Miami Dolphins closer to acquiring RB Williams from Saints
Trade could include two first round picks
Associated Press

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins made progress Thursday in their bid to acquire running back Ricky Williams, senior vice president Rick Spielman said. But New Orleans Saints officials left town without a deal.

Saints general manager Randy Mueller and coach Jim Haslett were in Coral Gables to attend an NFL draft workout for University of Miami players. Following the session, Mueller and Spielman met for more than half an hour.

The trade would involve Williams and draft picks, including potentially Miami’s first-round choice this year and next.

“There are a few tweaks we made here and there,” Spielman said. “We came to a happy medium on some things. There’s still some work to get done.”

Before flying back to New Orleans, Mueller said a deal wasn’t certain.

“I don’t know,” he said. “There are still some things that both sides would want to agree on if we did it. I can’t say if it will happen or not.”

Mueller said the Cleveland Browns, who had also talked to the Saints about trading for the 1998 Heisman Trophy winner, have dropped out of the negotiations.

“Right now we’re to the point where it’s us and Miami that are talking,” Mueller said. Negotiations will continue Friday, he said.

The Dolphins have offered their first- and fourth-round picks this year, and a conditional third-round choice in 2003 that could become a first-rounder depending on how Williams performs. In exchange they want Williams and New Orleans’ third-round pick this year.

The Saints are reluctant to part with a draft pick — and they say they’d be content to keep Williams.

“We have a good player,” Mueller said. “If he plays for us, we’re happy. If he doesn’t, we’ll get better as a team. I guess it’s win-win.”

Williams, who set the NCAA career rushing record at Texas, was the No. 5 pick in the 1999 draft and has topped 1,000 yards the past two seasons, including 1,245 in 2001.

But he says he hasn’t hit it off with Haslett, who became the Saints’ coach last year.

New Orleans took running back Deuce McAllister in the first round of the draft a year ago.

Williams would give the Dolphins their best running threat since the 1970s, before Dan Marino turned them into a passing team.

Miami is also awaiting a decision by two-time Pro Bowl center Olin Kreutz, who flew home to Hawaii on Thursday following a two-day visit with the Dolphins. His agent, Mark Bartelstein, said Kreutz will likely decide Friday whether to accept a free-agent offer from Miami or re-sign with the Chicago Bears.

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