The Indianapolis Colts announced they have waived running back Trent Richardson, days after signing veteran Frank Gore. Richardson was acquired for a first-round pick from the Cleveland Browns in 2013 after struggling to fit in with then-head coach Rob Chudzinski's offense. But he has never lived up to the hype of being the third overall draft pick.
Colts waive Trent Richardson
The Colts cut ties with the player who cost them a first-round pick in 2013.
Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
The former Alabama star was handed a two-game suspension before the 2014 AFC Championship for missing a walkthrough and failing to contact the team. Richardson's explanation details an account of taking his pregnant girlfriend to the hospital for a medical emergency that involved life-or-death circumstances.
The Colts could still owe Richardson $3.18 million in guaranteed money, or they could use his suspension as reason to void his contract. In that case, the NFLPA would likely file a grievance.
A tumultuous tenure with the Colts included pedestrian numbers of 977 rushing yards and six touchdowns in 29 games. Richardson struggled to show explosiveness and was even relegated to special teams in his final action in Indianapolis.
He was a healthy scratch against the Denver Broncos in the divisional round of the playoffs and had numerous weight issues throughout the entire 2014 season. The Colts fined him multiple times last season, once for missing a team meeting and several other times for his weight.
It’s hard to see where his career will go from here, but given that he’s already had a second chance in a league not known for patience with player development, this could be a career-threatening development for the 2012 first-round pick.
In addition to Richardson, the Colts also released running back Michael Hill. Gore will join running backs Boom Herron, Vick Ballard, Zurlon Tipton and Jeff Demps on the Indianapolis roster.
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