FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., March 7 (UPI) -- Ricky Williams says he is headed for the Miami Dolphins in a trade that could be completed as early as Thursday. But, his current team, the New Orleans Saints, says nothing has been set.
Williams told the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel the trade would net the Saints nowhere near the cache of draft picks they gave up to land the Heisman Trophny winner three years ago.
"I hear it's going to happen," Williams said. "The Saints can't keep me now."
The report said Saints General Manager Randy Mueller told the New Orleans Times-Picayune the two teams had talked about the matter and would talk further.
"Right now, there's not a proposal out there we can agree to," he said.
According to the Sun-Sentinel, the Dolphins have offered the Saints their 2002 first- and fourth-round picks and a conditional 2003 third-round pick that could become a first- or second-round choice if Williams reaches certain incentives.
In return, the Dolphins want a 2002 third-round pick.
Williams, 24, has rushed for 1,000 yards in each of the last two seasons, amassing 1,245 in 2001.
He won the Heisman Trophy at Texas in 1998. Under orders from then-coach Mike Ditka, the Saints traded all of their draft selections to the Redskins to move up and select the NCAA's all-time rushing leader.
However, Williams never meshed with the Saints. He suffered through an injury-plagued rookie season. Ditka was fired and replaced by Jim Haslett in 2000, when Williams rushed for 1,000 yards in another injury-shortened campaign.
"I just think Coach Haslett and I were never on the same page," Williams told the Sun-Sentinel. "We had different philosophies."
The Dolphins need to upgrade their running game. Incumbent Lamar Smith averaged less than three yards per carry last season after a breakout 2000 campaign.
