Works for me but here is the piece:
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Assistant: Williams had been thinking of this for a long time
Clark Judge July 25, 2004
By Clark Judge
SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Tell Clark your opinion!
Running back Ricky Williams decision to quit football caught more than Miamis fans by surprise. Two members of the Miami coaching staff on Sunday indicated they didnt know of the news until reading about it in that mornings editions of the Miami Herald.
Williams apparently notified coach Dave Wannstedt last Friday that, after five years of football and two with the Dolphins, he was through with the game. The Herald quoted Williams as saying, You cant understand how free I feel, before boarding a plane headed for Hawaii.
According to one assistant, after reading the Herald he was told by a colleague within the Dolphins staff that Williams had been thinking of this for a long time and seemed intent on walking away from the game. He confirmed that Williams delivered the news to Wannstedt on Friday, though he said it was not shared with some others within the coaching staff.
The Dolphins open training camp on July 29.
The sad part, he said, is that some people are going to blame Dave for this when he had nothing to do with it.
Wannstedt, who was away from Miami, was scheduled to return to the city to address the media Sunday afternoon. It was uncertain, however, if he would talk to reporters in a public session, a club official said.
The Dolphins reserved comment until Wannstedt met with the media.
Ironically, Williams made his decision on the day the Tennessee Titans signed Antowain Smith and Dallas added Eddie George, the top two free-agent running backs. Without Williams, the Dolphins are left with Travis Minor and Sammy Morris as their only experienced backs. The two combined for 263 yards and 2 TDs last year.
In 2003, Williams ran for 1,372 yards with nine touchdowns, adding a 10th score receiving. He set a club record in 2002 with 1,853 yards rushing.
