If Ricky comes back, he WILL play for Miami at least one year. He has no trade value as is at the moment, but if he displays rededication and the same pro bowl skills, there will be alot of trade partners avalable the next season.
Now with that said, here are some reasons I believe that if he returns at all, he will stay with Miami for the rest of his career.
- Ricky has more value as a player for us, than anything we can get in return for him. Probably the most we could get for him is possibly a 2nd round pick, whereas, on the team, coupled with Ronnie Brown, he would be part of the most lethal backfield in the league. That is more valuable than a 2nd round pick imo.
-Ricky never liked being the focal point of the offense. This was one of many reasons he was pushed from the game. Wanny's wad ball wore him out. He came to Miami with the intentions that he was going to be just another player on a good team, I dont think he ever envisioned him being THE MAN on the team. All of that attention was what got him down in NO. Attention like that with a social disorder is just too much to handle. With the prospects of sharing a backfield with another great back, and a system that will use him as a complementary player rather than the focal point, he will feel more comfortable. He cant get that on any other team.
-He will be playing for a coach who wants him, who doesnt remember his transgressions, who accepts him and will care for his best interests. While Wanny wanted Ricky as well, he abused him, he used him up as a way to save his own hide (That Buffalo game with 30 plus carries comes to mind). He might be able to strike a similar relationship with Saban like he did with Ditka and his college coach.
-He wont have as much fanfare. Another thing that wore on Ricky was all the fan attention he received in So Fla. He became the savior of the city shortly after he arrived, and I dont believe he was prepared for that. With his actions, you could say he put a big damper on that here. He will never get that amount of fan attention again, although he might get alot of negative fanfare, that is until he starts putting up numbers.
-Most of the teamates he betrayed wont be around much longer, or will forgive. Saban is remaking the team in his image. Half of the old Defense is already out.. The OL is somewhat revamped since he last played, Fiedler is gone and the other members on O appear to be the forgiving types. If Ricky can make TRUE apologies to his teamates for leaving them hanging, he shouldnt have problems as far as the team is concerned.
-The money. We all know he needs to pay back Miami for the money they gave him. This would be his opportunity. This would also be his opportunity to make the slate clean. This would be his pennance. It always seemed, or at least he stated, money wasnt his driving force, if he would just accept a modest contract and work to payoff the rest, Miami would be the perfect fit for him.
The situation in Miami would actually be quite positive for Ricky and his needs. It would be equally beneficial for the team as well. A backfield of Ricky and Ronnie would quite frankly make ANY QB look good. It would cause matchup problems for every D coordinator in the league. Seeing as how Ronnie is such an unselfiish and teamfirst player, he would be the perfect compliment to Ricky.
If you can look past your own personal feelings, you might see how this scenario could be perfect for all parties, and I, for one am willing to forgive. I was upset at his retirement as everyone else, but mostly for the timing, not that he decided to retire. I understood why he did it having some knowledge of social and anxiety disorders. His later comments turned me off a bit, I saw a different side of him which was pretty lame one indeed.. The guy is immature, that is for sure, but sometimes, these kinds of people, specifically decent people deep down, which I believe Ricky is, need certain father/teacher figures to help them out of their funk.. I truly believe, after everything I have read, that Saban would be just the man to serve in that capacity for him.
Will Ricky run again? July shall make the answer clear once and for all.
