According to Matt Zenitz, the Ravens are expected to sign Trent Richardson, pending that he passes a physical. Nothing has been signed, but it looks like it will be finalized next week after the combine.
UPDATE:Â John Harbaugh said that they are working on bringing in Trent Richardson for a physical.
Our writers give their knee-jerk reactions to the news.
Trent Richardson is expected to sign with the Ravens pending a physical, sources told https://t.co/UJ3LjS671b https://t.co/LwC44LJEem
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) February 25, 2016
Joe Polek
Ummm… sure. Ozzie loves Alabama. This is a low impact move. If Trent stinks, they cut him. If he is good, he could make a good 3rd-down back. Not a big deal, and won’t cost the Ravens anything.
Tyler Lombardi
I know Ozzie loves Alabama. I know that the Ravens don’t have a short-yardage back. That doesn’t make this a good signing. Everything depends on the details of the contract, but I wouldn’t even put much faith into the idea that Richardson even makes the team.
I get that it’s low-risk, but I am surprised that any team would give Richardson a chance at this point. He has been horrible everywhere he’s been.
I’d rather give a younger, hungrier undrafted prospect his spot on the 90-man.
Nadeem Kureishy
Makes sense to give a former first round draft pick a chance. Hopefully the other Alabama alums teach him what it means to play like a raven.
Tony Lombardi
The Ravens have really struggled on third/fourth and short. Perhaps Richardson can help them improve their success rate in the short running game. There is little downside in the signing provided there are no guarantees or bonuses, and if he’s on the final 53-man squad it will cost Lorenzo Taliaferro, Justin Forsett, or Terrance West a job.
Mike Fast
My first reaction was that the pending signing of Richardson by Baltimore was a surprise.
But, it’s a low-risk move that could help the Ravens move the chains. The Ravens ranked 23rd in the league last year in 3rd-down offense, converting only 37.6 percent of their attempts.
If nothing else, this will force Buck Allen and Lorenzo Taliaferro to both step up.
Never turn down an opportunity to improve, even if it seems small.
Good move by Ozzie.
Brian McFarland
Doesn’t make a lot of sense to me, but I guess it’s worth a kick of the tires. The offseason roster can hold up to 90 players and won’t get filled until after the draft, so it’s not like he’s taking someone else’s spot at this point. It’s a low risk move, but not expecting any reward from it either.
Ryan Jones
Ozzie Newsome has really confused me in the last 24 hours. $9.5 million is a good number for Lardarius Webb to play under? The Ravens can be active in free agency without extending Joe Flacco? You’re signing Trent Richardson when the Ravens already have an abundance of running backs? Our pets heads are falling off?!?!?
Dumb and Dumber references aside, it really means nothing. If Richardson can somehow resurrect his career, the Ravens get him at the veteran minimum. If he doesn’t, he’ll be cut at some point in the preseason.
Kyle Rate
Low impact but very surprising. Richardson is an absolute enigma–rife with talent but seemingly way too confused and immature to unlock it. I put his odds of making the roster at less than 10% but it’s a development that will surely be enjoyable to keep an eye on.
Drew Forrester
Eh, like Ted Knight said in Caddyshack, “the world needs ditch diggers, too…”
I mean, if you want to keep signing re-treads on the hope that one of them might win the lottery and give you a year or two of service, go ahead.
Could have just signed me for a lot less money.
Kyle Casey
Won’t hurt from a financial standpoint, but the move won’t help at all, either. Richardson was a stud prospect who proved with multiple NFL teams that he simply wasn’t made for the NFL. I’d be shocked if he’s still on the team in September.
Ken McKusick
Low risk and probably low reward as well.
He hasn’t rushed for more than 563 yards, 3.4 YPC, scored more than 4 TDs since his rookie season (2012), but he can provide a little as a receiver (113 career catches in 46 games). It’s still hard to believe the Browns swindled the Colts out of a 1st-round pick for him.
Brian Bower
Not shocking news considering Ozzie Newsome’s love for ‘Bama. Another cheap camp body. Shocked if he makes it past August.
