Colts general manager says Trent Richardson ‘needs to answer the bell’

The Indianapolis Colts traded for Cleveland Browns running back Trent Richardson early in the season last year. He was brought in to boost the run game and bring some balance to the Colts’ offense, but he failed to do so averaging 2.9 yards per carry last season.

More from Indianapolis Colts

• Colts get trolled for new black helmet, looking like Duke wannabes
• NFL’s running back revolt has begun after Saquon Barkley drama
• 3 running backs who will be the next Saquon Barkley with contract disputes
• NFL Power Rankings: Who is the best quarterback in each division?
• Philip Rivers can soon play QB with a full offense of his kids

The built in excuse was trying to learn on the fly and joining a new team with the season already underway. He doesn’t have that excuse now with a full offseason with the Colts under his belt, but things have gotten worse in the 2014 preseason, where he averages 2.4 yards per carry.

Colts general manager Ryan Grigson is calling Richardson out and saying it is time for him to answer the call.

“Trent, he needs to answer the bell and do his job to the best of his ability,” Grigson said, via ESPN. “We’re all accountable here. I will say this, there are a lot of backs last year that wouldn’t have got [2.4] considering the amount of people he had in that box and the amount of bodies that were hitting him before he even seemed to get the ball sometimes. He’s such a hard runner, we know how tough he is, but he’s got to produce just like all these guys do on this final 53.”