Those endorsements of the decision were as quirky as Williams.

“I don’t know if I had a daughter if I’d want her to date him,” linebacker Channing Crowder said, “but as a football player, as a teammate, I love him.”

Added linebacker Zach Thomas: “He won’t be a cancer in the locker room. He has always had a good work ethic. He’s always been a good person and a good teammate. Everybody deserves a second and third chance.”

And fourth and fifth, apparently, at least in this case.

Other teams were buzzing about Williams, too. Fellow University of Texas alum Cedric Benson, a third-year pro with the Chicago Bears, described Williams’ comeback as “awesome.”

“We’ve got this thing that when he gets in the league we’re going to compete to see who’s the better running back,” Benson said. “We always wanted to see who’s the better running back.”

Ricky’s return created a familiar circus-like atmosphere at the Dolphins’ complex. Photographers and cameramen began a stakeout across the street at 7 a.m. and awaited the arrival of the elusive running back. He showed up around 11, riding in a team van.

Cameron’s daily news conference was almost all about Williams, with not a single reference to rookie quarterback John Beck, who’ll make his NFL debut Sunday at Philadelphia.

Williams followed Cameron to the microphones and wrestled with the first question.

“My motivation for coming back to the NFL? Could we start with an easier question?” he said with a chuckle.

“My motivation is to get my life going again. Being out of football in the situation I was in makes it difficult, you know? I want to create a better life for myself and for my family, and being a football player, for me, is a big part of that.”

Slide show   Week in Sports Pictures Flying on the hardwood, racing on the rink, getting physical on the gridiron, and much more. more photos

Williams, who has played in only 12 games since retiring in the summer of 2004, said he has been working out for about six weeks and is in “pretty good shape.” He offered no prediction regarding when he might play, and offered no pledge that his latest chapter with the Dolphins would end on a high note.

“I’m not necessarily looking for it to end on a high note,” he said. “It’s just going to help me get to where I want to be. I want to get on with my life. I want to go back to school and pursue a profession outside of football. Playing football is the best way for me to get there.”

The Dolphins were thinking more in terms of Williams getting them to the end zone. Maybe that will happen, too.

MORE FROM NFL

NFL Section Front

Singletary wants to beat Bears, not reminisce   PFT’s Picks: Bears will claw past 49ers Davis' comments puts 49ers on defensive PFT: Bears’ Harris won’t be suspended for punch Pats-Colts is greatest NFL rivalry of 2000s PFT: Brady recalls when he met Peyton   Slideshow: Peyton vs. Brady through the years   Video: Harrison on how Pats can beat Colts   Video: Dungy on how Colts can beat Patriots PFT: Lewis tells Ochocinco to hold the mustard NFL Section Front   Add NFL headlines to your news reader: