INDIANAPOLIS -- This is supposed to be the start of the week Indianapolis Colts running back Trent Richardson had been looking forward to for the past 14 months -- ever since the Cleveland Browns sent him about six hours west to Indianapolis.

Richardson would go back to Cleveland, where he'd face his former team and make them regret ever trading him. He would run around and all through Browns' defenders for a lot of yards and a lot of touchdowns.

But it's reached the low point in Richardson's young NFL career that you wonder just how many carries he'll have in Sunday's game against Cleveland. That's how far Richardson has fallen.

It's time to admit the trade for Richardson simply has not worked out for the Colts, especially when you take into account that they gave up a first-round pick for him.

Richardson was given the benefit of the doubt last season because he joined the Colts three weeks into the season and he was never comfortable in the system.

The offseason came along and Richardson spent the offseason with his nose in the playbook, and he worked out at his high school in Florida.

It was time for the Trent Richardson who dominated at the University of Alabama to do the same thing with the Colts, right?

Not even close.

Richardson has yet to rush for 100 yards in a game with the Colts. And instead of getting better as the season has progressed, Richardson has gotten worse.

He had six carries for zero yards against New England on Nov. 16. Then he only gained 12 yards on eight carries against Washington on Sunday.

Meanwhile, quarterback Johnny Manziel, the player the Browns turned the Colts' first-round pick into, came off the bench and scored a touchdown in their loss to Buffalo. There's a pretty good chance Manziel will be starting against Indianapolis this weekend while Richardson could be out of the starting lineup for the second time in as many seasons with the Colts. Richardson lost his starting job to Donald Brown late in the season.

The Colts should give the starting job to Daniel "Boom" Herron.

That would be an easy decision for coach Chuck Pagano to make if Herron could hold onto the ball. Herron has rushed for 153 yards in the past two games, but he's also lost two fumbles.

"He's a talented, talented guy and I think we've seen that out of him," Pagano said. "He's quick, he's fast to hit the hole and once he gets outside, he's got some long speed; I think we all found that out. It's always nice to be able to get outside and get those guys loose in the secondary and have a guy that can take it the distance. It was a nice run."

You have to combine the last five games Richardson has played in for him to reach Herron's total of 153 yards.

That's why Boom Herron should be the starting running back.

Not Trent Richardson.