Jim Brown Not High on RB Richardson

71 Comments

Many draft pundits are predicting Alabama RB Trent Richardson will be taken fourth overall by the Cleveland Browns during Thursday night’s NFL draft. If that happens, at least one former Browns player won’t be thrilled at all: the one-and-only Jim Brown.

That’s right, the greatest running back in the history of the NFL had some unflattering things to say about the Crimson Tide running back on ESPN Radio in the hours leading up to the draft on Thursday.

“I’m not overwhelmed with it,” Brown, 76, said of Cleveland picking Richardson. “The problem is that he’s ordinary. I think he’s ordinary.”

What exactly is ordinary?

“The size, the speed, his moves,” he said.

We’d say a 5-foot-11, 225-pound running back that runs a sub-4.5 40-yard dash is definitely not ordinary. Brown also leaves out Richardson’s incredible strength as evidenced by the fact his college coaches wouldn’t let him bench press over 475 pounds due to safety concerns. Ask this Cleveland Browns scout how strong Richardson is.

As for Richardson’s moves? Check the video below.

Jim Brown has earned the right to say whatever he wants but he has to realize there will never be another, well, Jim Brown.

[NFL]

3:58 PM on 4/26/2012

Jim Brown

I saw Jim Brown play. He was a good back but not the kind that could win titles for you. Richardson can. Brown is more interested in his elitist attitude than wishing a new comer well.
- Anonymous
  
  You can think what you want, however, Jim Brown was the greatest running back to ever play the game.
  - Anonymous
    
    His running ability does not equate with intelligence. He has proved over the years that he is an out of touch moron.
  - ozzie
    
    Jim might have taken too many hits to the head in his short pro life. I don’t think he would scare anyone today. He didn’t have to play against linebackers who weigh 260 lbs. and runs as fast he ever could. He was great for his time. I’ll give him that.
- bama1921
  
  Pull up your skirt and get over it jim brown and anyone elese who doesen’t like the browns drafting richardson
  - Anonymous
    
    Jim Brown is way out of touch and who really cares what he says anyway. He is about as relevant as Charles Barkley another bafoon that just opens his mouth and says anything that pops in his prejudiced head.
    
    Brown was a great one, but anyone that has seen Richardson knows how off base this guy is. I think he is most afraid that Richardson is going to surpass him in greatness.
    
    Trent will be a great one and there is no doubt about it. I am no Bama fan but I am a Trent Richardson and an LSU fan, and I can still honestly look at talent and give credit where credit is due. Trent will be a great one.
- Andy Hall
  
  Jim Brown was an angry man and yet great runnung back for the Browns in the 60′s. Too bad he’s a bitter old fool today; In need of staying relevant he has fostered contempt for the Browns management, and their decision to choose Richardson. Perhaps he feels his Cleveland records could be in peril now?
- Tide In Georgia
  
  Jim was great because he was being chased by a bunch of slow white guys. He would be just average in todays game. Watch Trent become the NFL’s next super star,
- Anonymous
  
  Jim Brown is scared Trent will break all his records…he was not that good of a back players back then was ordinary if that was he’s saying about Trent. so what is he talking about Trent is ordinary.Jim Brown sit your old butt down somewhere……….
- texlex39
  
  Jim Brown was good, not great. He never played against any defensive players like the defensive players of the last 15 years. Todays defensive players are faster and bigger than he is or was. He never has seen or said anything good about any other running back, it is all about him. What a shame.
tj

I agree with Jim Brown.
- Anonymous
  
  jim got that one wrong…in fact that was a stupid thing to say
- KJ
  
  See comment above
- Anonymous
  
  TJ:
  
  Really ?
maurice

jim brown sit your old a** down
Scott white

Jim Brown is tired pompous old arrognant man.. He is probably afraid that Richardson willl break his records .. Will he be Brown.. No. Too hard to do these days.. The talent is better than when brown played. But my personal feeling is he is 3 to 4 wins more to Cleveland and with better receivers who knows….
- Jeff
  
  I rather doubt it. If anyone can break his records it will be Adrian Peterson (who already owns some) or Arian Foster. Richardson should have a nice career, but don’t insult our intelligence by claiming he’s ready to be compared to Jim Brown.
  - M
    
    Don’t insult ours by thinking you know something about TR. You don’t!
    Jim Brown???LOL!!What a bumbling old fool!!
    AP is on his way out!
  - Anonymous
    
    He’s READY …. BELIEVE ME … HE’S READY…
Ricky

Jim Brown….really? Put your old pompous ego in the trash because that’s exactly what your take on T-Rich is.
jawbreaker

