In what is surely either a sign of the increased depth on the Oakland Raiders roster, specifically at running back, or the sad state that former first-round pick, running back Trent Richardson's NFL career has fallen into, the Raiders late Monday started their first round of cuts as they attempt to reach the 75-player limit ahead of Tuesday's deadline and Richardson was reportedly one of the first players said to be given his walking papers, according to ESPN's Bill Williamson.
Richardson, the former third-overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns, was given $600,000 in guarantees by the Raiders and new head coach Jack Del Rio this offseason, but it doesn't seem to have been enough of a deterrent to keep the perenially injured, inconsistent or overweight Richardson on the suddenly surging Raiders roster.
With Latavius Murray at the head of a pack that now includes free agent addition Roy Helu, upstart Michael Dyer and speedy scat back Taiwan Jones, Richardson was set for the fight of his life just to remain in the conversation. Fitness concerns coupled with an injury limited Richardson from the outset and his Raiders tenure has now, reportedly, proven to be a short one.
The Raiders mark the third NFL franchise to have given up on Richardson as he was cut loose by the Indianapolis Colts only two seasons after they traded a first-round pick to the Browns for his services.
