Dolphins running back Ricky Williams has, for the first time in five years, a full off-season to get himself ready to play. And the coaches in Miami are raving about his preparation.

”Within his individual drills, I see the guy working hard to get better,” Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said, per Jeff Darlington of the Miami Herald. “I think the guy shows up each day, and he has a purpose when he practices. He wants to get better at something each and every day. When you sit down and talk to him, he’ll tell you those things.”

Williams announced his retirement before the 2004 season, came back after serving a four-game drug suspension in 2005, spent 2006 in Canada after being suspended for the entire season, and then finally returned to the NFL in November of 2007, only to suffer a season-ending injury in his first game back.

Now he says that he likes what he’s doing in Miami, and that he’s working harder than ever.
”It’s different around here,” Williams said. “This is the hardest I’ve worked. [Former] coach [Nick] Saban worked us pretty hard, but I think this new regime is making every single person on the field prove themselves. Not just prove they can play football — but prove they are going to lay it on the line on a consistent basis.”

The 31-year-old Williams likely doesn’t have much gas left in the tank, but he says he’s going to prove that he will, in fact, lay it on the line this year.