Baltimore Ravens sign veteran running back Ricky Williams to two-year deal

The Ricky Williams era with the Miami Dolphins is officially over as the Baltimore Ravens has agreed to sign the free agent veteran running back to a two-year deal worth about $2.5 million dollars. This move was a way for the Baltimore Ravens to address the void left in the backfield after running back Willis McGahee signed with the Denver Broncos recently.

There is no question that Ricky Williams isn’t the running back that everyone was expecting him to be when he came out of college as a Heisman trophy winner and a record-setting running back, but these days Williams isn’t looking to be the number one back out of the backfield and can still put up solid numbers.

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During his time with the Miami Dolphins, Ricky Williams was part of the dynamic duo of running backs that included Ronnie Brown. The Dolphins bread and butter over the last few years was their running game and the unique Wildcat offense. With the Wildcat offense in place and a successful tool to keep the defense off guard, the Dolphins were hard to stop on the ground, but they had no passing game which has been their Achilles heel of sorts.

Now Ricky Williams will join a very good Baltimore Ravens squad that has their sights set on contending for a Super Bowl. The biggest difference between the Miami Dolphins and the Baltimore Ravens is the passing game. With Joe Flacco quickly turning into one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, the Ravens have improved with every passing season having the young quarterback under center.

Baltimore Ravens logo from 1996-1998

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Now that Ricky Williams will have a solid quarterback under center, the play-action will work in his benefit and might be able to stay healthy throughout an entire season. Up-and-coming running back Ray Rice is the number one option out of the Ravens’ backfield and for good reason as he is making a case as one of the best running backs in the league, but Rice might have an easier time by sharing the carries with Ricky Williams this season.

At this point in time it is uncertain just how many carries the Baltimore Ravens will be giving Ricky Williams, but the former Heisman trophy winner will almost certainly have an impact this season. Joe Flacco might benefit the most out of having two great running backs like this in the backfield, but one there is no doubt that the Baltimore Ravens will be a much better team offensively this year.

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Even though Ricky Williams is healthy and ready to go heading into the NFL preseason, the veteran running back will most likely be sitting out the Baltimore Ravens first preseason game when they take on Michael Vick and the revamped Philadelphia Eagles in Philly this Thursday night.

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