View from America

By Kevin Asseo BBC Sport in California

Just like that, Ricky Williams' football life is over.

The strange saga of the Miami Dolphins running back took one final, unexpected twist this week when Williams quietly announced he was retiring from professional football after just five seasons in the NFL.

Williams then boarded a plane bound for Asia with no return ticket in his pocket.

Ricky Williams retires

It was a fitting end for the talented but unpredictable Williams, who confounded coaches, team-mates, and the press with his behaviour.

Physically, he was a once-in-a-generation player with that rare combination of speed and power, but emotionally, Williams was ill-suited for the regimented world of NFL football.

The New Orleans Saints traded away their entire draft in 1999 to obtain him, and the first thing the running back did upon signing with the Saints was pose for the cover of a national magazine in a wedding dress.

It would seem the act of an outgoing prankster, but Williams, in fact, was painfully shy and soon admitted he suffered from a severe social anxiety disorder.

He wilted under the media spotlight in New Orleans (famously refusing to take off his helmet during interviews), and resisted his role as saviour of the lowly Saints.

As his weight ballooned and his performances slipped, the Saints finally shipped Williams to the Miami Dolphins, where he enjoyed a resurgence and began to realise his potential.

But after just two seasons in South Florida, Williams is walking away from football at the ripe old age of 27.

It is clear now that Williams simply did not enjoy playing football and loathed the attention it brought him, and for that we are left to ponder a great career unplayed.

And one last question for all those Philadelphia supporters who nearly rioted when their team selected quarterback Donovan McNabb in the 1999 NFL Draft instead of Williams. How do you feel about that pick now?

COWBOY CONCORD

As NFL training camps opened this week, Williams' announcement was just one bit of news in a week dominated by running backs.

George brings plenty of NFL know-how to the Cowboys back division

Eddie George came into the Dallas Cowboys camp to prepare for his first season away from the Tennessee Titans, who released the All-Pro running back last week.

There were reports that George's signing was the first indication of a long-anticipated power struggle between Dallas owner Jerry Jones, who pursued George, and coach Bill Parcells, who was inclined to rely on first-year back Julius Jones.

Do not believe everything you hear, however. Parcells is just as happy as his owner is to have a veteran back in camp to ease Julius Jones' transition to the NFL.

LEWIS LAY-OFF

With the exception of Williams' retirement, the surprise of the week came from the Baltimore Ravens training camp.

Coach Brian Billick said there will be no Kobe Bryant situation on his team, which means he will not allow running back Jamal Lewis to play for the team while standing trial on a drugs charge.

This is not simply any running back, this is a man who ran for 2,066 yards in 2003.

Though Lewis' trial is scheduled to begin in August, it could continue into the regular season, leaving the Ravens without their best offensive player.