Weasel of the Week: Joe Banner

It's only the 3rd week of the NFL season, but one executive has already made what amounts to the bonehead play of the year.

Trent Richardson was the 1st round pick by the Cleveland Browns out of Alabama in 2012. His rookie season was plagued with injuries. Still, NFL's marketing suits thought it'd be a cool idea to have him, along with Denver's Demaryius Thomas and Atlanta's Matt Ryan & Julio Jones (the latter a teammate of Richardson's at Alabama), carrying fantasy league owners on their shoulders in a commercial that's already been played to death. However, after the events of Wednesday afternoon, I'd be shocked if that ad still airs in its present form going forward.

That's because Richardson was inexplicably traded by Browns CEO Joe (no relation to Bruce) Banner to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a 2014 draft pick. Richardson gets moved because the Colts needed an extra running back after 2nd year man Vick Ballard was placed on season-ending injured reserve earlier this week. Richardson, then, would share duties with 5th year back Donald Brown and free agent pickup Ahmad Bradshaw (ex-NY Giants), both of whom have had their fair share of injuries as well.

By trading Richardson, Banner claimed the 2nd year back didn't fit into new coach Rob Chudzinski's offense. Oh, really? Veteran, unemployed running back Willis McGahee, who's previously played for Buffalo, Baltimore, & Denver, was reportedly being brought in for a tryout today and may end up in the lineup on Sunday against Minnesota. Banner also mortgaged the Browns' chances of making the post-season with this fool's folly. The Browns are 0-2, and will also have a new starting quarterback on Sunday in little used Brian Hoyer, whom you might remember from his college days at Michigan, because Brandon Weeden, their other top pick last year, has an injured thumb and can't play. At this rate, even the worst high school teams could beat the Browns.

Banner not only gets the Weasel ears, but also a Dunce Cap for making a trade too early in the season, and essentially telling Browns fans he's waving the white flag already. Even Chicken Little was more of an optimist than this idiot.