Reports: Ricky Williams to retire
Football Betting Lines
02/07/2012 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Baltimore Ravens running back Ricky Williams is planning to retire, multiple media outlets reported on Tuesday.
The former NFL rushing champion assumed a reserve role with the Ravens this past season, gaining 444 yards and scoring two touchdowns while backing up Ray Rice. The news of Williams calling it a career comes two weeks after he said that he intended to return to the Ravens for the final season of his two-year contract.
The 34-year-old veteran spent his first three NFL seasons with the New Orleans Saints, who traded all six of their choices in the 1999 draft, and two picks the following year, to move up and select the former Texas standout with the fifth overall pick in 1999.
Williams twice reached the 1,000-yard plateau with the Saints, then led the NFL with 1,853 rushing yards in his first season with Miami in 2002. He added 1,372 yards the following year, then abruptly retired just before training camp in 2004.
The 1998 Heisman Trophy winner rejoined the Dolphins in 2005, only after the team had demanded that he return bonus money for breach of contract. He then was suspended for the 2006 season after his fourth violation of the league's drug policy.
Unable to play in the NFL in 2006, Williams inked a one-year deal with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. With the Argos, he rushed for 623 yards on 124 carries and caught 24 passes for 193 yards. He also missed two months of the season due to a broken arm.
Williams played just one game in 2007 before rebounding to rush for 1,121 yards and 11 touchdowns two years later. He was no longer the feature back in his final season with the Dolphins, totaling only 673 yards in 2010.
For his career, Williams has run for 10,009 yards with 66 touchdowns in 147 NFL games.
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Giants celebrated another Super Bowl title Tuesday with a parade up the Canyon of Heroes in lower Manhattan and a ceremony at City Hall Plaza. Thousands of fans lined the streets as playe
<< Juninho, Leonardo return to Galaxy
Carson, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Galaxy announced Tuesday that
Brazilian duo Juninho and Leonardo will return to the club from Brasileiro
side Sao Paulo, as Juninho rejoins the club on a season-long loan and Leonardo
signs
<< Stoke's Huth loses appeal of red card
Stoke-on-Trent, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Stoke City defender Robert Huth
had his red card appeal dismissed Tuesday by the English Football Association,
meaning he will serve a three-match ban.
Huth was sent off before halftime Saturday
<< Saint Francis announces signing class
Loretto, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Saint Francis University announced Tuesday that
eight high school players have signed national letters of intent to join its
football program.
Red Flash coach Chris Villarrial finalized the signing class after
<< Potent Leafs determined to end playoff drought
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - What has happened to the Toronto Maple
Leafs in the post-lockout era hardly seems possible for the NHL's most
valuable franchise.
But, the Leafs, who were valued at $521 million by Forbes back in November,
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former Kansas City Chiefs head coach Todd Haley has been named the offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Haley was fired by the Chiefs on December 12 after a 5-8 start to his third season
Danilo Gallinari has 'significant ankle sprain' >>
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari has a
significant left ankle sprain and is out indefinitely, the team announced
Tuesday.
Gallinari suffered the injury in Monday's loss to the Rockets. A CT and MR
Game On Dude and Ultimate Eagle likely for Big 'Cap >>
Arcadia, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - This past weekend's stakes races at Santa Anita
Park for older thoroughbreds gave early incite into the $5 million Breeders'
Cup Classic set for November at the southern California facility. However,
next mo
Portugal, Zenit midfielder Danny out 6-8 months >>
St Petersburg, Russia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Portugal and Zenit midfielder Danny
tore ligaments in his right knee Sunday and will be out six to eight months,
the Russian club announced Tuesday.
Danny, 28, will miss the remainder of the Cham
Ricky Williams calls it a career >>
Austin, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former All-Pro running back Ricky Williams has
decided to retire after 11 NFL seasons.
The 34-year-old Williams was a star at the University of Texas and a heralded
first-round pick of the New Orleans Sain
FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract
Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.
NFL Betting
After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."
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