Could Trent Richardson make an NFL comeback?

A former first-round pick of the Cleveland Browns is opening eyes in the AAF. Could running back Trent Richardson find his way back to the NFL?

Seven years ago, Trent Richardson was the third overall selection in the 2012 NFL Draft. And by all accounts, the former University of Alabama running back had more than a respectable rookie campaign for the Cleveland Browns. He rolled up 1,317 yards from scrimmage and a dozen touchdowns. In 15 games and starts, there were 950 rushing yards and 11 scores and 51 catches, good for 367 yards and one touchdown.

One year later and after two games, Richardson was dealt to the Indianapolis Colts for a first-round draft choice. He would play 29 games with the club and managed only 1,471 yards from scrimmage and reached the end zone only seven times.

He was cut loose by the Colts in March of 2015. That offseason, he would sign with the Oakland Raiders and Baltimore Ravens but he never played a regular-season game for either club.

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Fast forward to this year and the new Alliance of American Football (AAF). Guess who is back on the gridiron for the league’s Birmingham Iron? For the 3-0 club, Richardson has totaled 59 carries for just 145 yards, but has scored six touchdowns. He’s also second on the club with 10 receptions, good for 68 yards. And the one-time member of the Crimson Tide sounds like a very determined player these days.

“Every game for me and every play, you know is really like, ‘I gotta get this. I gotta have this,’” said Richardson Sunday after he ran for just 46 yards but for three touchdowns in his team’s 28-12 over the Atlanta Legends on CBS Sports Network (via Grant Gordon of NFL.com). “It’s fourth and one for me every play. So that’s how I look at it.

"“I think about my kids a lot when I’m on this field. If I don’t get this first down, if I don’t get this touchdown, I’m going to let my team down, I’m most definitely going to let my kids down. My mindset is I have to do everything I can to get to that first down or get to that touchdown.”"

So could there indeed be an NFL comeback in the 28-year-old running back’s future? “I definitely feel I want to play in NFL again,” Richardson told Tony Grossi of ESPN Radio 850 WKNR last week. “When that opportunity presents itself, I’m going to do everything I can, give 120 percent.”

And could there indeed be a reunion between Richardson and the Cleveland Browns. Well… “Ya’ll keep watching. We’re going to do great things in this Alliance league. And hopefully one day I’ll get that phone call and hopefully I’ll be jumping in that Dawg Pound one day.”