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Running back Trent Richardson has found a new team. A few days after being released by the Indianapolis Colts, the former Cleveland Browns running back agreed to terms with the Oakland Raiders on a 2-year deal worth $3.9 million. After being released by the Colts, Richardson wasn't shy about calling his reign with the Colts "a bad marriage" and proclaiming that he will take the league by storm in the future:
"I'll be one of the top running backs from here on out," Richardson told ESPN.com. "They ruled Marshawn Lynch off in his third year. Look at what he's doing now. My next stop, I'll be the starter. I still have my pride, and I know who I am."
If there is a place where Richardson could have a chance to start, Oakland would be it. The team has finally moved on from RB Darren McFadden, and veteran RB Maurice Jones-Drew retired. RB Latavius Murray showed a lot of promise last year, but it remains to be seen whether the team will make a true commitment to him. Oakland also signed RB Roy Helu Jr. this offseason.
Trent Richardson averaged the 2nd worst yds-per-carry in NFL history among players with 500+ attempts (since 1970): 3.31 yds/att
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) March 12, 2015
Richardson's track record doesn't make me optimistic that he'll be able to turn things around in Oakland. You can't learn vision overnight, and Richardson simply doesn't have it.
#Raiders sign RB Trent Richardson to a 2-year worth $3.9M total, source said. It can go up to $4M per year based on incentives.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 17, 2015
Per Ian Rapoport's tweet above, Richardson's contract is worth a maximum of $8 million if he can reach certain incentives. I'm not sure what those incentives are, but if they are rushing related, I can't imagine he'll hit them. I still feel that Richardson could be a significant asset if he was utilized as a receiving back, where he'd be more free to make some of the open-field moves that made him a promising back a few years ago. The fact that the Browns were able to squeeze the Colts for a first-round pick for him is the best resume padder that former CEO Joe Banner could ever ask for -- a true work of art.