I just watched the history of Ricky in the NFL on NFL channel. His lousy contract after hiring his music buddies to work out his first contract. What a dumb, immature decision that was for him to make. Did you know the contract was an 8 year deal that only guarunteed him 16 million dollars. Or that many of the contract clauses to get him real money were things like him "Breaking Eric Dickersons rushing record" for bonus cash? What a bad start.
Then the helmet interviews and akward situations he put himself in. He had few friends in New Orleans and the team did little to protect him from himself or the outside pressure of stardom.
Then the Ditka Bride pictures. Sorry, but no way does he see that and not feel like a whack job. How embarrassing. More to be depressed about in life.
Then the injuries and losing season in New Orleans. He realizes not only is he not going to make money there, but that he also will be too banged up every year to make any cash for all the punishment he's taking.
Then recovery health wise for a solid year for the Saints. But then he gets traded to Miami after problems with the Saints coach. He also mentioned at that point he might want to quit football and play Baseball instead.
The rest here you all know after he arrived in Miami.
- Remember his first few months here getting pulled over by police in his Hummer (his fault).
- The Great first year here on the field. Fans love him in Miami. But secretly he he fails a drug test.
Then his second season here, disappointing finish (no playoffs despite 10 wins), another failed drug test in December (Shouldnt he be thinking about playoffs rather than partying with pot in December)
- then the world travel this off season,..... now the retirement.
The more I think about it, the more I see him still as a troubled individual needing some balance in his life. I think we all assumed because he was having a good career with us that he was doing ok.....but looking back I don't think thats the case. I think Ricky failing the second drug test triggered a deeper phase of his manic depression. Add that to him being a little immature and you have the situation we see now IMO.
The show had more, but these were the things that stood out to me. Try to catch the rerun tomorrow...its worth seeing
Then the helmet interviews and akward situations he put himself in. He had few friends in New Orleans and the team did little to protect him from himself or the outside pressure of stardom.
Then the Ditka Bride pictures. Sorry, but no way does he see that and not feel like a whack job. How embarrassing. More to be depressed about in life.
Then the injuries and losing season in New Orleans. He realizes not only is he not going to make money there, but that he also will be too banged up every year to make any cash for all the punishment he's taking.
Then recovery health wise for a solid year for the Saints. But then he gets traded to Miami after problems with the Saints coach. He also mentioned at that point he might want to quit football and play Baseball instead.
The rest here you all know after he arrived in Miami.
- Remember his first few months here getting pulled over by police in his Hummer (his fault).
- The Great first year here on the field. Fans love him in Miami. But secretly he he fails a drug test.
Then his second season here, disappointing finish (no playoffs despite 10 wins), another failed drug test in December (Shouldnt he be thinking about playoffs rather than partying with pot in December)
- then the world travel this off season,..... now the retirement.
The more I think about it, the more I see him still as a troubled individual needing some balance in his life. I think we all assumed because he was having a good career with us that he was doing ok.....but looking back I don't think thats the case. I think Ricky failing the second drug test triggered a deeper phase of his manic depression. Add that to him being a little immature and you have the situation we see now IMO.
The show had more, but these were the things that stood out to me. Try to catch the rerun tomorrow...its worth seeing