Browns Trade RB Trent Richardson to Colts

And so ends Trent Richardson’s brief tenure in Cleveland.

After yet another 0-2 start, it didn’t take the Cleveland Browns long this season to start making the kind of drastic changes usually reserved for the offseason in the NFL. On Wednesday it was announced that running back Trent Richardson had been traded to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for their first round draft pick in 2014.

The sudden move has surprised many, given that Richardson has played just 17 games in a Browns uniform since they drafted him No. 3 overall out of Alabama in the 2012 Draft.

His rookie season in Cleveland may not have been up to his own standards, but he did rush for almost 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns. Much of which came while playing with two broken ribs.

Richardson’s trade comes just six days after expressing his displeasure with the Browns running game following their 23-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Said Richardson:

“I just don’t think they stopped the running game. I think we stopped it ourselves as far as were behind and stuff like that. We’ve just got to keep fighting and know that no matter what, we’ve got to stick to our game plan. I guess Coach had another game plan and it went that way.”

It was the same sentiment Richardson expressed time and time again his rookie season. Apparently the Browns are getting tired of reruns—they’re whole existence is starting to feel like Groundhog Day, except a bizarro version in which Bill Murray learns absolutely nothing and keeps trying to score with Andie McDowell by various acts of manipulation.

Whether it had to do with Richardson’s statements or his style of play—or both—is unknown. What is known is that his time with the Browns has come to an end. Only time will tell if this was the right decision in Cleveland, but it looks like a short-term win for both Richardson and the Colts.