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| | Monday, September 13 | |||||
| NEW ORLEANS -- The New Orleans Saints have keyed everything
from their offensive game plan to their marketing plan around Ricky
Williams.
Now they're waiting again to see if the running back they traded
eight draft picks for can play or if he'll be sidelined with
another ankle injury.
"Realistically, I'd love to have him and he wants to play bad,
believe me," Saints coach Mike Ditka said Monday. "But if he's
not 100 percent, it's probably best to hold him out."
Williams' NFL regular season debut consisted of 10 carries for
40 yards in the Saints' 19-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers.
He had made his two biggest gains of the game, runs of 7 and 8
yards, when a tackle by Panthers cornerback Eric Davis sent him
hobbling to the sidelines trying not to put weight on his left
foot.
X-rays showed Williams sprained his left ankle, the same one
that sidelined him for most of the preseason, but in a different
place.
Williams had nine carries in the Saints' first exhibition game
before a player landed on his left ankle inflicting the high ankle
sprain. Sunday's sprain is lower and not as severe, team officials
said.
After the examination on Sunday, Williams' ankle was retaped and
he did not appear to limp. He returned to the sideline in the
second half and obviously tried to convince the trainer and coaches
to let him return to play.
"There was no reason to put him back into the game," Ditka
said.
Williams, who will practice on Wednesday, is listed as questionable for Sunday's game in San Francisco, Ditka said. If he is not healthy, Ditka would rather hold out Williams, since the Saints are off the following week and
it would give Williams two weeks to recuperate.
"One game is not a career," Ditka said.
Williams' contract is laden with incentives. The major ones kick
in if he gains 1,600 yards and scores 12 touchdowns. But that's not
the motivation that kept the Heisman Trophy winner pacing the
sidelines on Sunday looking to return, Ditka said.
"It's not about incentives, it's about honor," Ditka said.
With a recording blaring "Run Ricky Run," Williams received a
standing ovation when he was introduced before the game and a
second one when he tried to return after his injury.
With him out of the lineup, players and coaches said they sensed
a letdown. Williams noticed it as well.
"When I came out, the defense started giving up a couple of
yards, and the offense had a little trouble," Williams said.
"That was the main thing why I wanted to get back into the game,
so I could lift up the crowd and my teammates."
Although he only played into the second quarter Sunday, Williams
said he felt at home in the NFL.
"I thought I'd be more nervous on the first carry," he said.
"But I got a good little crease and picked up 4 yards. It gave me
a lot of confidence for my next nine carries."
| ALSO SEE Ankle injury derails Williams' debut for Saints
Ricky injured, but Saints edge Panthers in ugly opener
AUDIO/VIDEO   Mike Ditka comments on Ricky Williams' status.wav: 173 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6  | |||||