Richardson looking forward to return

ByMike Wells ESPN logo
Wednesday, December 3, 2014

INDIANAPOLIS -- Colts running back Trent Richardson plans to jump into the Dawg Pound at FirstEnergy Stadium if he scores a touchdown against his former team, the Cleveland Browns, on Sunday.

"I get in the end zone, get a touchdown, I'm going to jump in the Dawg Pound. I know I have some true fans out there, and I know they still love me," he said.

The running back said he is "looking forward to going back to Cleveland" to play his former team.

"I don't want to say it's a revenge game, but it's going to be a lot of emotion put in this game," he said.

The Colts would simply like for Richardson to be effective.

Colts general manager Ryan Grigson gave up a first-round draft pick to acquire Richardson from the Browns in September 2013 with the vision being that the No. 3 overall pick in the 2012 draft would team with quarterback Andrew Luck, the top pick in that draft, for years to come.

That hasn't been the case.

Richardson is heading back to Cleveland this weekend struggling as the Colts' starting running back.

He lost his starting job last season and is averaging 3.3 yards per carry this season, which is 45th in the league among running backs. Richardson has yet to rush for 100 yards in his 26 games with the Colts.

Richardson has been outplayed by Daniel "Boom" Herron in each of the past two games. Richardson rushed for 12 yards on eight carries against the Washington Redskins, while Herron rushed for 88 yards on eight carries. Richardson rushed for zero yards on six carries against the New England Patriots on Nov. 16.

"I always took this phrase from mom, uncle and auntie, 'You have to go through the worst to get to the good. It's going to be bad until you get to the good,'" Richardson said. "Staying with that, time is due for a great game."

Colts coach Chuck Pagano was pressed Wednesday on why he continues to stick with Richardson as the starter.

"Cause he's our starting running back," Pagano said twice in a 10-second span.

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