Cleveland Browns Should Rest Trent Richardson Until Week 3 of Regular Season

Protecting running back Trent Richardson by sitting him out until Week 3 is a wise move for the Cleveland Browns. Neither Richardson nor the team is prepared for him to start the regular season opener.

Richardson is coming off of arthroscopic knee surgery, but according to a recent report by Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal, GM Tom Heckert believes there's a "pretty good chance" that T-Rich will return for Week 1.

Everyone in the Cleveland area wants to see a return on the franchise's heavy investment in Richardson as soon as possible, especially since the No. 3 overall pick hasn't seen the field during the preseason.

This is the wrong move, though.

The Browns begin the year by facing two defenses that finished eighth and seventh respectively in total yards allowed per game last season.

If the preseason is any indication—often difficult to gauge, to be fair—the offense has shown its typical ineptitude thus far.

Even under conditions of simplistic game plans and base defenses, Cleveland hasn't executed the most basic plays of its West Coast attack consistently.

The ground game has been especially woeful. That's thanks in large part to a combination of shoddy run blocking and starting Montario Hardesty.

It's already going to be an uphill battle for the Browns to climb on offense. With Richardson set to shoulder a heavy load, there is no point in rushing him back.

To have Richardson jump in Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles' ferocious front four seems irresponsible, especially with suspect support from both his bigs up front and the passing game.

There is certainly talent on the offensive line, but there are issues early on that could be attributed to a lack of chemistry and early-season rust.

With two stiff challenges right out of the gate against the Eagles and the Cincinnati Bengals, the unit could use the time to gel without putting Richardson at risk.

After all, whenever Richardson finally does enter the starting lineup, it will be the first time that he's facing an NFL defense.

If the Browns do sit Richardson early in 2012, it looks as though Hardesty would get the bulk of the carries in his absence.

Brandon Jackson and Adonis Thomas would hopefully provide enough versatility to keep the running game respectable in the short-term.

Starting out 0-2 won't spell the end of the season for Cleveland. An upset victory in the first two games isn't far-fetched either, based on the concept of "any given Sunday."

If this Richardson strategy were to play itself out in an ideal way, he would return to an offense with enhanced protection and more balance.

The line will have hopefully worked out its difficulties, and the current Browns running backs would eliminate the need to bring in a stopgap in free agency.

Rookie QB Brandon Weeden will have a better feel for how to attack pro defenses and hopefully learn from the mistakes that he makes early on.

Regardless of what the Browns do with Richardson, Weeden will have also established better timing with his inexperienced group of receivers.

Week 3 against the Buffalo Bills' front four won't be a warm welcome to the NFL for Richardson, but he will definitely be healthier. The contest will likely be a must-win, season-at-a-crossroads scenario for the Browns.

What the anticipation of Richardson's debut would do is create further buzz around the rabid Browns fanbase and possibly provide the team with a bit more variety on offense.

Also worth consideration: In the 2008 season, rookie backs Steve Slaton of the Houston Texans, Matt Forte of the Chicago Bears and Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans ripped over 1200 yards apiece.

Johnson's Titans were the only team to make the playoffs.

Since then, LeGarrette Blount, in 2010, was the only first-year back to crack the 1,000-yard plateau. His Tampa Bay Buccaneers team didn't qualify for the postseason, and Blount doesn't even start anymore.

Richardson has the ability to be among the best backs in the league. The offense has skill players in place to thrive a year or two from now, but it's no secret that the Browns are considered among the worst teams entering the 2012 season.

Recent history and Richardson's supporting cast suggest more disappointment in Cleveland, no matter his production.

That, O Cleveland faithful, is my best attempt at a reverse jinx.