Trent Richardson is easily one of the NFL’s worst draft busts in the past decade. After being drafted with the third overall pick in 2012 and later traded for another first-rounder, Richardson is now looking for work. How could it have gone so wrong?
Basically, Richardson needed a babysitter.
In a recent interview with AL.com’s Matt Zenitz, Richardson shed some light on how he went downhill quickly after flourishing at the University of Alabama.
“It’s very easy to get lazy in the NFL — not having everything scheduled and not having everything like at Alabama where it was so structured,” the 25-year-old said. “We had study hall or we had to get a workout in in between classes and had five classes a day. It was just so structured. In the NFL, everything’s on your own.”
Richardson said his attention was also taken off of football when friends and family members were constantly asking for money. After a failed stint with the Oakland Raiders, he knew it was time to reevaluate his priorities.
“I didn’t hit rock bottom, but I was right there to where it’s like, OK, I get it,” Richardson said. “To look my kids in the face after getting cut by Oakland and tell them I didn’t have a job and to not know what was going to be my next turn, that really bit me in the butt.”
Richardson still has work to do, as the Baltimore Ravens have admitted they want to sign him but he needs to get in better shape first. He is certainly young enough to turn things around if he can put in the work.
As for having more structure in Tuscaloosa, we know another former Alabama running back who can probably relate. Sometimes growing up can be harder for NFL players than you think.
