Trent Richardson says family, friends spent $1.6 million of his money in 10 months
August 4, 2016 by Mark Inabinett | minabinett@al.com
On March 12, 2015, the Indianapolis Colts released running back Trent Richardson. Seven months later, after being cut by the Oakland Raiders at the end of training camp and without an NFL team for the 2015 season, the former Alabama All-American took a close look at his finances for the first time.
What he found, among other things: 11 Netflix and eight Hulu accounts in his name. Bottle service in his name at clubs, even though Richardson doesn’t drink. All told, Richardson told ESPN’s Shelley Smith for the “E:60” show that aired on Thursday night, family and friends spent $1.6 million of his money from January to October in 2015.
“I finally just looked at my bank statement, and I was just like, ‘Where did this come from? Where did that come from?'” Richardson said. “And my guy was sitting there telling me, ‘Man, we was telling you.’ I know he was telling me, but that’s just like telling a kid to stop running in the hall. They’re going to still do it when you turn your back or you leave. It’s just one of them moments to where I was just blinded by my heart, by loving everybody and thinking that everyone was for me. I know they love me. I know they do care. But at the time, they took advantage of it.”
Richardson signed a guaranteed contract worth $20,489,796 with Cleveland after the Browns selected him with the third pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. He headed to Cleveland with his brother, mother, children, girlfriend, cousins and a friend.
Out of football and taking a hard look at his finances for the first time, Richardson said he tightened his circle after his financial review, including taking his brother Terrell, getting $100,000 a year as a personal assistant, off the payroll.
“Ya’ll are trying to live a lifestyle that I’m not even living,” Richardson said he told his friends and relatives. “Ya’ll are living the lifestyle that ya’ll think I should be living.”
Richardson said he was at fault for giving others access to his money and for sending along financial help to every friend and relative with a hard-luck story.
“He’s such a good guy,” Alabama coach Nick Saban told ESPN. “He’s such a good person, and he wants to please everyone. And I think sometimes when guys have that personality, which is a great personality to have, it makes it very difficult to disappoint anyone with the word ‘No.'”
Richardson started working out again last year with an eye toward returning to the NFL. He got a chance with the Baltimore Ravens, but a hamstring problem and arthroscopic knee surgery kept him sidelined, and the Ravens waived him on Tuesday. He never got on the field during training camp.
Richardson isn’t giving up on football, though. He’s returned home to Pensacola to rehab his knee to be ready for his next opportunity.
“I can’t let this beat me,” Richardson said on “E:60.” “I’m going to keep on fighting.”
Richardson told ESPN that he isn’t broke. He has enough money to support his immediate family.
“I learned my lesson,” Richardson told Smith. “I’ve been whupped pretty hard.”
