Ricky Williams is signed up for two more seasons in the NFL. The Miami Dolphins are hoping he plays out his contract this time.

The Dolphins signed Williams to a one-year contract extension through the 2009-10 season yesterday, putting their faith in the controversial running back even though he's bailed on them in the past.

Speaking publicly for the first time in months, Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland said the team wanted to extend the 31-year-old so he wouldn't become a free agent after this season.

"I wasn't here in the past so I don't really know if he had a lack of dedication in the past," Ireland said. "I mean, I know what I read and I know what circulates in NFL circles.

"But when we sat down coming here, we said, 'We're going to give this guy every benefit of the doubt. And he's got to show us that he is dedicated.' And he's done everything that we've asked him to do. And we feel very good about our decision to extend him."

Williams won the NFL's rushing title in 2002 before flunking the league's substance abuse test five times, announcing an early retirement and torpedoing the Dolphins as they've missed the playoffs a franchise-record six straight seasons.

But his talent is why now four Miami coaching staffs have put their faith — and the team's future — on his legs. Williams has been perhaps the best player on the field during training camp, and the team has centered its offense around him in the preseason.

The Dolphins, coming off a 1-15 season, are hoping that Williams can return to his star form — and fulfill his contract.

"You guys see it out there, we see it out there," Ireland said. "He's done an excellent job in the weight room, the meeting room, he's come out there and he's jumped out at us on tape. He looks good in the preseason. So everything we've seen since we got here ... he's done everything we've asked him to do."

For now, Williams is showing the kind of effort that once led the NFL in rushing and won him the Heisman Trophy in college at Texas.

He didn't miss a voluntary practice in Miami's strict offseason workout program under the new Bill Parcells-led regime. And he has bulked up to about 230 pounds, the weight he played at in his prime.

Williams has said this season is partly about changing his legacy.

"The way I left made it difficult," Williams said during training camp. "To come back and clear my name is important to me."

PATRIOTS

SAFETY LYNCH RELEASED

John Lynch, the nine-time Pro Bowl safety signed by New England two weeks ago, was released yesterday.

"It goes without saying but John is an all-time great safety, one of the league's classiest professionals and his elite play speaks for itself," coach Bill Belichick said of Lynch, who turns 37 on Sept. 25. "As has been the case in other situations, I would not rule anything out down the road."

During their decade-long run of success, the Patriots have regularly signed veterans and often released them, only to sign them again if needed. Belichick's comments indicate Lynch may be in that category.

"I have no regrets about my time thus far with the Patriots," Lynch said in a statement released by the club. "The immense respect that I've long held for the organization has been only heightened over the past couple of weeks. I am going to keep all options open and look forward with excitement to see what the future brings."

New England signed Lynch after he was released by Denver early in training camp.

GIANTS

DE MCDOUGLE SIGNS

New York shored up its defensive end position by signing former Philadelphia Eagles first-round pick Jerome McDougle.

The Super Bowl champions lost seven-time Pro Bowler Michael Strahan to retirement in June and then had two-time Pro Bowler Osi Umenyiora sidelined with a season-ending knee injury a little more than a week ago in a game against the Jets.

New York moved Mathias Kiwanuka from linebacker back to defensive end days after Umenyiora was hurt.

A first-round pick in 2003, McDougle was cut by Philadelphia on Saturday. He played in 33 games in five seasons and had three sacks. He missed all of last season with a triceps injury and was out for all of 2005 after being shot in the abdomen during a robbery during the offseason.

"It is great. Defending Super Bowl champs I look good in blue," McDougle said. "I feel good to be here, staying in the division, so not really much of a difference as far as guys you are going against, and I just feel good to be here, to be wanted, and I am just looking forward to doing some good things on this defense."

To make room for McDougle on the roster, the Giants waived defensive tackle Rodney Leisle.

TRANSACTIONS

Atlanta Falcons—Signed TE Keith Zinger, WR Eric Weems, OL D'Anthony Batiste, CB Glenn Sharpe, S Eric Brock and DE Brandon Miller to the practice squad. Claimed DT Jason Jefferson off waivers from Buffalo. Released DT Tim Anderson.

BALTIMORE RAVENS—Released DT J'Vonne Parker. Claimed DT Lamar Divens off waivers from San Diego and K Steve Hauschka off waivers from Minnesota. Signed QB Casey Bramlet, WR Justin Harper, WR Ernie Wheelwright and OT Joe Reitz to the practice squad.

BUFFALO BILLS—Signed DL Corey Mace, LB Marcus Buggs, OL Dustin Dickinson, RB Bruce Hall and WR Felton Huggins to the practice squad.

CAROLINA PANTHERS—Signed DT Nick Hayden, T Geoff Schwartz, RB DeCori Birmingham, WR Will Buchanon and S Joe Fields to the practice squad.

CINCINNATI BENGALS—Released DT Michael Myers. Claimed G Frank Davis off waivers from Detroit and DT Orien Harris off waivers from New Orleans. Signed LB Dan Howell, RB James Johnson, G Nate Livings, WR Maurice Purify and WR Mario Urrutia to the practice squad.

