So the Browns trading Trent Richardson to Indy is a big deal. Why? Well, a #3 overall pick, with a Sistine chapel-esque ceiling being traded 2 games into his sophomore season is something that, to my knowledge, has never happened before. Looking at trades like Anquan Boldin to the 49ers for a 6th round pick, Randy Moss to the Patriots in 2007 (98 receptions, 1,493 yds, 23 TD's) for a 4th round pick, and Indy's Marshall Faulk trade to the Rams in '99 (3122 rush yds, 2643 rec. yds, 60 total TD's from '99-'01) for a 2nd and 4th round pick, you see that the team getting the player can be a major league grand slam for batting cage admission. I believe this is the latest case.
Richardson is a shifty, bruising back who can run, catch the ball, knows what winning looks and feels like, and most importantly for Indy right now, BLOCKS! He's a player you keep, you franchise, you build upon. How the hell does an NFL teams brain trust come to the conclusion that getting rid of a player that hasn't been given the chance to fully realize his NFL potential in the system that drafted him is the best course of action?? I'm wondering if he has a major heart/kidney/liver/brain disease that only the Browns know about, because beyond that... This makes no sense to me.
Reading through the different sites and the different opinions on the pros and cons of this trade leaves me with a few strong impressions. The Cleveland Browns management hate their fans, are tanking the season for Bridgewater/Boyd/Manziel, and beyond that have not a clue. The Browns, no matter how the pie is sliced and dished up, lost immensely. The ONLY offensive cog in place to build around and they ship him out for what? A 19-27 overall pick? What's more is that this is another huge sucker punch to the city of Cleveland and the state of Ohio. Lebron left; right or wrong, in part because it was obvious enough wasn't being done to build around him.
There seems to be a vein of thought from "Browns fans" that Richardson wasn't going to make that much difference this year anyway. I agree with that. They are a bad team with more problems than the lack of production at RB. HOWEVER, what this does guarantee is that they won't have reasonable production from RB for the next 2-3 years, they'll rely on cast away free agents until next year, and Weeden/Hoyer will end up getting suplexed all season! I take their comments more as a feeble attempt to soften the blow of losing the only offensive weapon they had. And the numerous statements that you can find RB's beyond the first round, so this isn't a big deal, is a steaming pile of crap. Yes, it's possible. Now Cleveland HAS to bank on that! Not a good bet.
There is no good explanation for this at all EXCEPT maybe that Browns management realizes the Ravens and Bengals are going to win that division for the next 3-4 years (at least), and believe that immolation is the course of action to build for the future. WHAT?! Trent WAS the future in Cleveland. He doesn't fit the scheme? He runs, catches, and blocks. That's pretty versatile. Now they have to compete with Jacksonville, Tampa, and the Jets for their coveted 32nd spot. My prediction? They'll finish just outside of where they want to be, and therefore have to mortgage more picks to get what they want, and will turn into another terrible Cleveland Executive decision that nets them nothing but more years of disappointment.
Next Cleveland Plain Dealer headline:
Cleveland Butt Fumbles!
'Browns trade 1st and both 2nd round picks for Mark Sanchez.'
On the flip side. We'll see you in the divisional round, Colts! Good to see Jim Irsay, after giving up Peyton, really knows what he's doing.
p.s. The Browns gave T-Rich 13+ million as a signing bonus. And while Cleveland is making terrible decisions.... I suggest trading Joe Haden to the 49ers. Take your picks!
