Ricky Williams, arrested in Texas, smiles in mug shot

Sept. 21 (UPI) -- Ricky Williams was arrested on Tuesday in Austin, Texas, because of two unpaid traffic warrants, local authorities said.

He spent time in the Travis County Jail before being released Wednesday.

The Travis County Sheriff's Office and the Austin Police Department confirmed the arrest. Police arrested the former star running back in the 4000 block of Manchaca Road.

The former running back, born Errick Lynn Williams, 40, was booked into jail at 11:53 p.m. and released after 2 p.m.

He had two different Class C warrants, according to an Austin Police Department spokesperson. One was for a speeding ticket and the other was for failure to maintain financial responsibility.

Police initially pulled him over because his car allegedly was missing the rear license plate.

Williams maintained a Twitter presence the entire week. On Tuesday morning he tweeted a photo about the benefits of marijuana. He wrote: "morning thoughts" in the caption for the photo. The words on the photo read: "The American Association for Cancer Research has found that marijuana actually works to slow down tumor growth in the lungs, breasts, and brain considerably."

He tweeted again at 9 a.m. on Wednesday morning with some more "morning thoughts." This time the photo included a quote from Swami Sivananda. The quote read: "To look for happiness outside of yourself is vain if you don't already have it inside."

On Thursday his post read: "Sometimes life is about risking everything for a dream no one can see but you."

The 2002 All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection also was briefly detained by Tyler, Texas, police in January in the parking lot of his hotel while he was going for a walk. He commented on the incident during an interview with Austin's KLBJ 93.7 in January.

He said he was questioned with his hands behind his back but he was never handcuffed by the officers. Williams also told the radio show that the officers apologized for the misunderstanding. Police had received a call about a suspicious person in the area, KLTV reported.

Williams is an analyst for ESPN's Longhorn Network.