Williams still high on pot’s potential

Ex-running back speaking out on medicinal benefits.

Ricky Williams, the former Dolphins running back whose career and reputation were tarnished by marijuana use, is now a national spokesman for cannabis use.

After spending years as the punchline for pothead jokes, Williams will be a keynote speaker at the Southeast Cannabis Conference and Expo, June 9-11 at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/ Broward County Convention Center. It is the first largescale cannabis convention ever held in South Florida, and expected to draw thousands of participants including patients, scientists, doctors, and others working in the cannabis business.

More than 20 NFL teams play in states where some form of marijuana use has become legal since Williams retired from the league in 2004 following multiple failed drug tests. Williams travels the nation to promote the medicinal benefits of the drug, and believes it can help with concussions and pain management.

Before speaking at a recent cannabis conference in Pittsburgh, Williams told the Post-Gazette: “The word medical marijuana didn’t exist (in 2004). People talking about health and cannabis, it didn’t exist. And now that it does, players can be educated on what are the possible side effects, how does this work, and how to use it in ways that are going to be most productive.”

The big question: Was the Mile High City booked?

Fitzpatrick and Bucs

Tampa Bay made a wise move in adding Ryan Fitzpatrick as Jameis Winston’s backup. Fitzpatrick’s follow-up to his solid 2015 season with the Jets was a bust, but he’s a capable backup. And the Buccaneers, before signing Fitzpatrick, had Ryan Griffin behind Winston.

Brady’s (non-) concussion

What to make of the comments by Gisele Bündchen to CBS that her husband, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, suffered a concussion last year?

The NFL said it found no evidence, upon a subsequent review of records, that Brady suffered or showed symptoms of a concussion last season. Brady’s agent, Don Yee, told ESPN that Brady hadn’t been diagnosed either.

Bundchen is not a medical professional. It’s possible that she misspoke. But she is savvy. It’s not as if she was overwhelmed by making a national television appearance. Wives of NFL players usually are well versed on their husbands’ injury situations. It will be interesting to see what more, if anything, is said about this.

Eagles and Blount

Philadelphia’s signing of running back LeGarrette Blount as a free agent is, at first glance, a very good move. Blount, after all, is coming off a 1,161-yard rushing, 18-touchdown season for New England.

But things didn’t go well the last time that Blount parted ways with the Patriots and their Brady-led offense. He played only 11 games for the Steelers in 2014 before being released and then heading back to New England. Is he a one-teamonly runner at this point?