Former Vols OL Antonio Richardson’s Knees A Point Of Contention

Just over a year ago, Antonio “Tiny” Richardson, then a rising junior at Tennessee, was projected as a first-round talent by many draft evaluators.

Fast forward to the 2014 NFL Draft and Richardson found himself, after not being selected in the seven round draft, searching for a team.

The reason for Richardson’s fall was perplexing to most, including myself.

I didn’t necessarily believe that Richardson was a surefire first round talent. His junior year definitely wasn’t as dominant as his sophomore campaign, but he still seemed like a safe second round pick.

Watching the former Vol be overlooked by teams that needed a left tackle, such as the Carolina Panthers, completely puzzled me.

In fact, what happened to Richardson was very similar to what happened to former Vol quarterback Tyler Bray.

Bray, as you probably recall, left Tennessee after his junior year and declared early for the draft. He then proceeded to go undrafted.

The difference in Bray’s fall and Richardson’s fall is that it was clear why Tyler Bray wasn’t drafted — his numerous off-the-field issues.

But those issues weren’t present with Tiny Richardson. Sure he had his share of moments. His “competition” and war of the words in the press with South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney comes to mind, but that’s nothing compared to what some college football players do these days. If anything it was refreshing to see Richardson taking the competition so serious.

And speaking of Clowney, Richardson dominated him in Tennessee’s 2012 matchup with South Carolina. He essentially made Clowney a non-factor (except for the last play of the game).

The next time the two met, it was Clowney who clearly won the matchup.

But hey, going 1-for-2 against an eventual number one draft pick is no reason to hang your head.

So again, why did Tiny Richardson go undrafted in 2014?

The answer is — apparently — his knees.

Which bewildered me even further.

Richardson, in three seasons at Tennessee, never missed a game. He started the last 24 games of his career. He was the anchor of the offensive line. Yet after seven rounds and 256 draft selections there was Richardson, sitting without a team.

It wasn’t long after the draft that Richardson signed with the Minnesota Vikings.

Thievery in it’s purest form.

Signing a left tackle with 24 SEC starts against some of the nation’s top collegiate talent is the definition of a steal.

No, Richardson probably won’t be a Pro-Bowl left tackle, but the majority of drafted players never reach Pro-Bowl status.

Hell, a good chunk of the players drafted in 2014 won’t be in the league in a couple of years. Some won’t make the cut this year.

I don’t think, however, that Tiny Richardson will be among those that don’t make the cut, or get run out of the league in a couple of years.

If  he turns out to have a seven or eight year NFL career then I believe you can quantify the signing of Richardson as a steal by the Vikings.

So why the Vikings? Why was Minnesota finally the team that took a chance on Richardson?

Because apparently they never took issue with his knees.

Neither did Richardson himself.

If Richardson’s knees truly aren’t the problem that 31 other teams thought they were, then those 31 teams are going to feel like fools.

If they do turn out to be a problem? Well the Vikings have nothing invested.

But I don’t think that will turn out to be the case.

The Vikings are taking a gamble on Tiny Richardson having a productive NFL career.

And it’s the best kind of gamble, because there’s no way they can lose.