The Cleveland Browns knew they were getting something special when the team drafted former Alabama running back Trent Richardson in the first round last year. While durability has been an issue, Richardson certainly proved worth the money, rushing for 950 yards and 11 touchdowns while also putting up 367 receiving yards and one touchdown. Not bad for a rookie on a team with skeptical play around him. But those numbers are not good enough in Richardson's mind, so he is turning to one of the greatest running backs of all time for some advice.
On Wednesday, Richardson shared the field with Jim Brown and Marshall Faulk, not bad company to keep.
"Him, me and Jim Brown on the same field, that's a powerful field,'' said Richardson. "That's a strong moment. I'm trying to get to where (Faulk) is today. It's big having him out here at practice.''
Richardson and Faulk have spent some time talking football over the offseason. Richardson has been a longtime admirer of Faulk who in a 12-year career rurshed for 12,279 yards and caught 767 passes. Richardson is hopeful that he can one day have that kind of career.
The two running backs first met at the NFL combine a few years ago and have stayed in touch ever since. Richardson used to study Faulk's style while at Alabama and would call for advice from time to time. Reporting to camp 10 pounds lighter this season, Faulk thinks Richardson is well on his way to becoming a great.
"Yeah, it's there," Faulk said. "You saw it in college. It's the reason that in a league that they're starting to kind of devalue the position, he gets drafted so early. He's never shied away from asking questions or letting you know what he don't know because he understands that the things that you don't know when you find them out, it makes it easier to become great."
If Richardson is going to become more like Faulk, he has the offensive coordinator to make it happen. Norv Turner might be known as a quarterback guru, but in his 22 years as a coach or coordinator, Turner's rushing attack as out ranked his passing attack. Three of those times he had the league's top rusher on the season. After having coached backs like Emmitt Smith and LaDainian Tomlinson, Turner thinks comparing Richardson to some of the greats is pretty accurate.
"Obviously he's the third pick in the draft. I think he has a lot of great days ahead of him. I always have a problem comparing players because each guy has his own unique style, but I think he's capable of great things," Turner said.