More details about Trent Richardson's playoff suspension are coming out.
CBS Sports' Joel Corry confirmed news that Richardson's two-game suspension "voids guarantees" of his $3.184 million base salary, something ESPN's Mark Dominik pointed out a week ago. Corry adds that the Colts suspended Richardson for conduct detrimental to the team.
When Colts GM Ryan Grigson first confirmed the suspension, he claimed it was for "personal reasons" and didn't expand. There was no mention of a suspension when it was first announced that Richardson would miss the AFC title game — the story was Richardson missed a walk-through practice for a family emergency.
"I had to miss walk-through," Richardson said at the time. "I'm dealing with a very serious family emergency. I'm still at the hospital. I wouldn't purposely just miss walk-through.
"I wouldn't just purposely turn my back on the team," Richardson said. "I would have been there if I wasn't dealing with this issue."
It seems odd the Colts would suspend Richardson for conduct detrimental to the team if he was dealing with a family emergency. The Indianapolis Star's Stephen Holder says this is something that might be reviewed by the NFLPA.
I haven't seen Richardson's contract and I don't know what #Colts allege he did, but this smells like something the NFLPA will challenge
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) January 27, 2015 ESPN legal analyst Andrew Brandt said he would also expect a grievance to be filed.
Richardson has performed well below expectations in Indianapolis, and the team is reportedly non-committal in bringing him back next season.