NFL Combine 2012: Trent Richardson Knee Surgery Should Concern General Managers

Due to what is being characterized as minor knee surgery, Alabama running back Trent Richardson won't be taking part in on-field drills during the NFL Combine. No matter how small the procedure might have been, though, it certainly has to be a red flag to NFL general managers.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Richardson's representatives sent a memo to all 32 teams in order to fill them in on the procedure. Richardson is also expected to miss Alabama's Mar. 7 pro day as he won't be fit to participate in football activities until the end of March.

Although no particulars have been released regarding Richardson's surgery, it sounds as if he might have had his knee scoped and cleaned out. That may not be a major procedure, but any running back who enters the draft with a history of knee problems should be looked at very carefully.

The fact that Richardson won't be working out at the combine isn't much of an issue since in-game performance is far more important anyway, but the injury itself shouldn't be discounted. Richardson is universally ranked as the No. 1 overall back in the class and a team will likely have to use a Top-10 pick in order to get him.

That's a major investment for any franchise, and if there is the possibility of a debilitating knee injury, it should make teams think twice. A knee injury is probably the worst thing a running back can have because it prevents them from accelerating, cutting and doing pretty much everything a back needs to be able to do in order to be successful.

Another thing to consider is the fact that Pro-Bowl-caliber running backs are now routinely being found in the later rounds or even as free agents. It's possible that Richardson is a supreme talent who supersedes the notion of waiting to draft running backs, but the injury may make some teams a bit apprehensive.

There is no question that Richardson has a great pedigree with 1,679 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns last season, as well as the distinction of being a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. However, there have been plenty of productive college running backs who have fizzled at the next level.

I'm not saying that Richardson has bust written all over him or anything like that, but the injury shouldn't be ignored. It's curious that Richardson's camp waited until Wednesday to reveal it when the surgery took place three weeks ago. That tells me that it's possible that the injury hasn't healed as quickly as hoped.

When you combine the injury with the fact that running backs are no longer at a premium, it seems kind of silly for a team to go out on a limb for Richardson. Running the ball is still of great importance in the NFL despite the emergence of the passing game, but rolling the dice on a running back coming off knee surgery, no matter how minor, is risky business.