Talent is talent, and when you’ve got it and you’re still relatively young, somebody is going to give you a job in the NFL. Even if your name is Trent Richardson and you didn’t play all of last season.
The 25-year-old former No. 3 overall pick signed with the Baltimore Ravens this week, which means he’ll have an opportunity to redeem himself after failed stints with the Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts between 2012 and 2014.
Richardson was expected by many to quickly become an NFL superstar after shining at Alabama, but he averaged just 3.6 yards per carry as a rookie with the Browns, and things got worse from there. After struggling early in the 2013 season, he was dealt to Indy in exchange for a first-round pick. But he didn’t even last two full seasons with the Colts, averaging an embarrassing 3.1 yards per rush.
The man has started 37 games but has gone over 100 yards just three times, scoring just seven touchdowns in his last 31 games.
Are there reasons for optimism in Baltimore? He won’t be counted on to lead the way, because the Ravens have Justin Forsett. And that’s probably a good thing, because it did feel as though a lot of his problems were mental.
The less pressure, the better. And maybe it’ll help that he simply is older now, especially since it sounds as though he’s in good shape. Dude has an incredible amount of natural talent, but he faced questions regarding his conditions. If he’s more mature and focused, and he knows this is his last shot, he might be inspired to start living up to his ability in Baltimore.
Can one of the biggest busts of this era bounce back and back us forget about stuff like this?
Trent Richardson: "Hmmm run through giant hole to the end zone or run into a pile of linemen…I'll choose the pile." pic.twitter.com/YXKtpRMrhU
— NOTSportsCenter (@NOTSportsCenter) August 15, 2015
Crazier things have happened in this silly league.
