissioner of the Canadian Football League that Ricky will return to the Dolphins in 2007.
"Based on these assurances and despite our concerns for Ricky playing in the CFL in 2006, we will leave it up to him to decide whether or not he will negotiate a contract to play for the Argonauts this year."
The two sides did so Saturday, paving the way for Williams to provide a tremendous upgrade to the Argos' offence. He'll attend his first practice Monday morning, and is expected to get the bulk of the time at running back during the season. His arrival relegates incumbent halfback John Avery to backup duty.
"We've brought Ricky Williams here with the intention of playing him," Clemons joked.
Williams said his goal is to guide the Argos to Grey Cup glory - and not necessarily dominate the rushing standings.
"It's a team game," said Williams. "From what I hear, we have a very talented team. It's up to me to keep up my end of the bargain and perform at a high level."
The reclusive running back made headlines after abruptly retiring prior to the 2004 campaign, saying he was tired of the demands of the NFL and yearned to travel the world. He returned to play last year after a judge ordered he repay Miami $8.6 million in bonus money for breaching his contract.
The Dolphins later reduced that amount to $5.4 million, and Williams paid back a percentage of his signing bonus as part of his return.
At the time of his return, a contrite Williams apologized to his teammates for leaving the team two days before training camp - a move which factored into the Dolphins posting a franchise-worst 4-12 record. Williams finished last season with 163 carries for 743 yards - averaging an impressive 4.4 yards per carry - and six touchdowns despite missing the first four games due to suspension.
Toronto is the latest stop in Williams's topsy-turvy football career, one that began in 1999 as the future of the New Orleans Saints' franchise. Saints head coach Mike Ditka was so in love with the Texas alum, he dealt all six New Orleans draft picks that year to secure the right to draft him.
Williams posted modest numbers with the Saints, breaking the 1,000-yard plateau in two of his three seasons before he was dealt to the Dolphins in 2002 for two first-round draft picks.
In his first season in Miami, Williams ran for a league-high 1,853 yards and 16 touchdowns - both franchise records - and was selected for the Pro Bowl, where he took home MVP honours.
A two-sport star, Williams was an eighth-round selection of the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1995 baseball draft, and also spent time in the Montreal Expos' farm system.
Williams has rushed for 7,097 career yards with 47 touchdowns in 82 career NFL games, 73 as a starter.