Jim Brown was the greatest back in professional football during my childhood…a legend perhaps. His actions and opinions since leaving the game have been questionable at best. Now he is a bitter, sour old man who is afraid someone might overshadow his accomplishments with the Browns. I only hope that Trent Richardson does just that, causes Brown’s fading star to go out completely.
- popnchelsea
  
  The only thing I ever heard J B sat any thing nice about was his love shot with Miss Welch. Ask his exwife for her view of Jim, she should know. As for being ordinary how many 1000 yrd seasons did J B have at the Q.How about that 140 somthing & 3 touchdown game he had ,WOW vs Colgate? I would ask Jim to comment on Mr. Richardsons career when he is done, Thats how most folks do it.
  `
Albert

I watched Brown play his entire career and he was great but this is a different era. Brown’s comments are typical of his egotiscal attitude and his warped view, i.e., no one will ever be as great as he thinks he was. Without Cleveland’s all-pro pulling guard, Hickman, Brown’s success would have been less than what it was. Of course Brown would never acknowledge this.
Anonymous

Jim Brown was a great player in his day. It’s too bad that he has to put down a great player like Trent. It doesn’t even really matter if Trent makes it in the NFL or not; he’s apparently a great kid off the field as well as on the field, and isn’t that what really matters? Personally, I hope he breaks every record Brown set, and then some, but not because of JB. He’s just a good kid who deserves to do well. I’d be surprised if he has anything negative to say in response to Brown.
Anonymous

Jim Brown is a loud mouth. He wants to make people to beleave he is the best .But he also hurt a lot of good players
- M
  
  He’s only good at shaving his head!!
Rebbi

Damn!!! Hater!!!
- Anonymous
  
  Just good common sense
Anonymous

Jim Brown has never grown up. His immature and repeated problems with any kind of authority, including the law are well documented. Face it, he is jealous of Trent Richardson on a number of levels. The press needs to ignore this bitter old man.
Anonymous

Brown played in a different style of football, with actually smaller players! Brown could not play in todays style football. During his time he was a big sized RB, about the size of a lineman of that time. He would actually be a “Ordinary” player in todays style football! Also he was a Cleveland Brown that had moved to Baltimore MD. The Brown’s of now are not the true Cleveland Brown’s, and he should not have anything to say about the team (the franchised team called the Cleveland Brown’s). There is no way to compare a power-back of today to then! The power-back of today would over power any team of then, and would have super star running records that could not have been thought of back then. A lot more then Brown has!
Ray wright

Doug Martin will have a greater impact on his team than Richardson…….better blocker, better pass catcher
- james8
  
  You must not be watching the same footage as the rest of us. T R is the best blocker i’ve seen in years at the RB position. Great play maker in the passing game.
- iceman46
  
  You mean the hb that played juco ball for BOY-SEE!!!!
Anonymous

Jim brown the greatest tail back of all times? I don’t think so. Maybe one of the greats but far from the greatest. Jim was all north and south him self. So he should never talk about any one moves.
- iceman46
  
  I’LL take Sweetness (Payton) or Barry Sanders over Jim Frown anyday
  - tideofunc
    
    GALE SAYERS = best rb i ever saw. if not for knee problems, his records would probably be > brown’s; also, SAYERS was a contemporary of brown, and it’s only fair, imo, to compare players of the same era of fb.
Ivan Chester II

Jim Brown was bigger then most lineman of his day. If he played in today’s football, he would never make it as a runningback (he would be a “ordinary” player). He would probably be a linebacker in today’s style football Take a runningback from the 80′s to today and put them back in his time, they would be a super star; and have better records then him! Jim Brown was great during his time, and should always be remembered for that. But what he is probably worried about is: now that Richardson is going to Cleveland, Jim Brown will be forgotten as the big Cleveland Brown’s runningback! I hate to saying that, but it would be true. Also being the Cleveland Brown’s that he played for moved to Baltimore MD, and the franchise team called the Cleveland Brown’s are not the same team at all, he should not be saying anything about the franchise Brown’s!
- MM
  
  I agree!!
- tideofunc
  
  no matter what happens w/TRENT, jim brown should not be concerned as he’ll always be considered one of the best rb’s in history. w/that said, brown still comes across as someone w/sour grapes, jealousy, and envy. relative to jim’s “accolades” in acting, he should strictly embrace his fb playing days as his acting abilities were/are totally non-existent.
Doitright

Glad to see Trent showing class in not responding. He was taught to respect the old timers even when they may not deserve it.
John Hunt

