Saints RB RICKY WILLIAMS "fired" No Limit Sports'
LELAND HARDY as his agent yesterday and replaced him with
LEIGH STEINBERG, according to Rick Gosselin of the DALLAS
MORNING NEWS. Steinberg said yesterday at the NFL's owners
meeting that Williams contacted him last week about leaving
No Limit and signing with him. Steinberg: "Ricky Williams
is a wonderful young man with tremendous character. Our
first issue is to clarify who he is and make sure his real
personality has a chance to come out. Then, over the course
of time, I'm sure we'll take a look at his contract."
Williams signed an "incentive-laden," seven-year contract
with the Saints before last season "but didn't cash many of
the incentives" and earned only $3.7M. Meanwhile, Colts
rookie RB EDGERRIN JAMES, also represented by Steinberg,
made $14.7M last season (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/29). Hardy
said that he had not discussed the matter with Williams.
Hardy, asked if he was still Williams' agent: "Absolutely.
Until I'm advised of that, they remain just rumors" (N.O.
TIMES-PICAYUNE, 3/29). In Houston, John McClain writes that
by switching agents, Williams "took a major step toward
reshaping his image" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 3/29).
SALARY CAP BLUES: Steinberg "expressed exasperation"
yesterday that the NFL is targeting him and agents JEFFREY
MOORAD and GARY WICHARD "for possible salary cap violations"
involving several former 49ers players. Steinberg:
"Everything was done by the books. And then an arbitrator
ruled that even if it wasn't, agents have no culpability.
... Frankly, it was an effort to try to get [former 49ers
President] CARMEN POLICY, and we just got sucked up in the
middle of it" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 3/29).
