It Can't Be A True Bust Without A Huge Flameout

This past weekend we saw NFL teams make their final player cuts to get down to the 53-player roster. There were plenty that were expected, a couple that were not and some fan favorites possibly ending their careers with last day cuts.

Even with the cutting of some of players like Reggie Wayne, Matt Cassel (who just resigned with the Bills), Tim Tebow, Montee Ball and Devon Still I think the one that will sting the player the most will be Trent Richardson.

Richardson came out of Alabama rushing for 1,679 yards with another 338 yards receiving not to mention two National Championships in three years. He was ranked as the #1 Running Back going in to the 2012 NFL Draft, seeming almost a lock in the stacked draft.

He was taken in the #3 pick by Cleveland and had a solid first season but after that the wheels came off of the train. He spent a little over one season with Cleveland before getting traded to Indianapolis where he played nearly two season. After being suspended for the AFC Champisonship game he was released by the Colts after the season and picked up by the Oakland Raiders. He struggled and didn’t even make it to the final round of cuts, instead the Raiders cut their ties leaving Richardson as a Free Agent heading in to the 2015 NFL season.

On the positive side any Richardson collectors have their choice of his cards for an amazing deal. There are currently 288 Richardson autographs listed with a total of 10 bids, all under $5, so now would be the time to purchase considering if he does get picked up by another team those prices will rise.

I had high hopes for him and I thought his move to Indy would help him break out of his rut, boy was I wrong. He seems to have problems seeing the holes and making the necessary cuts.

 

The Possibilities For Trent Richardson

 Now that Trent Richardson has left the minor leagues and moved on to an NFL team the question is will he take the opportunity to step up?

 

The trade seemed to come out of nowhere, I think this came as a surprise to many in the football world. How many teams trade a #3 pick after only one season with the team? He was healthy (more or less) and productive (as well as one can expect playing for the Browns), Ryan Leaf and Jamarcus Russell both got 3 seasons with the team that drafted them and they both were flops before they ever played a down in the NFL. Some applaud the trade, pointing at Richardson’s 3.4 yards-per-carry and state that he is expendable with the expectations that the team management will use the additional pick to nab a top flight Quarterback in the 2014 NFL Draft. I suggest that Brandon Weeden should start planning his post-NFL career now.

 

Now the high octane Colt’s offense will center on a trio of young stars with Andrew Luck, T.Y. Hilton and Trent Richardson so we may end up seeing some fireworks and if Richardson leads the charge expect to see his card prices jump dramatically. Even without playing a game for the Colts his cards are already starting to show plenty of activity with close to 250 new auctions added to eBay in the past 24 hours and plenty of bids.