The absence that led to a two-game suspension for Trent Richardson happened because of a medical emergency that forced the Indianapolis Colts running back to drive his pregnant girlfriend to the hospital, according to Stephen Holder of The Indianapolis Star.

Richardson took his girlfriend to the hospital in the early morning hours of January 17 due to serious complications with the pregnancy that could have endangered the life of the child. Richardson then missed the Colts walkthrough and chartered flight to New England for the AFC Championship, and said that phone issues didn't allow him to inform the team.

He was subsequently suspended for the game for conduct detrimental and has an impending suspension for Week 1 of the 2015 NFL season if he's still on the team's roster. However, there's a good chance that the Colts would rather release Richardson and use the conduct detrimental suspension as a way to void the final year of his deal.

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Richardson is due $3.184 million of guaranteed money for the 2015 season, but default language in the running back's contract allows the Colts to void the contract without paying him if he's suspended by the team.

Any kind of attempt to void the final year of the contract would almost certainly receive an immediate appeal from the NFL Players Association and a grievance filed by Richardson's agent.

Acquired for a first-round pick in 2013, Richardson has just 977 rushing yards and six touchdowns in 29 games with the Colts.