• Ricky’s back! • Smith agrees to $57 million deal Ricky’s back! DAVIE, Fla. — Back in the Miami Dolphins’ backfield Monday, Ricky Williams made all the right moves. First, he showed up. Then he reached the end zone on
• Ricky’s back!
• Smith agrees to $57 million deal
Ricky’s back!
DAVIE, Fla. — Back in the Miami Dolphins’ backfield Monday, Ricky Williams made all the right moves.
First, he showed up. Then he reached the end zone on his first carry, smiled at cheering fans, apologized for leaving the team in the lurch, said he was done with dope and calmly submitted to a media interrogation regarding his surreal one-year retirement.
Greeted with hugs from teammates and cheers from fans, Williams returned to the Dolphins for their opening training camp practice Monday under new coach Nick Saban. Lining up for his first play since the 2003 season, Williams took a handoff from Gus Frerotte and sprinted 20 yards to the goal line.
But there was no defense on the field, and Williams is sure to meet stiffer resistance in the weeks to come as he tries to regain favor and reclaim a starting job.
Smith agrees to $57 million deal
NEW YORK — Alex Smith, the first pick in April’s draft, agreed to terms Monday on a six-year, $57 million deal with the San Francisco 49ers.
Smith will receive a guaranteed $24 million, a lawyer familiar with terms of the deal told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
The agreement is expected to set off a run of signings of first-round draft picks.
The only other firstrounders to agree to terms are defensive tackle Mike Patterson with Philadelphia, and offensive lineman Logan Mankins, taken by New England with the 32nd and last pick of the first round. Both signed deals Monday.
But Miami had been waiting for Smith to sign before completing its deal with running back Ronnie Brown, taken second overall. Brown is expected to start for the Dolphins, then could alternate with Ricky Williams, who sat out last season, when Williams returns from a drug suspension after the first four games of the season.
Smith, represented by Tom Condon, will get $4 million more guaranteed money than Eli Manning, last year’s first pick overall, who received $20 million from the New York Giants.
