Indianapolis Colts Rumors: Trent Richardson Trade or Release Option As Reggie Wayne To Retire?

Jan 23, 2015 04:24 PM EST
Trent Richardson #34 rushes against the Tennessee Titans
Trent Richardson #34 rushes against the Tennessee Titans during the second quarter of a game at LP Field on December 28, 2014 in Nashville, Tennessee."

The Indianapolis colts may look at the trade or release of Trent Richardson in 2015, as the running back was suspended for two games and he could be out in Indy for Andrew Luck and this comes as Ryan Grigson may target some players in free agency, with names like Jeremy Maclin, DeMarco Murray, Frank Gore, Torrey Smith, Cecil Shorts and Randall Cobb as potential options if Reggie Wayne retires.

Richardson was deactivated for the AFC championship game and now will be suspended for the first game of the 2015 season if he is still with the team. According to ESPN.com, general manager Ryan Grigson spoke about the deactivation of Richardson, revealing that he had been suspended for two games and that came after he was inactive for the divisional playoff game against the Broncos the week before. Grigson said to Mike Wells at ESPN.com that he would not commit to Richardson being with the team next season.

This is a stark fall for Richardson, who was a first round pick by the Browns in 2012, taken two picks after Andrew Luck was selected by the Colts. Richardson could be gone despite the fact that he has a fully-guaranteed $3.184 million salary and that shows how disappointed the Colts are in the running back. Richardson had an up and down season in 2014 and now he could be off the team next year after being acquired for a first round pick.

The Colts are going to have some cap space this offseason depending on the moves they make, as Over the Cap reports they could have up to $25 million in cash to use. The team could look at WR options on the market if Reggie Wayne retires or leaves, as names like Jeremy Maclin and Cecil Shorts are available. CBS Sports adds that DeMarco Murray is not an impossible option, as the Colts will have money to sign him if he agrees to deal that's about market value for running backs.

The Colts traded a top pick for Richardson last year and he had an inconsistent season after that, but many expected improvement with a full year with the team. That did not happen and now other teams could be interested in Richardson if he is traded or released. The team benched Richardson last year for Donald Brown at one point and this season he lost carries to Dan Herron and Zurlon Tipton late in the year. The Colts made it to the AFC championship and played three playoff games, but Richardson only had one carry and that came in the matchup with the Colts in the first round.

Richardson has only had 977 yards in 29 games with the Colts over two seasons and in that time he had zero 100-yard games. Richardson broke out as a rookie after being the third overall pick in 2012, but since then he has not been a productive player. Richardson had 950 yards and 11 touchdowns as a rookie with the Browns and also added 51 catches, but since then he has only scored six TDs. This past season he had 519 yards rushing and that flowed his 2013 season when he had 563 yards. Richardson has averaged just 3.3 yards per carry in his career and has never averaged more than 3.6 yards per carry in his three seasons.

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