Fallen star Ricky Williams regains luster

MIAMI -- Multipurpose threat Ricky Williams does his own shopping and cooking, and he deftly maneuvers down the aisle at a grocery store on hip South Beach seeking ingredients for his latest favorite dish -- duck stew.

He's at the celery, cuts back to the tomatoes and heads for the onions. Other customers pay little attention as the reigning NFL rushing champion fills his basket.

"Where I go, people are like, 'Whatever,"' Williams says. "People on the beach don't really watch football."

That's fine with Williams, who has long been ambivalent about celebrity. Perhaps it's no coincidence his career blossomed as he learned to blend in at home on South Beach and at work with the Miami Dolphins.

Williams broke nine franchise records in his first year with Miami last season, when he rushed for 1,853 yards, caught passes for 363 and scored 17 touchdowns. He made the Pro Bowl for the first time and finally fulfilled the potential Mike Ditka saw when he used all the New Orleans Saints' draft picks to acquire the Heisman Trophy winner in 1999.

By rushing for 100 yards 10 times last year, Williams switched the focus from his personal quirks to his physical gifts -- a breathtaking blend of power, speed and stamina. The combination makes him a battering ram with wheels rolling downhill.

"He is," says Dolphins tackle Mark Dixon, "the best player in professional football."

Williams no longer recoils from such superlatives, nor the expectations they create. He's still soft-spoken and frequently turns down interview requests, but his Web-site entries (on run-ricky-run.com) may lead the league in length and candor, and he's so comfortable with adulation that he can now drive through the stadium parking lot after a game with his convertible top down.

He's also brazen enough to suggest his best -- 2,000 yards rushing, perhaps? -- is yet to come.

"I wasn't satisfied last year," he says. "You have to keep doing it. It's not a one-year thing. It's a career thing. You pick a career like this, and it's a struggle to stay on top. It's motivation to come out here and work hard every day."

Williams returns to New Orleans to face his former team Thursday in Miami's final exhibition game. Seated on a stool at his stall between training camp workouts, he looks around the Dolphins' locker room and says he's more confident and at ease than in 2002.

"I never felt comfortable here last year, really," he says. "Everything you are is from your history, and I had no history here, so it was kind of hard to feel comfortable. This year I feel this is home. This is my locker room. Before I wasn't a Dolphin. I was a Saint who was in a Dolphins uniform for a year.

"Now I can say I'm a Dolphin."

He's the cornerstone of the offense, but not the center of attention. Newcomers Junior Seau and Brian Griese have been the biggest media magnets during training camp, and six teammates who joined Williams last year as Pro Bowl players -- including Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas -- also receive plenty of publicity.

So much he better for Williams.

"Sometimes superstars have to have a whole different set of rules, but Ricky is so reserved and laid-back, he just does what the rest of us do every day," Dixon says.

On Sundays, Williams is in a different category. Last season he slimmed down under 240 pounds and erased doubts about his breakaway ability with the four longest gains of his career, each more than 50 yards. Now, thanks to duck stew and other healthy dishes, he's closer to 225.

"You are what you eat," Williams says. "I see a lot of guys around here who have weight problems and they're walking around eating ice cream. I can't think that's going to help them make the team, let alone make their weight."

A svelte but hungry Williams has coach Dave Wannstedt licking his chops. The plan is for No. 34 to stay in the game on third down, unlike much of last season, which means his carries (383 in 2002) and pass receptions (47) could increase.

"It's amazing to see Ricky perform, with his quickness, his balance, his speed and his hard-hitting ability," says Williams' friend, Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown. "Now they're going to keep him in on third down. That's going to be fantastic to watch."

The two rushing champions are neighbors on South Beach. Williams bought a house in Fort Lauderdale when he first joined the Dolphins but says he now lives 90 percent of the time in his ocean-view beach condo.

The drive to work is longer, but the movie theater and grocery store are nearby. There's activity day and night, and the trendy scene frowns on celebrity gawking, which means a guy can blend in -- even an NFL standout.