Former NFL running back Ricky Williams always had question marks surrounding his off-field behavior during his professional career. He was a known marijuana user, with former teammate Channing Crowder recently revealing that Williams often smoked weed the night before games.
Most would say that drug use was a problem for Williams, who failed multiple drug tests during his NFL career and was suspended for the entire 2006 season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. The former Heisman Trophy winner believes his love for herb was the opposite of a problem. During a recent interview with Campus Insiders, Williams was asked if he has spoken with the players at Incarnate Word University — where he is currently an assistant coach — about his off-field issues.
“I don’t consider them off-field issues, only other people do,” Williams said, via For the Win. “I’m an open book with these kids in any area of my life that they want to talk about. I don’t agree that (smoking weed) was an Achilles’ heel. I kind of think it was more like spinach for Popeye.”
Crowder did say that Williams had an anxiety disorder and that his marijuana use did not affect the team until Ricky got caught. It has also been said that Williams smoked weed before he rushed for over 200 yards against the Buffalo Bills in 2002.
Maybe smoking pot did work for Williams. There’s no arguing he’s a strange guy. That being said, it is against the rules in college and the NFL. He should probably hold off on preaching the Popeye analogy to college kids.
