My current take on the Ricky Williams situation

[Mudcat]

After hearing an interview with Toronto Argonauts President and CEO Keith Pelley, and doing a little reading between the lines, I have reached this conclusion:

The Miami Dolphins will give permission for Williams to come to the CFL and there will be a meeting between player and club. Dollars will not be a stumbling block.

So unless Williams actually lights up a big fat doobie during that meeting, he will play for the Argos this year.

[The Great One]

Why would they want him? He's has a ton of miles on the legs, not in the best shape he could be, is at that age where a RB loses a lot all of a suuden, and most importantly, correct me if I'm wrong as I don't watck to many CFL games, but isn't their field wider which means they would want a speed type of running back or even some wide receiver with track spped to be their running back. Not some between the tackles runner.

In the NFL, it is best to run "between the tackles" as all of the RB's in recent NFL history to have success have been "between the tackle" runners except for Barry Sanders. Yet, another reason I'm not sold on Reggie Bush. Alexander, James, and LT are the 3 best backs in the NFL currently and they all have that same running style.

Edit: If you want to count Jamall Lewis in the list, he can be included off of the season he had a couple years ago, but he is a "between the tackle" runner also.

[Illusion]

So unless Williams actually lights up a big fat doobie during that meeting, he will play for the Argos this year.

It wouldn't shock me if he came to the meeting reeking like the shit though.

[Mudcat]

Why would they want him?

A combination of his skills plus the hype.

The prevailing wisdom up here disagrees with your assessment of how his skills would fit. It is thought he could have a great season - not unlike how Lawrence Phillips was an MVP calibre player between his various screw-ups.

The CFL is a more wide-open game but power in the backfield is still a good thing.

Plus there's the hype which never hurts in this market. There are a lot of NFL wannabes in Toronto. A guy like Williams would be a curiosity that might sell a few tickets.

In related news, suspended running back Onterrio Smith (aka the Whizzinator) has signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.