The Trent Richardson roller coaster is screaming back toward Planet Earth.
The Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday waived the former first-round running back in order to sign wide receiver Chuck Jacobs.
It was no help that Richardson found himself pushed to the back of a crowded gaggle of backs led by Justin Forsett, Buck Allen, Lorenzo Taliaferro, Kenneth Dixon and Terrance West.
Forsett is "the clear lead dog" in this race while Allen showed promise as a rookie. Even West -- another Cleveland washout -- has generated sneaky praise "as the Ravens' most explosive offensive player" during training camp."
Richardson battled injuries, excess weight and conditioning issues all offseason -- and for years, really -- prompting Ravens coach John Harbaugh to say in June: "When he gets himself (in shape), he's got talent. I'm very certain he'll get there. And when he does, we'll be able to evaluate him."
No stranger to disappointing coaching staffs, Richardson never "got there." The No. 3 overall pick of the 2012 draft was out of the league for all of the 2015 season after averaging just 3.1 yards per carry over two campaigns with the Colts. His best year came as a rookie with the Browns, but that feels like a million generations ago.
The safe bet today is that Richardson never plays another snap at the NFL level.
