Run Ricky Run... Into the Hall of Fame?

I'll be completely honest: I am a huge fan of Ricky Williams.  I've always enjoyed watching him play, and even hoped to see him in my own team's colors.  The Philadelphia Eagles had the opportunity to the 1998 Heisman trophy winner in the subsequent NFL draft, but opted for Syracuse's Donovan McNabb.  Eagles' fans were not thrilled with the decision at the time, to say the least.  Despite having a budding young running back in Duce Staley, Philadelphia wanted the rookie sensation from Texas to bring life back to the 3-13 football team.  McNabb ended up being the face of the franchise for the next decade, and the team was probably right to select him (though it is sad that this picture couldn't have been with Andy Reid, rather than Mike Ditka).  Still, it would have been very interesting to see how both Ricky and the Eagles would have been different if they had selected him.

As it turned out, he was chosen by New Orleans with the fifth pick in that draft, after they traded all of their picks that year as well as two from the next year to the Redskins.  His time with the Saints was somewhat disappointing, as he fought through the pressures of expectations as well as injuries.  When he was traded to the Dolphins, he began to flourish, before positive drug tests began to take their toll.  Right before the 2004 season, Williams retired unexpectedly and in the prime of his career (coming off three straight 1,200-yard seasons).While I was disappointed (and confused) when he left the game, I respected Williams for being able to ignore how people might view his decision or any other criticisms they might have about his character.  He didn't care what people might say about him leaving all that money on the table; his heart was no longer into football, and he didn't see any reason to risk his body by continuing to play the game.  As a football fan, I was saddened by his departure, but as a human being, I understand his decision to leave that life, with which he was no longer comfortable, behind him.  So, when I heard about ESPN's 30-for-30 documentary, Run Ricky Run, I was excited and curious about what Ricky experienced in his time away from the game.  I watched it for the second time just hours ago, and I found myself wishing him to the greatness from which he had fallen so far.  Perhaps with that thought in mind, I began to try to put Ricky's [admittedly unfinished] career into perspective.

Here are Ricky Williams career rushing statistics from pro-football-reference.com:

131 games; 2,323 attempts; 9,565 yards; 64 touchdowns; 4.1 yards-per-attempt; and 73 yards-per-game.

While I understand that Williams will be 34 years old at the beginning of next season (assuming there is a next season), people tend to discount the fact that he has only played in ten NFL seasons, including the one game he played in 2005.  Projecting Williams current statistics out for another four seasons, and assuming he gets 550 more carries at a conservative 3.5 yards-per-attempt, along with a conservative 14 more touchdowns, here is what his career would end up looking like:

2,873 attempts; 11,490 yards; and 78 touchdowns

Now, let's look at the careers of three NFL Hall of Fame running backs:

Thurman Thomas (1988-2000): 2,877 attempts; 12, 074 yards; and 65 touchdowns

Marcus Allen (1982-1997): 3,022 attempts; 12,243 yards; and 123 touchdowns

Tony Dorsett (1977-1988): 2,936 attempts; 12,739 yards; and 77 touchdowns

I realize that these other running backs were decent receivers, have been to a combined seven Super Bowls (with Allen and Dorsett each winning one), and that none of them have any of the baggage that Williams has.  However, if you look at those career statistics again, particularly comparing Thomas with the possible projected Williams career, it's not impossible to think that they could be together in the Hall of Fame.  Personally, I would love to see him fulfill the potential that he showed as a Texas Longhorn in 1998, as a New Orleans Saint in 2001, as a Miami Dolphin in 2002, and that he would have shown in his career as a Philadelphia Eagle.  Both the football fan and human being in me would applaud if Ricky could run all the way to Canton, Ohio.