Davie, Fla. ? In the wake of the Miami Dolphins’ latest exhibition game, the most interesting issue surrounding the team concerned confusion over whether third-string lineman Kevin Vickerson’s injury was to his hand or hamstring.

Ricky, we miss ya.

The Dolphins’ leading headline generator since 2002, Ricky Williams is serving a one-year NFL suspension and recovering after breaking his arm last month while playing in the Canadian Football League.

At Dolphins’ camp, it’s like the circus left town.

“There’s not all the hoopla,” tight end Randy McMichael said. “You can play football and not worry about a lot of media distraction. But we miss Ricky. Everybody enjoyed having Ricky around. We can’t wait for him to get back.”

Williams sat out the 2004 season before returning last year, and it’s possible he’ll mount another comeback next year at age 30. Coach Nick Saban has said he wanted Williams back.

Even without the 1998 Heisman Trophy winner and 2002 NFL rushing champion, there’s plenty of interest in the Dolphins. Thanks to a six-game winning streak to end last season and the acquisition of quarterback Daunte Culpepper, Miami is widely touted as a team on the rise poised to challenge New England’s supremacy in the AFC East.

But despite elevated expectations, the preseason has been much more sedate than the past two years, when Williams was a constant topic of conversation and speculation. By contrast, Vickerson’s injury – to a finger, as it turned out – barely drew notice.

“Hopefully we’ll start having a good positive vibe around here,” defensive end Jason Taylor said. “People are expecting a lot of things. We’re expecting to win a lot of games. We have a new quarterback, and that’s drawing a lot of attention. So the good positive energy around here is great for everybody. I don’t think we’ll miss Ricky.”

They won’t miss constant questions about Ricky, at least. His 2004 retirement, 2005 comeback, drug tests, financial issues, vacation destinations, unkempt beard, reading habits and Mighty Mouse tattoo … teammates were asked about it all.

The Dolphins received 20 inquiries in a single week last year from national media outlets planning stories on Williams. Mike Wallace of “60 Minutes” did a profile – and then a follow-up.

“It was crazy,” said linebacker Channing Crowder, a rookie in 2005.