Williams’ trouble started last season, attorney says

Friday, July 30, 2004 | 10:19 a.m.

SUN WIRE REPORTS

Following a report that Ricky Williams faced a four-game suspension this season for failing a third NFL drug test, the attorney who appealed the second test said Thursday that a loss at New England last season sent the retired Dolphins running back into a downward spiral.

Fort Lauderdale attorney Gary Ostrow said he noticed a change in Williams after he averaged fewer than 3 yards on 25 attempts in a frigid 12-0 loss on Dec. 7 that devastated the Dolphins' playoff hopes. Three days later, Williams failed a league drug test for a second time and was dealt a $650,000 fine.

"He was so deflated emotionally, that was a setback for him," Ostrow said. "That loss was the beginning of the end, in my opinion. Here you had a free-spirited individual stuck in the rigors of a drug intervention program that was really far more than he wanted to tolerate.

"He started talking crazy things about wanting to go to Jamaica and about how he hated having to go to the Dolphins' facility at 5 a.m. All these signs make sense to me now."

Ostrow said Williams despised the NFL's drug intervention program and the Miami Herald reported Thursday that Williams found out he had failed a third test only days before telling coach Dave Wannstedt that he was retiring.

"We knew nothing about it," Wannstedt said through a team spokesman. "I'm totally surprised and shocked again."

League spokesman Greg Aiello and the Dolphins declined comment on Williams' statement that he had failed a third test. But it was confirmed that if Williams, 27, stays retired, he will not have to pay the $650,000 fine.

"It's quite serious, very serious to the degree that it was life-threatening," coach Brian Billick said.

A four-time Pro Bowler, Carter was expected to be Baltimore's nickel back.