Raiders cut Trent Richardson

One of the more surprising, and disappointing, draft busts in recent memory may have reached the end of the line on Monday.

The third time won't be the charm for running back Trent Richardson, who was released by the Oakland Raiders in their first wave of roster cuts, according to ESPN.

Richardson, selected No. 3 overall in the 2012 NFL Draft, failed to impress in his rookie season with the Cleveland Browns before a surprise trade found him sent to the Colts for a first-round pick at the start of the 2013 season. Indianapolis cut him in the offseason and Oakland took a flier on him before a poor showing in their exhibition campaign.

He carried for 42 yards on 18 rushes in three games after starting training camp on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list and had averaged only 3.3 yards per rush attempt in his career.

Only 25 years old, it appears Richardson has played his last down in the NFL. It would seem difficult to imagine another franchise taking a chance on him after the lack of production that followed such tremendous expectations following a sterling career at Alabama.

The Raiders liked enough of what they have seen in starting rusher Latavius Murray and also retain Roy Helu and Taiwan Jones to fill out their backfield behind quarterback Derek Carr.

Trent Richardson had good reason to avoid that hole

First, the Cleveland Browns didn't want him because he couldn't hit the hole. Then, the Indianapolis Colts didn't want him because he couldn't hit the hole. 

Now, following the Oakland Raiders' 18-3 victory in their first preseason matchup against the Rams, once again concern is being raised that running back Trent Richardson might be gaining a reputation.

Thanks largely to video and freeze-frames across the internet the day after the game that seem to show him choosing to follow the flow of the formation to the overcrowded right side when a gaping hole had opened to the left side with the end zone in sight.

Richardson carried for no gain on that play, and finished with 18 yards on the night, but other angles seem to show the apparent touchdown may not have been so apparent. Rams linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar was patrolling behind the line, unblocked, and looked to be assigned to any rushes up the middle. So whether Richardson had the easy touchdown most commentators thought he had is certainly up for debate.

But when a guy has a reputation for missing the hole, or for anything, which he has certainly gained on the evidence, it's hard to shake. It's easier to knock a guy than to explain why he made a single mistake on one play.

Veteran QB Jason Campbell to announce retirement

When a 33-year-old man retires from any business, it's because he's done extraordinarly well, or was an unmitigated failure.

A bit of both could be said of Jason Campbell, who plans to announce his retirement following an eleven year professional campaign with five franchises.

Campbell, who declined offers from the Bengals and Ravens following last season, fell victim to that all-too-common NFL disease, being a moderately good talent that could have done something if he wasn't shackled to some legendarily awful teams. 

A first-round pick to the Redskins out of Auburn in 2005, he last started in 2014, throwing 19 pass attempts as Andy Dalton's backup with the Bengals. 

He spent five seasons with Washington, tallying 52 starts, before the arrival of Donovan McNabb, suddenly finding himself in Oakland. As per Raiders tradition, it went downhill from there. A six-game starting stint ended after he broke his collarbone in 2011, resulting in the eventual trade for Carson Palmer from the Bengals. He started a game for Chicago the following season and eight for Cleveland the year after, going 1-7 for the Browns.

He compiled a 32-47 career record in the professional ranks, tossing a respectable 87 touchdowns to 60 interceptions.

@MrJamesParks

Reports: Suh will visit Raiders next week

ALAMEDA, Ca. - The Oakland Raiders are planning to host former Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh sometime in the coming week, according to the NFL Network.

Detroit declined last week to give Suh the franchise tag and pay him a reported $26.7 million salary next season, allowing the four-time Pro Bowl selection to court offers from around the league.

Oakland has around $57 million in cap space and new head coach Jack del Rio will insert him into a 3-4 formation that would team him up with run-stopping linebacker Khalil Mack.

Teams can begin to host free agents starting on Tuesday, when the league year begins, though cannot negotiate or have contact with agents of potential players until 4 p.m Eastern time on Friday.

Suh recorded 53 total tackles and 8.5 sacks last season, spearheading the Lions' second-best overall defense, first in football against the run (69.3 ypg). 

Reports: Mike Shanahan meets with Raiders, Bills

Former Denver Broncos and Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan has interviewed for the vacant head coaching position with the Oakland Raiders and Buffalo Bills, according to reports.

Dianna Marie Russini of NBC-4 (Washington) reported Shanahan met with the Raiders this week. He coached 20 games for the team in Los Angeles in 1988 and '89, and left the franchise after developing a sour relationship with owner Al Davis.

Sour would be a kind assessment: former pro quarterback Elvis Grbac said Shanahan once told him to throw a football at Davis during a pre-game warmup when both were with the 49ers in the 1994 season.

Adam Schefter of ESPN also reported that Shanahan met with Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula and other team officials on Sunday. Former head coach Doug Marrone opted out of his contract this week following two seasons in Buffalo and a 15-17 record.

Shanahan met with Chris Berman for ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown" this season and intimated that he still has an interest in coaching.

"Well, one thing that I want to do is win," Shanahan said when asked about it. "So it's not just coaching but going to the right organization that will make a strong commitment. There's only one team that's happy at the end of the year and that's the team that wins the Super Bowl."

Shanahan, a two-time Super Bowl champion with Denver, did not coach last season after being released by the Redskins following the 2013 season, leading Washington to one playoff appearance in his tenure.