Trent Richardson is changing uniforms and changing numbers in 2013. After playing two games with the Cleveland Browns, the franchise that drafted him last season, traded the running back out of Alabama for a first-round pick to the Indianapolis Colts. So what's the new number Richardson will wear? No. 34.
In college, Richardson wore No. 3. Once he became a pro, he doubled up with the Browns and rocked No. 33.
Now, with the Colts, he will raise a digit, and rock No. 34. Wait, doesn't that sound familiar? A running back wearing No. 34? Hmmm, yes, a historical figure.
Not that Richardson is trying to predict he will make a Walter Payton-like impact, but he is wearing the number of the man many considered to be the best running back in the history of the game. From Richardson's first season, NFL fans were able to see that he was the real deal. The No. 3 overall first-round pick in the 2012 draft went for 950 rushing yards with 11 touchdowns in 15 games last season. He also added 367 receiving yards and a touchdown in his rookie season.
The Colts could use a running game. It's been a while since the Colts had a decent rusher backing up their quarterback. Richardson brings a deadly combination of speed, power and good hands, giving quarterback Andrew Luck even bigger weapons on offense.
Look at the Colts now and they appear to have both a franchise quarterback and a running back in their team. If you think about it, the Colts have the first and third picks of the 2012 draft on their team. They coughed up a first-round pick for 2014, but Richardson proved he can play with the big boys in his first season. The Colts are only bound to get better with Richardson in the back field.
Just for the heck of it, here's a comparison of Payton's first NFL season to Richardson's production in his first professional year in the big leagues.
Payton: 7 Starts, 13 Games Player- 196 Attempts, 679 yards, 7 TDs
33 receptions, 213 yards 0 TD
Payton was also 21 when he made his debut with the Chicago Bears back in 1975.
