Trent

Richardson

Turner took a lot of heat for his bungling of Ryan Matthews in San Diego, but that was an exception to the rule. Normally, he loves riding one back and usually devises schemes that lead to success. It’s more good news for Trent Richardson, who is fully healthy after nagging injuries played a part in his disappointing 3.55 YPC average last season.

The paper also believes the Browns will take “a long, hard look” at Alabama RB Trent Richardson if they pass on Griffin and let free agent Peyton Hillis walk. The odds seem high that the Browns will use at least one of their first-round picks on an offensive skill player for the first time since they selected Brady Quinn at No. 22 overall in 2007.

Oakland will eat the $600,000 it guaranteed Richardson back in March. We figured the Colts’ release of Richardson would serve as a swift kick in the pants for the former No. 3 overall pick, but he ended up reporting to Raiders camp overweight and didn’t impress anyone in the organization this preseason, rushing for 42 scoreless yards on 15 carries (2.8 YPC) and breaking one measly tackle. Richardson is running out of chances, but we expect him to get one more.

We’ve been pining for T-Rich to shed weight for years. It sounds like he’s finally done so, and according to Tice it showed during the offseason program. “I thought the young man out of Alabama came on,” said Tice. “He lost some weight, his quickness came around.” Richardson is battling Roy Helu and Latavius Murray for snaps in Oakland’s backfield. In all likelihood, Murray will be the Week 1 starter with Helu playing on passing downs.

Beat writer Vic Tafur doesn’t elaborate beyond that. In early July, OL coach Mike Tice stated T-Rich shed weight this offseason, helping some of his old quickness to return. More-objective observers of Raiders practice must not have seen much from Richardson in the way of positives. Owed only $600,000 in guaranteed money on his two-year, $3.85 million deal, Richardson would be easy to cut.

Or, at least over the weight threshold the Raiders set for T-Rich before training camp. “Trent is here,” Del Rio said. “He came back very close to the weight, which was a pretty ambitious goal to get to. He’s down in the low 220s. That’s what we asked of him. That’s where he was.” Richardson has missed the first three days of camp. He’s seen as 50-50 to make the roster.

T-Rich opened training camp on the active/NFI list, suggesting he failed his conditioning test. Latavius Murray and Roy Helu are locks for the 53, while FB Marcel Reece can handle the load in a pinch. Richardson may be competing directly with UDFA Michael Dyer for a roster spot. Until T-Rich gets back on the practice field, his odds are going to appear even less than 50:50.

T-Rich had been sidelined since reporting to camp overweight last Friday. Now his drive for a roster spot can begin. Richardson is not a fantasy consideration.

No explanation has been given yet, but we should get details soon. It seems likely Richardson failed to pass his conditioning test. The San Francisco Chronicle recently passed along “whispers” that the Raiders’ flyer on T-Rich is “not going so well.” Richardson appears to be squarely on the roster bubble.

Del Rio stressed the word “compete” to Richardson when he signed with Oakland. Murray is in the driver’s seat and should really run circles around Richardson if given a fair shake. But it’s a bit concerning that the Raiders were so eager to add a back, first chasing DeMarco Murray before settling for T-Rich. Working in Latavius’ favor is the fact that T-Rich has been one of the worst runners in the league the past two seasons.