DAVIE, Fla. - Q: Ricky, why are you back?

A: Why?

Q: Why?

A: Why?

Q: Why?

A: I don't know. I don't know.

Well, that makes everything as clear as fog in the dark, doesn't it? That explains what's under the helmet of our sporting Hamlet, right?

One practice in, after one year away, and Ricky Williams scored a couple of practice-drill touchdowns Monday, apologized to Dolphins teammates and fans, said he no longer did drugs, defined "freedom" as "On the inside and not on the outside," and sounded like the thoroughly likeable and completely enjoyable fellow he always has seemed.

Unless you have to trust him, that is.

That's the catch. It's always the catch with Williams. It helps explain why new Dolphins coach Nick Saban is Williams' fourth NFL coach in five seasons.

It was impressive how Williams was upfront and apologized to fans Monday, after apologizing to teammates Sunday. He sounded heartfelt. And it was equally impressive how teammates embraced him afterward, accepting him, moving on in the manner they have to do.

But can they depend on him? Do they trust him?

Would you?

"When I produce, all this goes away," he said of the attention and questions.

But it doesn't go away. It can't. It might be suppressed. It could be tabled. You see, it's all smart and good for Saban to welcome back Williams to the franchise considering his talent. It's fine. Make chicken salad out of his situation. Who doesn't hope Ricky has a happy ending?

But the smarter part is Saban isn't counting on Williams after drafting rookie running back Ronnie Brown. So he's welcoming Ricky. But do you see this Dolphins era trusting him?

"Look, we're kind of in the risk-taking business," Saban said, comparing his bringing Williams' back to a play-selection on third-and-10 or going for it on fourth-and-1. "If it works out, people say it's smart."

If this doesn't, the damage was done last year in Williams' case anyhow.

Still, Ricky's mere return brought dozens of media, overflowing the parking lot, stuffing a hall in Dolphins camp and bringing reporters from New York, Washington, Dallas and an alphabet-soup of TV networks. Saban talked for 30 minutes and all but three of his questions were about Ricky.

"Can we keep this from being a distraction?" Saban asked at one point.

Uh, too late.

Ricky secretly had been working out in Boca Raton for the past month. He said he decided to return in February. His weight is at 213 pounds (instead of the listed 226 a year ago). But everyone was there for the same question.

"Why are you back?"

It is as direct and fundamental a question as you can lob at someone who ducked out on a franchise four days before the last training camp in a manner no one wants to discuss anymore.

But Ricky initially didn't answer he was back for his love of football (he did mention this later, though he evidently didn't miss it enough last year to watch any games). He didn't answer that he was back for his teammates (though he sounded touched by his welcome by them).

Nor did Williams say he was back for the money, though there would be nothing be wrong with that answer. The $8.6 million he owes the Dolphins hangs over his head like, "the sword of Damocles," said his agent, Leigh Steinberg, showing off his University of California education.

What's more, the Dolphins have the right to pay Williams the veteran minimum of $540,000 not just this season but for two more years. He could conceivably work three years and still owe team owner H. Wayne Huizenga around $7 million.

Steinberg said that can be dealt with later.

"The first step, miraculously, is that Ricky's here," Steinberg said. "Let the healing process begin."

Ricky, after hesitation, finally got a good handle on why he was back.

"I've been away doing my own thing, studying a lot of alternate theories about life," he said. "To go into that answer - it can't be picked up in a sound bite or easily understood. So the best way I can think of to put it is that I'm back here to work."

Let him go to work. Welcome him back. Hope for the best.

Just don't trust him.