Jim Brown is right. Richardson is no Adrian Peterson. The Browns did MUCH better with their 2nd pick- Brandon Weeden.
- MM
  
  Richardson hasn’t played a snap in the NFL. I suggest you give him some time before you compare him to anybody. Be fair!
- Anonymous
  
  You sir are going to be eating your words but I really wish Trent could have went to a team where the fans would appreciate him it’s sad I will be pulling for Trent but not the browns because the fans and Jim brown are idiots
J.W. Smith

I say, Jim Brown was not the greatest runningback of all time! He really never done anything that lasted. You have to way in Emmitt Smith’s and Barry Sanders’ accomplishments before you could even say anything about “greatest” runningback ever! With thet said, Trent Richardson will have to prove himself by playing seasoned NFL players. We all know that college football is NOT pro-football. My opinion is still open; however, I do not think Richardson deserved all the attention he received while at U of Alabama, and it will show in a few seasons in the pros!!
- Anonymous
  
  I’ve ATTENDED OVER 400 college football games. Trent Richardson is the MOST COMPLETE BACK I have EVER SEEN…. He can run over you around you through you or right by you …, there are multiple plays in EVERY GAME HE PLAYED IN THAT IT TOOK THE ENTIRE TEAM TO BRING HIM DOWN…. He can Block he can catch he is a man among boys … He’s got work ethic he’s got heart and one thing he just proved that he has and Jim Brown doesn’t ….. CLASS….
- Anonymous
  
  Very well said!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There was a lot of hype withTrent Richardson,but in the pro’s that hype won’t help. He’s going to have to play with the real men now, wonder how long he will be able to handle it, especially with a team like the Browns..
James8

Tell Jim it’s a good thing he’s not advising the Browns on present draft picks! Jim Brown wouldn’t hold a candle to Trent in his prime.
MM

Jim Brown wouldn’t be worth a damn in todays game. The game was different back when he played.
Trent has way to much class to make a comment about Jim Brown. It’s a shame Jim Brown showed us just how classless he really is. JB just needs to stick to shaving his head. Apparently, that’s the only thing he really does well these days!!
bamafan

In my humble opinion, Jim Brown would be ordinary in today’s football. Defensive backs today are bigger and faster than he was at his best. I agree with some of the other comments, in that his day is past. All Jim Brown has done in the last 20 years is cause trouble.
LedsTide69

Well I didn’t get to see Mr. Brown play, growing up in the rural south we only got 3 channels on the tv. But having been a college and pro football fan since my teenage years, I have seen many old ‘tapes’ of him playing. I seriously don’t think he is the ‘greatest’ running back ever, maybe in his era. I am not sure that Trent Richardson will geat any of Mr. Brown’s records, because the game has changed. It’s not a primarly running game anylonger. I believe Trent will help the Browns win more games, along with their new qb, Weeden. I just might have to become a Browns fan. RTR!!!
boyscow12

The GREAT JIM BROWN is the 1st or 2nd greatest player to play in the NFL people get it stright. its him and Jerry Rice pick one . Jim Brown is the greatest runing back.ever!!!! now let it rest
- M
  
  Jim brown is a sour old jealous fool. He wouldn’t make 1st string in todays NFL. He is a miserable old fool!
  He needs to just sit at home On his couch Andrew keep is old mouth shut!
Ron K

As a lifelong Browns fan and one who had season tickets during the Jim Brown/Paul Brown era I appreciated all that Jim did on the field. Off the field he was Satan personified. The same Jim Brown who now claims rascism. He would not block for Bobby Mitchell. He b****** about all the running backs that may displace him as the games greatest. (I personally believe he is/was the greatest.) Remember when he said Franco Harris was only good at running out of bounds? Remember when he challenged Franco to a race ‘cuz he thought Franco was lazy and slow. (Franco beat him by the way.) Jim was a great fullback, but is now a great big narcisstic being.
Kimberly Clements

Sounds like Mr. Brown is a hateful, old man.
S.Russell

To all the browns fans that continue to bash Trent Richardson you don’t deserve him I hate that he got stuck with such a ignorant fann base I have had the privilege of watching this young man destroy opponents. I wish he could get traded and the browns could just continue to be irrelevant and fade into the abyss
- Brillman
  
  S.Russell, I’m not sure how long you’ve been watching football, but Cleveland’s pro lineage is every bit as good as the Tide’s college legacy. I witnessed through television Jim Brown trampling defenses at the same time Joe Namath was lighting up the SEC.
  
