Please explain why James Franklin would want to come to Cleveland to coach this organization? He's already a legend in Nashville, and, if reports are true, being offered the world by Penn State.

We have to face facts: Right now, the Cleveland Browns are not in a position to attract a really good head coach, either from college or the NFL ranks (assistants or retreads).

@419lions said:

The trade will be bad for the Browns. I was listening to NFL radio and basically D'qwell, and Joe Thomas are upset about this trade. THey are both leaders on the team and you know the locker room is a buzz about it. TRich was well liked and players respected him for playing hurt. Another thing is Dmitiri Patterson has been saying he was cut not because of his play but because he was telling Browns players not to trust Banner. That Banner was a snake. What do you think players are thinking of Banner now? If a Free Agent wants to sign with the Browns you don't think they'll talk to players on the team? Or former Players?

Now as far as TRich's play is concerned, its comparable to other rookie rb's who had good careers. You can't judge a player on 18 gms. Especially a rb. Lets look at some numbers of other backs in first 18gms.

First TRich's numbers

Last year 267 att 950yrds 3.6ypc 11tds 51 rec 367yrds 1td

Emmit Smith

1990 241att 937yrds 3.9ypc 11td 24rec 228yrds 0tds

1991 led NFL in rushing

Rickey WIlliams

1999 253att 884yrds 3.5ypc 2tds 28rec 172yrds 0tds

2000 first 2 games: 44att 134yrds 3.04ypc 0tds

YPC for a HOF RB his first 3 season 4.1, 3.7, 3.0

That RB was Marshal Faulk

LaDamian Thomilson averaged less than 4.0 ypc in 5 seasons (no they werent all at the end of his career)

Jerome Bettis avg 3.9ypc for his career in 13 seasons he only went over 4.0ypc 4 times and he's a HOF

Walter Payton 1975 196att 679yrds 7tds 33rec 213yrds 0tds

first game of 1976 25att 70 yrds 2.8ypc

So you can't call Trich a bust. You can't judge him on 18 gms. You fit the system to the players not the other way around. TRich was making 2-3mill a yr so he wasn't hurting the bottom line. As far as not being versatile look at his receptions last year he had 51, look at the other rb's listed he had more receptions than any of them as a rookie except faulk had 52. Thomilson, Emmitt, and Rickey Williams all played under Turner before and Smith, and Williams running styles were similar to Trents. This trade was about Lombardi's and Banners ego. So without knowing how TRich will turn out and the trade causing strife with the players they made this trade. This will come back and bite the Browns.

@419lions,

From a fellow new user, I have to say your stats obscure the fact that the NFL is a VASTLY different league in 2013. Running backs no longer have 300 carries a year to prove themselves. If a rookie RB doesn't show explosiveness or a special dynamic in the passing game, they're generally not going to get those 30 carries a game to "pound out" 100 yards. Not when passing is emphasized to such an extent. I mean, look at the year that we played Woody Hayes football with Peyton Hillis. I didn't see too many teams go draft a 260 lb running back and hand it to him 35 times a game the next year, in fact the Browns completely went away from that offense the next year.

Richardson may turn out well with a better line and a better QB, but he's NOT going to be a 300 carry back on a team that has Andrew Luck as it's focal point on offense. If he isn't a hit right away, he's going to end up getting 18 carries a game just like he did here.