Williams’ Attorney Meets With League

Retired running back Ricky Williams wants to return to the NFL as soon as possible.

David Cornwell, Williams’ attorney, met Thursday in Santa Monica with representatives from the NFL and the players’ union to get clarification on when the former Miami standout could resume his career.

“In response to certain developments, Ricky made the determination to retire.... Clearly, Ricky overreacted to matters as they unfolded,” Cornwell said.

An NFL spokesman declined to comment on the 90-minute meeting, which Williams did not attend.

Cornwell said Williams wanted to return to the NFL because he missed playing, not for financial reasons. An arbitrator ruled last month that Williams must repay $8.6 million to the Dolphins for breaching his contract.

Williams, 27, who retired last summer before the start of training camp, reportedly failed three drug tests for marijuana over the previous two years. A third positive test brings an automatic four-game suspension. He has disputed the results of the second test, taken last December, although his earlier appeal was denied.

He was considered a three-time offender in the NFL’s drug-testing program when his retirement became official in August, so Williams would have to sit out one calendar year or face a one-year suspension because an early return would count as a fourth failed test.

“What we challenged was the testing and the specimen from last December’s testing,” Cornwell said.

The Dolphins, who at 0-6 are the league’s only winless team, are off to the worst start in their 39-year history.

They have not won since the 2002 NFL rushing champion retired.

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