BEREA, Ohio – Trent Richardson didn’t fit into the Browns’ plans. They’re pushing forward without him.

Cleveland traded the powerful running back to the Indianapolis Colts on Wednesday, a stunning move just two games into this season and only one year after drafting Richardson in the first round.

Richardson was dealt for a first-round selection in next year’s draft, when the Browns will have two opening-round picks and 10 overall. Cleveland is rebuilding and the team hopes to use those picks — seven in the first four rounds — to help turn around a floundering franchise mired in losing for more than a decade.

Such a reversal was what the Browns had in mind when they took Richardson with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2011 draft. The former Alabama seemed to have it all: power, speed and good hands.

But Richardson apparently isn’t the kind of back Cleveland’s front office wants or one for first-year coach Rob Chudzinski’s offensive system. Richardson, who rushed for 950 yards as a rookie despite playing most of last season with two broken ribs, gained just 105 yards on 31 carries in Cleveland’s two losses this season.

He lacked the explosiveness the Browns’ new regime was looking for, and it may not have helped that Richardson made it clear he wanted the ball more.

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However, Browns CEO Joe Banner said that there was nothing negative about Richardson and the team simply seized an opportunity to improve. And the Colts have been looking for a back since Vick Ballard suffered a season-ending knee injury. 

CHARGERS: Manti Te’o practiced for the first time since injuring his right foot in August.

Te’o , the Chargers’ second-round pick out of Notre Dame, wasn’t all the way back but his return represented progress.

“It’s been a long time and it’s definitely been a learning process,” said Te’o, who was injured Aug. 8. “But I’m glad I’m at the stage where I am right now and we’re going to get better every day.”

Te’o hoped to work on Thursday as he tries to compensate for his time off.

“He has been in every meeting, been at every practice, been at every walk-through, been on the road with us,” Coach Mike McCoy said. “He hasn’t missed anything besides practice time. It’s just a matter of how quickly he gets back into football shape and gets ready to go.” 

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DOLPHINS: QB Ryan Tannehill is nursing a right shoulder injury that is limiting his practice time.

Tannehill took a hit on the shoulder early in the third quarter of Sunday’s win at Indianapolis when he was hit from behind on a sack and lost a fumble, but he finished the game.

His limited status in practice Wednesday may have been only precautionary; six other Dolphins were also limited as the team prepared for Sunday’s game against Atlanta. 

CARDINALS: Larry Fitzgerald sat out practice with his ailing hamstring and his status is uncertain for the Arizona Cardinals’ game Sunday at New Orleans. 

BUCCANEERS: Safety Dashon Goldson’s one game suspension was reduced to a $100,000 fine for his hit on Darren Sproles of New Orleans.

The NFL announced the decision by Matt Birk, who handles appeals of discipline of on-field punishment for players for the league and NFL Players Association.

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Goldson was suspended one game without pay Monday for flagrant and repeat violations of NFL safety rules prohibiting hits to the head and neck area of defenseless players. This will allow him to play Sunday against New England. 

TITANS: The NFL fined safety Bernard Pollard $42,000 for his hit on Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson.

Pollard shared he had been fined on Twitter. He wrote the NFL said he did “‘everything right’ but 42k later I still get fined. Wow! It’s called football but they want 2 hand touch.” 

SAINTS: Reserve cornerback Patrick Robinson will miss the rest of the season with a right knee injury, and his spot on the roster was filled by veteran defensive back Chris Carr. 

COLTS: Tight end Dwayne Allen will miss the rest of the season because of a hip injury. 

GIANTS: The younger brother of Coach Tom Coughlin has died.

John Coughlin of Hackensack died on Monday night at Hackensack University Medical Center. He was 63.

There was no cause of death listed, but a funeral home handling the arrangements said the death was unexpected. 


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