Trent Richardson was traded from the Cleveland Browns to the Indianapolis Colts on Wednesday. We rarely ever see trades of this magnitude during the course of an NFL season, which is why most people were stunned by the news. That included Richardson himself, who said he first found out he had been dealt by listening to the radio.
“I found out on the radio,” Richardson told a group of news stations, including Fox 8 in Cleveland. “Actually, one of my friends called me and was like, ‘You got traded?’ I was like ‘Man, shut up talking to me. Get off my phone.’ I turned on the radio and all of a sudden I heard that the former Cleveland Browns running back has been traded to the Colts.
“It just hit me in my face. I didn’t see it coming from anywhere. I had good relationships with everybody, but I guess this is the best move for the Browns. At the end of the day it’s the best move for both of us, I guess.”
Richardson had nothing but positive things to say about the Browns organization and its fans, who are known for being harsh on players. You would think the team could have called him as soon as the trade was agreed to, but that can be easier said than done with Twitter and all the other lightning-fast sources of breaking news we have at our fingertips.
The former Alabama star was clearly blindsided by the move. That’s understandable. The Browns are seemingly taking the approach of an NBA team that wants a lottery pick. Players who were taken with the No. 3 overall selection in the draft and are still playing under a rookie contract are hardly — if ever — dealt. Ultimately, Richardson will have a better chance to win in Indianapolis. That should help him get comfortable quickly.
