Dolphins, Williams Reach Agreement

MIAMI - The Miami Dolphins reached an agreement in principle to acquire running back Ricky Williams from the New Orleans Saints, ending more than a week of negotiations. <br> <br> The agreement was confirmed Friday by a Dolphins source who didn&#39;t want to be identified. It was reached hours after a face-to-face meeting Thursday in Coral Gables between Miami senior vice president Rick Spielman and New Orleans general manager Randy Mueller. <br> <br> Sealing the deal may hinge on Williams and the Dolphins agreeing to a new contract. The 1998 Heisman Trophy winner is expected to fly to Miami this weekend. <br> <br> ``At this point the trade is not finalized,&#39;&#39; Dolphins spokesman Neal Gulkis said. Spielman and coach Dave Wannstedt couldn&#39;t immediately be reached for comment. <br> <br> Terms of the trade were undisclosed. The Dolphins had offered their first- and fourth-round picks this year, and a conditional third-round choice in 2003 that could become a first-rounder depending on how Williams performs. In exchange, they wanted Williams and New Orleans&#39; third-round pick this year. <br> <br> Williams is expected to want a new contract. After the Saints made him the No. 5 pick in the 1999 draft, rapper Master P. represented Williams and negotiated an eight-year deal with large incentives but low base salaries, including just $350,000 this season. <br> <br> Williams set the NCAA career rushing record at Texas and has topped 1,000 yards the past two seasons for New Orleans, including 1,245 in 2001. But he says he hasn&#39;t hit it off with Jim Haslett, who became the coach last year. <br> <br> New Orleans took running back Deuce McAllister in the first round of the draft a year ago. <br> <br> Williams would give the Dolphins their best running threat since the 1970s, before Dan Marino turned them into a passing team. <br> <br> Miami is also awaiting a decision by two-time Pro Bowl center Olin Kreutz, who flew home to Hawaii on Thursday following a two-day visit with the Dolphins. His agent, Mark Bartelstein, said Kreutz would likely decide Friday whether to accept a free-agent offer from Miami or re-sign with the Chicago Bears.

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