Advertisement

Trent Richardson loses 22 pounds for comeback with Ravens (Photos)

Frank Schwab
·NFL writer

It's not out of the question Trent Richardson can still have a productive and meaningful NFL career with the Baltimore Ravens.

Richardson has the talent, as a former No. 3 overall pick. People forget that he was competent as a rookie with the Cleveland Browns. For his 2016 comeback, he landed with a good organization. And he's obviously taking what would seem to be his final shot very seriously.

Richardson has dropped 22 pounds and looks to be in phenomenal shape, based on a before-and-after photo tweeted out by the Ravens:

Say this much: If Richardson fails on this opportunity, it won't be because he's not in shape.

Richardson was up to 240 pounds, the Ravens' web site said, and is now down to 218 pounds. Richardson was 228 pounds at the scouting combine before he was drafted. He was listed at 224 when he played at Alabama. So it's probable this is as light as Richardson has been in a long time.

It's unlikely Richardson ever lives up to what he was drafted to be. Stranger things have happened, but there's a long way to go for him to get back to that level. In some ways, Richardson's failure with the Browns and Indianapolis Colts was so complete it changed the way teams think about drafting running backs — if LSU's Leonard Fournette doesn't go in the top three next year, Richardson might be the last back drafted in the top three for a long time.

But Richardson doesn't need to be a Pro Bowler to make it a successful comeback. If he can make the Ravens' roster, contribute some and carve out a long career as a solid, productive back (and change the notion that he's one of the biggest draft busts ever), that could be the happy NFL ending he seeks.

Richardson doesn't have many chances left, and perhaps this is the last one. If he doesn't make it, it won't be because he didn't give everything he had.

- - - - - - -

Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!