National Football League

Report: Ex-NFL RB abusive to HS team

Published Nov. 1, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Ricky Watters entered the NFL with a bang. The fiery running back known as Ricky “Running” Watters never lacked for personality and never had trouble filling up a reporter’s notebook.

Best known for his “For who, for what?” quote when he was in Philadelphia and refused to stretch out for a pass across the middle, Watters was flashy. He scored five touchdowns in a playoff game for the 49ers and won a Super Bowl. He rushed for 10,643 yards and amassed 91 total touchdowns while playing with San Francisco, Philadelphia and Seattle. He retired after the 2001 season.

These days, Watters was coaching football at Oak Ridge (Fla.) high school football up until about a month ago when an investigation was launched into his behavior. According to a report, Watters “pushed or jacked up” players during a game on Sept. 13. In addition, Watters allegedly used racial slurs.

Watters was put on indefinite leave when an investigation was launched on Sept. 20, and he stepped down on Oct. 1. This was his first season as head coach.

"While there was some question about Watters' behavior before the West Orange game, most of the statements reflect it was at that game where he lost control and behaved in a manner that players said they had never experienced before,'' the investigation stated. "Some players did share there were various incidents of physical roughness that were aggressive toward players and had nothing to do with football."

Oak Ridge lost the game 53-24 that day which may have precipitated the incident. Players also said they’d reportedly quit the team if Watters remained coach.

"While it is understood that coaching at times is intense and coaches have to raise their voices to motivate the players, it appears that Mr. Watters' behavior was excessive and out of control," the report continued.

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