The Associated Press

DAVIE, Fla. - Ricky Williams' former teammates with the Miami Dolphins acknowledge they need him. After all, they're 0-4 with perhaps the worst offense in the NFL.

But do they want him?

"There are really two lines of thought, and I'm kind of debating between the two," guard Taylor Whitley said Wednesday. "You can either say, 'To heck with the guy. While we've been going 0-4 here, he's been out having a good time.' Or we can say, 'Hey, we need the help. Come on back.' "

After missing the first four weeks of the season, Williams wants to come out of retirement - but it might not be with the team he left in July. Gary Ostrow, an attorney who has represented Williams, said the 2002 NFL rushing champion hopes to receive clearance from the league to play again before the Oct. 19 trade deadline so he can be dealt by Miami.

Williams, who has admitted to repeated violations of the league drug program, has asked the NFL for a hearing to clarify his status. The Dolphins say their understanding is he must serve a suspension for the rest of this season, and the NFL has declined to comment.

Williams has expressed an interest in playing for the Oakland Raiders. Their coach, Norv Turner, was Williams' offensive coordinator his two seasons in Miami.

"The Raiders would fit Ricky's personality better anyway," Ostrow said. "But he may not have many options other than going back to the Dolphins. How many teams are going to have an interest in him other than Norv, who has a relationship with him?"

Williams caused a lot of resentment in Miami by retiring shortly before training camp in July. The Dolphins haven't won a game since he left, and they're off to their worst start in 38 years going into Sunday's game at New England.

In the days following Williams' retirement, center Seth McKinney called it selfish and stupid. Williams in turn disparaged McKinney's blocking. Williams said players had no respect for coach Dave Wannstedt, and even poked fun at the coach's mustache. Defensive tackle Larry Chester said Williams was acting like a bitter girlfriend and owed the team an apology.

With so much baggage, would the Dolphins welcome Williams?

"At 4-0 it would be a different story than 0-4," defensive end David Bowens said. "... We could use all the help we can get."

BRONCOS: Running back Quentin Griffin missed his second straight practice because of a sprained ankle, and coach Mike Shanahan said his status for Sunday's game against Carolina will be determined after today's practice.

"If he can't go full speed and it doesn't look good, then obviously, he won't go during the game," Shanahan said.

Griffin's injury could open up playing time for Reuben Droughns.

COLTS: Coach Tony Dungy said placekicker Mike Vanderjagt, who has a strained hamstring, won't kick until today or Saturday. A decision then will be made on whether he can play on Sunday.

VIKINGS: Wide receiver Randy Moss left practice with a sore right ankle but isn't expected to miss any action Sunday at Houston.

Moss, who has a team-high 19 catches for 215 yards and five touchdowns, tweaked the ankle during player introductions during Minnesota's opener Sept. 12.

GREEN BAY: The brother-in-law of quarterback Brett Favre died after crashing an all-terrain vehicle on the player's property in Sumrall, Miss., Wednesday night. Casey Tynes, 24, the brother of Favre's wife, Deanna, was riding the ATV without a helmet when it flipped.

Favre, recovering from a concussion suffered in Sunday's loss to the New York Giants, practiced for the first time this week, "but he just wasn't himself," offensive coordinator Tom Rossley said.

The Packers face Tennessee on Monday night.

• Green Bay placed backup quarterback Doug Pederson on injured reserve, ending his season. Craig Nall moves into the No. 2 role. Pederson broke a rib, cracked a bone in his back and tore a muscle in his side Sunday.

TITANS: After sitting out against San Diego Sunday, quarterback Steve McNair returned to practice after bruising his sternum the previous weekend and spending two nights in the hospital. McNair said the rest has him feeling physically as well as he has in a long time.

"I went out there, played around, did some good things on the practice field, did everything I possibly could do in a normal practice situation to see if I had any problem (Thursday), and I didn't," he said.

The Titans have listed McNair as questionable for Monday night's game at Green Bay, but he never has missed a game when he practiced in the days before kickoff.

BILLS: Center Trey Teague will miss Buffalo's game Sunday at the New York Jets because of a left knee injury. He will be replaced by Ross Tucker.

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