To expand a little bit on DolphinDevil's post, Ricky didn't do jack that whole 2002 preseason. Aside from the Saints game, I recall him repeatedly getting stuffed for no gain or losses against both Tampa Bay and Houston. He did score a goal line TD in the Houston game, but his yardage was really weak, and that was the last preseason game, where he got a lot more carries than any of the other preseason games.
The bottom line is that whoever totes the rock this year for the fish, be it Brown, Ricky, or Gordon, will be fine. We all know how much of an abomination the running game was last year, amongst everything else, and honestly it really has nowhere to go but up. I noticed the O Line playing dramatically better at the end of last season, and with better personnel this year, along with Hudson Houck in place of Tony Wise (excuse me-mentioning that name just invokes my gag reflex), and better talent carrying the ball, we will be better. It will take time to figure out what the best rotation is and get them to gel as a unit, but they will be a far cry from last year just by default. Better times are coming.