Oakland Raiders: Trent Richardson Falling Behind Quickly

By Jonathan George | Aug 6, 2015

The latest news out of Oakland Raiders training camp, per rotoworld.com, is that Trent Richardson can’t seem to get onto the practice field or off of the active/NFI list due to being overweight. He has now missed the first week or so of Oakland’s camp, and with his job anything but a lock to begin with, the news he can’t seem to slim down fast enough is troubling to say the least.

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Richardson was considered by many to be a “bubble” player to make the 53 man Raider roster. He came into town with hopes to compete for the starting job along with Latavius Murray, and at one point head coach Jack Del Rio stated he thought Richardson had at least a decent chance of doing just that. But it is clear from what has been seen so far that Richardson isn’t going to be able to make the team, let alone compete for a big role, if he can’t get on the field.

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The biggest disappointment when it comes to Richardson might be the fact that this was something he could control. It would be one thing if he was healing slower than expected from a big injury late last season, or pulled something the first day of camp.

If a player isn’t self disciplined enough to keep themselves at a healthy weight during the off-season, especially when that player is trying to change opinions about his “bust” status, then why should the team care to keep him?

This isn’t the first time Richardson has had a problem with a team he’s played for when it comes to his conditioning. Per Josh Alper and profootballtalk.com, Richardson might have worn out his welcome while playing for the Colts last season when he gained 15 pounds during a time he was out with an injury. It was possibly part of the reason he was left off of the AFC Championship game roster against the Patriots, and eventually cut from the squad.

Having all of this in his recent history should have given Richardson even more incentive to come in to Raiders camp in the best shape of his life. If he really wanted to compete for the starting role he should have taken his fitness more seriously and gone above and beyond what was expected of him. Instead, he has now missed several crucial practices; practices that he as a 50/50 roster spot player can’t afford to miss.

Del Rio isn’t the type of coach to put up with player laziness, and while we truly don’t have all of the facts surrounding Richardson’s weight issue, the fact remains that he was given a team friendly contract for a reason: Reggie McKenzie and the Oakland Raider franchise didn’t want to risk a lot of money on a guy that has repeatedly disappointed his team during his NFL tenure. Richardson can’t take anything for granted when it comes to his future in the NFL.

While there is still time to turn things around, and anything can happen in terms of future performance, Richardson has pretty much started his tenure in Oakland the worst way he could. When you can’t make weight as a professional athlete and you aren’t injured, there is no excuse. His time in Oakland, and the NFL, might be running out quickly.

Next: Jack Del Rio Thinks His Team Is Special

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