Ricky Williams

Ricky Williams, the key to the Texas Tech offense, aggravated a knee sprain during practice and is out for the rest of the season. Tech doctors in Lubbock, Texas, said surgery would be scheduled later this week. Team personnel wouldn't say whether the left knee sprain will end his college career.

NFL tonight CHICAGO (6-3) AT MIAMI (5-4) TV: NFL Network, 5 PST. Line: Miami by 1. Over/under: 40. Story line: The Bears are ranked second against the run, but Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown have trampled them before. Miami's ground game will be a huge help to Tyler Thigpen. Sam Farmer's pick: Dolphins 21, Bears 17.

Former NFL rushing champion Ricky Williams tested positive again for marijuana last month, which will delay his return to the league until at least September, a person familiar with the case said Friday. Williams sought to end a one-year drug suspension last month when he asked to rejoin the Miami Dolphins. But after the positive drug test, clinicians in the NFL's substance abuse program advised Commissioner Roger Goodell to delay reinstatement.

Key: Drew Brees led touchdown drives of 82, 79 and 60 yards on successive possessions as New Orleans overcame a 21-point deficit. The Saints outscored Miami, 22-0, in the fourth quarter. Saints said: "It can be a season-defining win. This was a test we hadn't faced yet, and we couldn't be happier with the way we responded." -- Scott Shanle, linebacker Dolphins said: "We fought and we fought. They just fought harder at the end." -- Ricky Williams, running back

Ricky Williams, the Miami Dolphin running back once so uncomfortable around people that he refused to take off his helmet for interviews, now has removed it for good. And yet again, he has left even those people closest to him scratching their heads. Williams, 27, is retiring at the peak of his career, leaving the stunned Dolphins scrambling to shore up their backfield less than a week before the beginning of training camp.

Ricky Williams told the story between chomps of cheeseburger at the "Hula Hut," an Elvis-meets-Sam Houston motif eatery replete with Hawaiian-shirted waiters and blaring '60s riffs. Never mind how many "spurs-that- jingle-jangle-jingle" miles Williams was removed from the sands of Waikiki. Williams' tale would be a tear-jerker for any follower of USC. As he sipped iced tea, Williams explained how he was set to become the next great USC tailback.

The scrutiny has been understandable. You take a generation of stopwatch-toting football types educated in the '50s, and they want to know how that diamond stud is planted in Ricky Williams' nose and if their organization will be liable for it should some opposing linebacker knock the snot out of him. And, anyway, just how does that thing stay in there?

It's painfully evident that this isn't a good season to be called Ricky Williams. After winning the Heisman Trophy last year, Ricky Williams--the Texas Longhorn version--saw his potential earnings take a big hit when he slipped to No. 5 overall in the NFL draft. He hasn't taken many hits in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints because of ankle and elbow injuries.

'Some people have a job, some people's wives don't like it, some people are uncomfortable about it. But I don't have a reason to shave.' Ricky Williams, Miami Dolphin running back, on his scruffy beard

Serious mental illness isn't something that just goes away or that one grows out of. It must be diagnosed and treated with appropriate therapy and medication -- probably for a lifetime. We shouldn't throw our hands in the air criticizing Ricky Williams' actions, but try to understand the place where he is coming from. Hal Ballmann Westlake Village Ricky Williams got tired of being media meat. The guy looked around him and saw our NFL icons walking like ducks ... if they can walk at all. Remember that Ricky left millions on the table to prove himself.

Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams underwent surgery Thursday to repair a season-ending injury to his right pectoral muscle. Williams was hurt Monday night at Pittsburgh, his first game in nearly two years. He was put on injured reserve Wednesday. Rehabilitation for Williams is expected to take five months. The injury came in his first game since returning from a 1 1/2 -year suspension for violating the NFL drug policy. A concussion will keep St.

A group that led a campaign to legalize marijuana possession in Denver is posting a billboard advertisement encouraging suspended running back Ricky Williams and the Broncos to get together. Williams applied for NFL reinstatement this week, his agent said. Williams has played in only 12 NFL games since the start of the 2004 season, but rushed for 3,225 yards in 2002-03. His current suspension began in April 2006 after he violated the league's drug policy for the fourth time.

Coach Jon Gruden cringed at the thought of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers playing the rest of the season without running back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams and tackle Luke Petitgout. "You lose a lot of skill," Gruden said Monday after revealing both players will undergo season-ending knee surgery this week. Williams was carted from the field in the first quarter Sunday after injuring his right knee when he was tackled by Carolina safety Chris Harris at the end of an 18-yard run.

Former NFL rushing champion Ricky Williams tested positive again for marijuana last month, which will delay his return to the league until at least September, a person familiar with the case said Friday. Williams sought to end a one-year drug suspension last month when he asked to rejoin the Miami Dolphins. But after the positive drug test, clinicians in the NFL's substance abuse program advised Commissioner Roger Goodell to delay reinstatement.

Vera Zvonareva ended Serena Williams' run in her first tournament in six months, beating the seven-time Grand Slam event champion, 6-2, 6-3, on Saturday to advance to the final of the Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open at Mason, Ohio.

Miami Dolphin running back Ricky Williams was suspended for the 2006 season by the NFL on Tuesday for violating the league's substance abuse policy for the fourth time. The league announced the suspension after Williams' appeal of his latest positive drug test was denied. Williams met with NFL counsel Jeff Pash on April 10 in an attempt to have the league overturn the test. "I'm disappointed with the decision, but I respect it," Williams said in a statement released by the Dolphins.

Texas running back Ricky Williams received the player of the year award from the Walter Camp Football Foundation. Williams has set 12 NCAA Division I-A marks and tied four others. * Oklahoma will name Bob Stoops its new coach, The Associated Press reported. Stoops, Florida's defensive coordinator, would replace John Blake. . . . Fred Goldsmith, who in 1994 coached Duke to its only winning football season of the decade but was 9-35 since, was fired with four years remaining on his contract. . . .

Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams apparently is in trouble with the NFL again. The Miami Herald reported on its website Sunday night that Williams faces at least a one-year suspension from the NFL after violating the league's substance abuse policy for the fourth time. According to the report, two sources confirmed a report by WSVN-TV that Williams had failed the test, although neither would say the substance he used. Williams had tested positive in the past for marijuana use.

Kansas City has Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson. Miami has Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown. Pittsburgh has Jerome Bettis and Willie Parker. More and more these days, when it comes to NFL running backs, it takes at least two to bango. As defensive players get bigger and faster, and hits become even more violent, teams are going to tandems to get through the season. St. Louis relies mainly on Steven Jackson but still uses Marshall Faulk a lot.