The Miami Dolphins' rookie head coach wants nothing to do with Ricky Williams.

Speaking publicly for the first time about Williams's latest drug relapse, Cam Cameron all but ruled out Friday the troubled running back's return to Miami.

Ricky Williams rushes against New England in one of his last games in a Miami uniform, in January 2006.
(Getty Images)

"I will not allow our fans to be let down by people that are not on our roster — not again," said Cameron, who took over the Dolphins in January. "It's my responsibility not to let that happen. We have the greatest fans in the game, and we've got men on our team that we're going to focus on."

An NFL rushing champion for the Dolphins in 2002, Williams tested positive for marijuana again last month, which will delay his return to the league until at least September.

Williams, who turns 30 on Monday, has played only 12 games since 2003. His current suspension began in April 2006 after he violated the league's drug policy for the fourth time.

"The easiest predictor of future behavior is previous behavior," Cameron said. "Could I have made that statement 15 years ago? Absolutely not. I was trying to save every guy in the game.

"Ultimately it comes down to the team. You want to be as fair as you can be, but no individual comes above the team."

Rams interested?

Even before Cameron's comments, Williams faced an uncertain future with the Dolphins, who continue to hold his NFL rights. Cameron was noncommittal when asked earlier in the year if there was a place in the team's backfield alongside Ronnie Brown.

St. Louis Rams head coach Scott Linehan, the offensive co-ordinator when Williams starred for the Dolphins, said last month he would be interested in Williams as a possible backup for Steven Jackson.

Williams played in the CFL last season, taking advantage of a loophole as he served out his NFL suspension.

But the 1998 Heisman Trophy winner failed to dominate as many expected, rushing for 526 yards and two touchdowns on 109 carries with the Toronto Argonauts. He missed eight weeks because of a broken forearm and injured Achilles tendon.

Outgoing CFL commissioner Tom Wright introduced a rule last October that would prevent players under NFL suspension from signing with a CFL club.

In his NFL career, Williams has carried the ball 1,757 times for 7,097 yards and 47 touchdowns in 82 games for the New Orleans Saints and Dolphins. He has also caught 246 passes for 1,899 yards.

He announced his retirement in 2004 after reportedly failing a third drug test but returned to Miami the next year.

Williams was drafted fifth overall out of the University of Texas by the New Orleans Saints in 1999.

With files from the Associated Press