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"The 27-year-old running back's seismic decision to leave football in his prime, a week before the start of Dolphins training camp, is perfectly in keeping with his personality. It is outsized, enigmatic, brave, unpredictable, complex, interesting, selfish and surprising enough to leave your mouth hanging open."

LeBatard added that Williams' career will officially come to an end when he formally faxes his retirement papers to the NFL offices early this week.

"I'm finally free," Williams told LeBatard by cell phone from Hawaii. "I can't remember ever being this happy."

Williams, who was scheduled to earn approximately $3.5 million this season, told head coach Dave Wannstedt of his decision Friday and said Wannstedt tried a variety of ways to persuade him to reconsider. Wannstedt, who approved the 2002 trade with New Orleans to acquire Williams for two first-round picks, went so far as to say if Williams were his son, he would tell him to play.

Williams retorted that Wannstedt would want his son to do whatever made him happy. Williams said he was "hurt" by their conversation.

"I have no comment," Wannstedt told the Herald when asked about Williams' retiring. "Players report Friday. Right now, it's a 10-day dead period. We'll get everybody started on Friday."

When asked about the conversation he had Friday with Williams, Wannstedt responded, "We've had a conversation, but again, I have no comment."

As LeBatard and fellow Herald staffer Jason Cole suggested, Travis Minor becomes the obvious candidate to succeed Williams in the short term, but Minor has never handled the type of workload Williams has received the past two years. Aside from Minor, the team has some promising players in Leonard Henry and Fred Russell and likely would use several running backs to fill Williams' role.

LeBatard added that Williams thought he might be able to make it through this one last season for his teammates, and only for them, but couldn't convince himself of it even after weeks of trying. He says he plans to call each of them individually in the coming weeks to apologize.

"I just don't want to be in this business anymore," said Williams, finished after just five NFL seasons. "I was never strong enough to not play football, but I'm strong enough now. I've considered everything about this. Everyone has thrown every possible scenario at me about why I shouldn't do this, but they're in denial.

"I'm happy with my decision."

This story will obviously have a major impact on Fantasy owners. I'll continue to follow it closely and bring you more as further details become available.