Tag Archives: Courtney Upshaw

Cleveland Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden (3) hands the ball off to running back Trent Richardson. (AP photo by Kathy Willens)

Former Alabama running back Trent Richardson is off to a slow start in his rookie season with the Cleveland Browns, and the team is discussing shutting him down until his ribs heal.

A possibility would be sitting him through two games and a bye week, then letting him return Nov. 18 against Dallas. Richardson was benched midway through Sunday’s loss to the Colts.

“You just watch him, watch him practice, see where he’s at physically and if he’s ready to play, he’ll play,” Shurmur told the Plain Dealer of Cleveland. “If we see that this is bothering him to the point where he can’t perform, then we’ll make those decisions as we go.”

Meanwhile, former Alabama teammate Courtney Upshaw no longer is digging into his wallet to pay the Baltimore Ravens. The team has fined him since the training camp for being overweight.

He now is down to his prescribed weight of 270 pounds, so the fines have stopped.

“I didn’t even look at the fines,” Upshaw told the Baltimore Sun. “I just knew they were taking my money. That started getting me down.”

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Cleveland’s Trent Richardson will face a pair of former Alabama teammates Thursday and an All-Pro linebacker in Ray Lewis. (AP Photo by David Richard)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick (7) throws an interception as Baltimore Ravens linebacker Courtney Upshaw bears down on him. (AP photo by Mel Evans)

Cleveland Browns rookie running back Trent Richardson will get a chance to face NFL All-Pro linebacker Ray Lewis on Thursday. This is the same Ray Lewis that Richardson referred to as “Uncle Ray” during the NFL Scouting Combine in February.

“It’s a mind-set thing with me,” Richardson said at the combine, according to the Plain Dealer. “I’m not saying that Ray Lewis ain’t going to take me out, because when it comes down to it we’re going to have to see each other in the hole. And I love Uncle Ray to death and he’s going to bring me all the contact he can and beat me up in the hole, but why would you stand down in front of that?”

The Plain Dealer asked Richardson about those comments this week, now that the Browns are playing the Ravens.

“Not to be cocky or talking mess, but if you’re an athlete or you’re a competitor, why would you stand down for anybody?” Richardson said to the Plain Dealer. “I know Ray Lewis is going to come at me and I’m going to come right back at him. That’s just football. He knows what football’s about and I know what football’s about, we’ve been playing it for years. Both of us are going to give all we can.”

Richardson likely is just as interested in a couple of other defensive players for the Ravens: noseguard Terrence Cody and linebacker Courtney Upshaw. All three were key members of Alabama’s 2009 national championship team. Richardson and Upshaw played on the 2011 national-title winners.

“He’s a phenomenal back,” Upshaw told CBSsports.com. “He definitely fits their running style. From watching film and playing with him, he’s a hard runner. You just have to gang tackle him. He’ll look to get one or two yards if nothing’s there so you have to get to him.”

Upshaw told the website he wasn’t allowed to hit Richardson in practice because Alabama needed players fresh for the game.

“It’s a different story now,” Upshaw said. “It’s going to be a good game and a good back to go against.”

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