Whitlock Weighs in on Tony Richardson

by Joel Thorman on Jan 24, 2010 9:36 AM CST

Finally. Something everyone can agree on with Jason Whitlock of the Kansas City Star.

Tony Richardson is a hell of a player and a great human being.

Whitlock spoke with T-Rich yesterday morning and reminded us all of the long odds he had from the start.

Richardson, 38, will someday retire with the satisfaction of knowing he beat incredible odds — playing 15-plus seasons as an undrafted running back — and played an integral role in the careers of Marcus Allen, Priest Holmes, Larry Johnson, Adrian Peterson and Thomas Jones.

"This has definitely been a blessing," Richardson told me Saturday morning on his drive to work. "People forget that I started out as a practice-squad player with Dallas."

Others from the 1994 rookie class: Isaac Bruce (retiring this year) and Kevin Mawae and...T-Rich.

Plus, he knows how to strike a good chord with us: He says he loves Kansas City and plans on keeping his home there after he retires.

With this article, you can't say you never agree with Whitlock on anything.

Check out the whole article here (and thanks to NJ Chiefs Fan for having it first in Arrowheadlines).

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From my comment on Arrowheadlines...

What constitutes a HOF career for a FB?

To my knowledge, Larry Csonka is the last FB to be inducted and that he ended his career in ’79, inducted either in ’86-88.

Richardson has done nothing but what has been asked of him, blocking for some of the game’s best, each one seeing a drop in production AFTER he left.

It will be a shame if he doesn’t get the credit he deserves. In my opinion, he belongs in Canton.

by bansky on Jan 24, 2010 9:42 AM CST reply actions

no question.

Just like novocaine. give it time; always works..
The greater the fall, the grander the ascention..

by be cee on Jan 24, 2010 11:29 AM CST up reply actions

Yeah, this is why I'm leaning toward the Jets.

I’d really like to see T-Rich get a ring. The man defines class and passion, and people seem to think Lorenzo Neal was a better fullback, though how, I can’t understand.

by GonzosDirtyTrailer on Jan 24, 2010 9:51 AM CST reply actions

two of the best... easily

Richardson and Neal were fantastic. I think Neal got a lot of extra credit because of LT – but he’s still great.

I’d take Richardson in almost every situation though.

Good luck T. Rich.

by Ochophosphate on Jan 24, 2010 11:31 AM CST up reply actions

Amazing how many teams ignore the importance of a good blocking FB

Glad to see Tony still alive in the playoffs

He’s always open. He catches a lot of balls. He’s un-guardable, no matter how old he is

by WarWolf on Jan 24, 2010 10:02 AM CST reply actions

One of my most treasured possessions is a signed Tony Richardson jersey. My uncle had some connections with the coaching staff during the Vermiel era and I was told I could have a signed jersey (a real jersey) from anyone on the Chiefs roster for my 25th birthday. I chose Richardson, and I’m sure there were more than a few of my friends who thought I was nuts. Although I played soccer back then (too small for football), Richardson was the kind of player I always strove to be…the quiet guy who shut people up with his play. I’ll be rooting for the Jets today. Richardson is a guy who takes on some of the biggest mouths in the game and closes them.

Now if only my wife would let me hang that jersey up somewhere in our house…

by mls21 on Jan 24, 2010 11:03 AM CST reply actions