DALLAS COWBOYS—Signed WR Danny Amendola, WR Mike Jefferson, RB Alonzo Coleman, FB Julius Crosslin, DE Marcus Dixon, LB Tearrius George and TE Rodney Hannah to the practice squad

DENVER BRONCOS—Signed S Josh Barrett, G Mitch Erickson, QB Darrell Hackney and DT Steven Harris to the practice squad.

DETROIT LIONS—Claimed RB Marcus Thomas off waivers from San Diego. Signed QB Drew Henson, LB Darnell Bing, G Matt Butler, RB Allen Ervin, WR Eric Fowler, S LaMarcus Hicks and TE Jake Nordin to the practice squad.

HOUSTON TEXANS—Claimed DE Stanley McClover off waivers from Carolina. Released T Cliff Washburn. Signed LB Kevis Coley, WR Darnell Jenkins, WR Mark Simmons, DL Jesse Nading, DL Gabe Long, CB Derrick Roberson and RB Darius Walker to the practice squad.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS—Signed TE Chris Brown, DE Mkristo Bruce, OT Andrew Carnahan, TE Charles Davis, CB Isaiah Gardner, OL Drew Miller and CB Rashod Moulton to the practice squad.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS—Claimed G Brian De La Puente off waivers from San Francisco and LB Erik Walden off waivers from Dallas. Placed TE Michael Merritt on the reserve-non-football injury list. Released K Connor Barth, TE Michael Allan, OT Anthony Alabi, WR Sergiori Joachim, WR Kevin McMahan, WR Bobby Sippio, WR Jabari Arthur, CB Rashad Barksdale, S Khayyam Burns, DE Johnny Dingle, G Edwin Harrison, LB E.J. Kuale, G Travis Leffew, DT Derek Lokey, FB Chris Manderino, LB Steve Octavien, DE Jason Parker, LB LeRue Rumph, C Rob Smith, G Tre Stallings and OT Will Svitek.

MIAMI DOLPHINS—Claimed C Andy Alleman off waivers from New Orleans, OT Nate Garner off waivers from the New York Jets and WR Brandon London off waivers from the New York Giants.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS—Signed T Chase Johnson, WR Darius Reynaud, DE Martail Burnett, G Brian Daniels, C Tim Mattran, DT Leger Douzable, CB Marcus Walker and RB Albert Young to the practice squad.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS—Signed DL Titus Adams, DB Mark Dillard, RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, LB Vince Redd, DB Mike Richardson and DB Antwain Spann to the practice squad.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS—Signed KR Skyler Green, G Tim Duckworth, LB Jo-Lonn Dunbar, RB Lynell Hamilton, TE Buck Ortega and DE Josh Savage to the practice squad.

NEW YORK GIANTS—Signed QB Andre Woodson, WR Marcus Monk, OL Na'Shan Goddard, OL Kurt Quarterman, DE Wallace Gilberry, DT Jeremy Clark and DB Geoffrey Pope to the practice squad.

OAKLAND RAIDERS—Signed RB Marcel Reece, DB Darrick Brown, DL Greyson Gunheim, WR Jonathan Holland, P Glenn Pakulak, RB Louis Rankin, TE Darrell Strong, OL Brandon Torrey and DL Mauricio Lopez to the practice squad.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES—Claimed LB Tank Daniels off waivers from the New York Giants.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS—Signed LB Patrick Bailey, CB Roy Lewis, S Grant Mason, OT Jeremy Parquet, DT Scott Paxson, WR Micah Rucker, TE Dezmond Sherrod, RB Justin Vincent and WR Marvin Allen to the practice squad.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS—Claimed LB Ahmad Brooks off waivers from Cincinnati. Waived LB Dontarrious Thomas. Signed RB Thomas Clayton, DT Atiyyah Ellison, TE J.J. Finley, LB Larry Grant, DE Louis Holmes and WR Dominique Zeigler to the practice squad.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS—Released S Jamar Adams, QB Dalton Bell, DT Kevin Brown, C Nick Jones, C Ben Claxton, DB Marquis Floyd, DB Kelin Johnson, FB David Kirtman, G Pat Murray, TE Joe Newton, LB Dallas Sartz, WR Trent Shelton, DE Nu'u Tafisi and OT Kyle Williams. Signed T Samuel Gutekunst, WR Michael Bumpus, Adams, Brown, Floyd, Murray, Newton and Williams to the practice squad.

TENNESSEE TITANS—Signed WR Biren Ealy, CB Tuff Harris, DT Antonio Johnson, QB Ingle Martin, OL Jason Murphy, TE Jamie Petrowski, OL Fernando Velasco and CB Cary Williams to the practice squad.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS—Signed FB Nehemiah Broughton, OT Devin Clark, G Andrew Crummey, WR Horace Gant, LB Curtis Gatewood, CB Matterral Richardson and CB Byron Westbrook to the practice squad.