Ricky Williams, who was exiled for the entire 2006 season because of a fourth violation of the NFL substance abuse policy, has triggered the process that could end his one-year suspension and lead to his reinstatement by the league. Williams was suspended by the NFL last April 25 and spent last fall playing for the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL. Williams' agent, Leigh Steinberg, told the Herald that his client is working on a book and wants to return to the league. "Ricky is in the best shape of his life," Steinberg said. "He's passed all of his drug tests and he's at a place where he's ready to come back to the Dolphins."

According to the Oakland Tribune, the Raiders are interested in bringing in a veteran quarterback and Daunte Culpepper is high on their wish list.

Daunte Culpepper was at the Miami Dolphins training facility around sunrise Friday, ready for another day of rehabilitating his surgically rebuilt knee. When quarterback schools and minicamps start next month, the Dolphins expect Culpepper will be there, too.

The Dolphins' front office spent part of Thursday speaking with the Houston Texans about quarterback David Carr and investigating all aspects of a possible trade for the former first overall pick in the 2002 draft. Carr ending up in Miami is not a certainty. But it is a possibility that speaks to Miami's uncertain quarterback situation. The team's interest in Carr, and even in Kansas City quarterback Trent Green, coupled with coach Cam Cameron's cautious words when he last spoke about Daunte Culpepper, indicate that Culpepper is not assured of being the team's starter in 2007.

The Dolphins signed wide receiver Az-Zahir Hakim and guard Chris Liwienski on Thursday as unrestricted free agents. The 29-year-old Hakim was a fourth-round draft choice of the Rams in 1998 and has played with St. Louis, Detroit, New Orleans, and most recently San Diego. He has 316 career receptions for 4,191 yards and 28 touchdowns. He returned 165 punts for a 10.7-yard average, including three for touchdowns.

A new contract for Trent Green is holding up a possible deal that would send the former Pro Bowl quarterback from Kansas City to the Miami Dolphins, sources said Wednesday. The Dolphins, like the Chiefs, want Green to take a major pay cut from the $7.2, $7.7 and $9.2 million the 36-year-old veteran is due over the next three seasons, the final three years on his current contract. Miami doesn't want to pay Green, who will turn 37 in July, much more than the NFL veteran's minimum, which is $820,000 in 2007. To acquire Green, the Dolphins likely would trade the second seventh-round draft pick they obtained from New England for receiver Wes Welker. But, sources said, the sticking point for the Green deal is money.

The agent for Chiefs quarterback Trent Green said the Dolphins remain interested in a potential trade for his client, but it has been a "slow-moving" deal. Jim Steiner, who represents Green, said there have been many "dynamics" involved, which has caused for the difficulties in negotiations. Green, 36, has been on the Chiefs' trading block since the club re-signed quarterback Damon Huard.

Joey Porter is facing a citation after a fight at The Palms Hotel Casino in Las Vegas. Las Vegas police told Channel 11 News Porter was at the blackjack table with Levi Jones of the Cincinnati Bengals. Porter allegedly threw a punch, hitting Jones in the right eye and causing a small cut.

Dom Capers, Miami's defensive coordinator, thinks Joey Porter's inferior season was caused by a nagging hamstring injury and not because of a drop in his ability. "One of the hardest positions to find in our defense is a player at the outside linebacker position who has the ability to do both things ? rush the passer effectively and be able to drop into coverage," Capers said. "He's been asked to do that throughout his career. "We feel that he certainly will be a good complement to Jason Taylor on the other side. I think as you look at the upper-echelon defensive teams around the league, most of them have two guys who can rush. "Any place on the field you've got to be passionate and emotional. He'll bring passion and emotion along with his ability to make plays. We welcome it."

Jake Plummer poured a glass of water, took a giant gulp and then talked for almost five minutes about how he was officially retiring from the NFL before stepping away from the podium without answering any questions. The Denver Broncos quarterback was in a hurry Friday. He had a handball tournament he needed to attend.