  After watching Thursday night, I am convinced that by and large Browns Fan is embracing Trent – he will never be the individual talent that Jim Brown was (he was athletically the RG III of his day), but TR is the best RB available this year and will contribute to a football renaissance in Cleveland. He’ll have a positive effect on that team just as their last offensive Alabama #1 did, guy by the name of Newsome who redefined the role of Tight End forever.
  
  Roll Tide and Woof-woof-woof!
Corey Ferguson

What a total jerk! I am a lifelong Alabama fan who watched every game that Trent played in. This kid is one of the toughest, hardest working kids I have ever seen. He has more character and heart than Jim Brown will ever have. This kid took a young high school girl diagnosed with Leukemia to the prom during all of his preparation for the draft. Trent will prove to everyone in Cleveland just how good he is!!
bama1921

pull up your skirt and get over it jim
- Bama born’nbred
  
  Run, Trent, Run!
Anonymous

It is sad when a person is a legend in his own mind isn’t it?
bawf

Really!? Why cause Richardson isn’t a woman beater like you Jim Brown? What a jealous old fool. Totally threatened by any back with talent. Something he lacked. Size was all he had going for him. Not speed or any other athleticism.
OJA

I for one….am Sick & Tired of hearing about Jim Brown & his opinions on the Game. He has his records, he has his legacy, why do we keep having to go back & listen to his ‘outdated’, cynical Opinions?!?!???

["Brown is more interested in his elitist attitude than wishing a new comer well."]

This first comment was RIGHT ON TARGET!!!
J C Rob

If Jim Brown were playing today he would be better than he was in the 60′s. And if todays players were playing in the 60′s they would be about as good as they are now. You have to remember that Brown and the other players of his era were not exposed to the personal trainers and strength and conditioning methods and equipment of today. I will admit that Brown has always been a bit jealous of whoever the top back was. This has been going on with him since OJ started breaking his records.
JC

Brown reminds me of that old saying. “I will forgive you anything but success.”
RollTide14

What makes Jim Brown the greatest ever? He is the greatest in Cleveland Brown History but go check your stats.
Sweetness (Walter Payton) had 4400 more yards rushing than Brown and more TD’s. He also had 2,000 more yards receiving.

He is just an old man wanting attention and of course the media gives him that.
H.Houston

The browns got the best running back in the draft. If Trent stays healthy he will be the new face of there franchise. Theses older players need to move over and quit thinking no one will ever be as good as they were these guy look ip to yall just for you retired players to put them down!
Cuz

Jim Brown has always been a ” Richardhead”.
TigerBill

I agree that Jim Brown totally lacks the class of Trent Richardson in every way and he knows he had no where near the talent that Trent has. He can’t compare in speed, moves, or anything else but shear size. In Brown’s day the players were not near as fast or big as today , so the big legend saying Jim Brown is the greatest running back is way out of date.

I lived in Jim Brown’s day and I saw him and he was strong and tough. But, Trent has so much more overall talent it is not funny.

Brown was a very angry in his playing days and was a prejudiced man belonging to the Black Panthers walking around with a large chip on his shoulder actually looking for someone to knock it off so he could justify his hate for the white man.

He and Charles Barkley remind me of each other. Barkley called Auburn’s selection committee prejudiced because they didn’t hire Turner Gill a black man instead of hiring Gene Chizik. Whom do you think looks like the prejudiced one and the bigger fool as a result of Auburn’s national championship and Gill’s termination as the Kansas coach ?

Did Charles Barkley apologize to his old school for his senseless racial accusations ?? Absolutely not because he has no class or redemption in him. He is lower than low but the media still gives him a pass and allows him to continue broadcasting basketball with his narrow and one sided self interested mind.
TRichardson fan

Jim Brown was good in his time. He is not the best there ever was. There are three that were better that retired before they could unseat the arrogant old man. To his defense, his eye sight is probably fading and he has the on set of Alzheimers as well, probably. To say Richardson is ordinary makes Jim Brown lose all credibility. Old has been IMO.
ozzie

Jim is an old fool who likes to here himself talk. No one else gives a rats ___ what jim says especially Cleveland fans. We are glad to get Trent. Jim should crawl back in his hole wherever that may be. I’ve tried to ignore Jim but it’s time for Cleveland Fans to shut him up. All he does is hurt Cleveland with lack of intelligence.
“Come back when you grow up Jim your still living in a paper doll world.’ I may have made a mistake “Come back when you grow up girl.” No either one fits.
Tide Born’nBred

Shut up and sit down Jim Brown. Make another D-rated movie. Go you, Trent. Run, run, run.

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