Many years ago, Joe Theismann was once a Toronto Argonaut, but now he says he is embarrassed because Ricky Williams is now an Argonaut. Theismann made this comments in an interview with ESPN Radio's Colin Cowherd, and went on to say that he didn't want to be mentioned in the same breath as Ricky Williams in anything football related.

On Monday morning, Ricky Williams attended his first practice with the CFL's Toronto Argonauts. He began the session by lining up with the other running backs and taking handoffs from the quarterbacks.

Oft-troubled Running Back Ricky Williams has agreed to terms with the Toronto Argonauts who were able to negotiate with the suspended NFL player. The Argonauts will pay $240,000 to Williams for one year of his service and have signed an agreement with the Dolphins to release him at the end of the season.

Leigh Steinberg, Ricky Williams' agent, said Saturday his client hasn't yet received permission from the Miami Dolphins to play in the Canadian Football League this season. However, Steinberg expects the Dolphins to allow Williams to suit up for the Argos in 2006. "Although I am loathe to say that because it could put some pressure on the Dolphins, I would be incredibly surprised and disappointed if it didn't happen," Steinberg said when asked whether Williams' joining the Argos was a certainty. "I assume it will happen but I'm being very careful to be very delicate here. "I have a terrific relationship with the Dolphins and [Miami coach] Nick Saban has been terrific in his support of Ricky."

Chris Chambers is one wide receiver who is happy to have Daunte Culpepper join him in Miami "It's the best ball I've seen since I've been here," Chambers said Thursday. "I don't know if that's saying a whole, whole lot. ... I thought Gus [Frerotte] threw a nice ball, too, but you do see the difference between an elite quarterback and everybody else." Chambers also thinks Culpepper will be ready at the start of the season. "When I went out to the Pro Bowl I got a chance to play with Peyton [Manning] and Trent [Green], and right then and there I knew the difference between some of the quarterbacks we had before and the ones at the elite level, and he's right up there with them," Chambers said of Culpepper.

During the past two weeks, Daunte Culpepper has taken part in all the Dolphins' ''organized team activities." ''Daunte has done more than we ever thought he could at this time in terms of his physical ability,'' Nick Saban said. ``He's been cleared to do things at his position as the next part of his rehab -- to start taking three-step, five-step, seven-step drops, hand the ball off on some of the zone plays, drop back and throw it. ``He's got stability, he's got the girth he needs, the strength he needs to be cleared to do that and he's actually done it for all of these practices. We're pleased with his progress."

Wide receiver Derrius Thompson signed with the New Orleans Saints on Tuesday. His contract was terminated by the Dolphins last preseason after being placed on injured reserve. Thompson, who signed a one-year minimum deal, impressed Saints officials during a tryout at last week's rookie minicamp.

The Argonauts still do not have permission to negotiate with Miami running back Ricky Williams. Vice president of football operations Adam Rita told media Tuesday morning that although talks between the Argonauts and the Dolphins were ongoing. Rita didn't divulge details of the discussions between the two teams.

Argo president Keith Pelley spoke directly with a Dolphins official, another step in the process of Ricky Williams playing in the Canadian Football League. "Yes, I talked to the Dolphins, but that conversation is between the Argonauts and the Dolphins," said Pelley. "No, we have not received permission to talk to Williams."

At this point it seems highly likely Ricky Williams will be in a Toronto Agronauts uniform for the 2006 CFL season. The Dolphins will allow Ricky Williams to play in Canada if they get written assurance he will be released when the Argonauts' season ends in November. The Agronauts are expected to grant the Dolphins that assurance. ''We want Ricky back on our team,'' Dolphins coach Nick Saban said earlier this month. ''Ricky doesn't need to go to Canada to prove anything to us.'' But he also said the Dolphins would ``give him the opportunity to do it if it's something that he needed to do or really wanted to do.'