Colts may try to void Trent Richardson’s contract

ByVinnie Criscenzo|

Dec 28, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Indianapolis Colts running back Trent Richardson (34) carries the ball against the Tennessee Titans during the first half at LP Field. Mandatory Credit: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports

The Indianapolis Colts may try to void the final year of Trent Richardson’s contract.

Remember when Trent Richardson was a thing?

It wasn’t too long ago that Richardson was chosen third overall in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns and burst onto the NFL scene as a rookie. In his first year, he rushed for 950 yards, averaging 3.6 yards per carry and scoring 11 touchdowns. He also added 51 receptions on 70 targets for 367 more yards and a touchdown. Everyone was excited to see what the dynamic runner could do after building off a strong rookie campaign.

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Unfortunately, it’s been a huge downward spiral for Richardson.

In the two years since then, Richardson has rushed for just 1,082 yards and scored just 6 touchdowns, while averaging just barely over three yards per carry. The Browns must have seen something they didn’t like in Richardson even during his rookie season or possibly during preseason, as they traded him just two weeks into the 2013 season to the Indianapolis Colts.

A lot of people thought that maybe a change of scenery would help Richardson regain his form from his rookie year, but he seemed to struggle even more after being traded. He constantly was passed over for the starting position in Indianapolis, even when Ahmad Bradshaw and Donald Brown went down with injuries. You just didn’t see the same explosiveness out of Richardson that you saw from him his rookie year, and reports of him being overweight and out of shape began to surface.

The whole saga seemed to have hit a collision course during the AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots. Richardson failed to report for the Colts morning walkthrough before their chartered flight to New England. He did not fly with the team to New England because of what the team called ‘personal reasons’ and was suspended for two games without pay by the team.

The ‘personal reasons’ mentioned before were that his girlfriend, who was 28 weeks pregnant at the time, was having complications and seemingly going into early labor. Richardson rushed her to the hospital early in the morning of the team’s scheduled walkthrough and charter flight. Richardson apparently did not let team officials know in a timely manner, which resulted in his suspension.

The Colts may have another reason for issuing the suspension, though. In Richardson’s contract, there is a void clause if he fails to report, if he is incarcerated, or is suspended by the team. With this suspension, it seems more than likely that the Colts will try to act on that void clause.

This decision by the Colts may come under some scrutiny, as Richardson had a more than reasonable reason to miss the team’s walkthrough, and it will certainly be contended by Richardson’s party. Still, even if they have to pay the final $3.184 million of Richardson’s contract, the Colts would just like to move on from the troubled running back.

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