NFL Player News

With expectations sky-high for Latavius Murray in 2015, the Raiders aren't expected to re-sign impending free agent running back Darren McFadden, reports CSNBayArea.com. McFadden, 27, averaged 3.4 yards per carry this season and has not had a good year since 2011.

Oakland also is expected to part ways with 29-year-oold running back Maurice Jones-Drew, saving the team $2.5 million.

Murray, 25, averaged 5.2 yards on his 82 carries and will enter next season as the starter.

The Colts can void running back Trent Richardson's $3.18 million guaranteed salary for 2015 because he was suspended for conduct detrimental to the team, reports CBS Sports' Joel Corry, a former agent who's an expert on player contracts.

Richardson, who missed a walkthrough before the AFC title game, received a two-game suspension from the team, general manager Ryan Grigson confirmed. If Indy chooses to keep Richardson, he'd serve the second game of the suspension next season.

ESPN.com expects the Colts to exercise their option to void Richardson's contract, and the players' union to challenge that move.

Colts general manager Ryan Grigson confirmed Friday running back Trent Richardson was suspended the final two playoff games. Grigson wouldn't elaborate on why Richardson was suspended and didn't want to get into it because of personal reasons.

Richardson said last week he was not at the walkthrough practice Saturday before Sunday's AFC title game due to a family emergency.

"I had to miss walk-through," Richardson said, per ESPN. "I'm dealing with a very serious family emergency. I'm still at the hospital. I wouldn't purposely just miss walk-through. I wouldn't just purposely turn my back on the team."

According to WTHR's Bob Kravitz earlier this week, Richardson "didn't call" team officials to let them know he'd be absent Saturday.

Richardson, who was the No. 3 pick in the 2012 draft, has been a disappointment offensively since being acquired in a 2013 trade with the Browns. He has totaled just 977 rushing yards and averaged 3.1 yards per carry in 29 games with Indianapolis.

New Raiders offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave told reporters during a conference call Tuesday he likes what he's seen from running back Latavius Murray.

"I have a very positive impression," Musgrave said. "He has tremendous size and speed. He had a super career (at Central Florida). I’m looking forward to getting on the field and finding out what he’s all about and what his strengths are so we can tailor our run game so it’s right up his alley."

Murray totaled 82 carries for 424 yards with two touchdowns in 2014, despite only seeing significant work in the last five weeks of the season.

Colts running back Trent Richardson wasn't active for the AFC Championship Game after missing Saturday's walkthrough for what he called a family emergency. According to WTHR's Bob Kravitz, Richardson "didn't call" team officials to let them know he'd be absent.

NFL reporter Howard Balzer says the Colts suspended Richardson for the game. Regardless, it was the second straight game in which he was inactive.

Richardson is signed for 2015 at nearly $3.2 million, but his future with the team seems tenuous.

Broncos running back C.J. Anderson, who scored 10 touchdowns from Week 10 onward, said he's excited about the zone-blocking scheme new coach Gary Kubiak is bringing, reports the Denver Post. The paper notes that in Kubiak's 11 seasons as an assistant in Denver, a Broncos rusher went over 1,000 yards 10 times.

"I have known about his system for a while, and what he accomplished," Anderson said of Kubiak. "One cut downhill and go get it. It fits me and the offense well. It's always been successful. He knows the team we have and what we can do. I can't wait to get started working with him."

Anderson will enter next season as the team's No. 1 back, though he'll have to fight off challenges from Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman. Anderson averaged 4.7 yards per carry and 9.5 yards per reception and became the ninth Broncos running back to make the Pro Bowl.

Broncos running back C.J. Anderson will replace Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell in the Pro Bowl, according to ProFootballTalk. Bell hoped to play in the game after suffering a hyperextended knee in Week 17, but he did not get the medical clearance needed to participate.

Anderson had 849 rushing yards on 179 carries with eight touchdowns in 2014. He also had 324 receiving yards with two touchdowns.

Colts running back Dan Herron turned in an average game on Sunday against the Patriots.

Herron didn't perform poorly, but didn't have a lot of opportunities to get going. He gained 51 yards on 10 carries, averaging 5.1 yards per attempt. With New England taking a big lead fairly early in the game, Indianapolis got away from the run game. Herron wasn't much of a threat in the passing game, coming down with two receptions for 11 yards. 

The Colts have declared the following players as inactive for Sunday's AFC Championship Game: Trent Richardson, Griff Whalen, Sheldon Price, Xavier Nixon, Jonotthan Harrison, Bjoern Werner and Zach Kerr.

It is the second straight week Richardson will be inactive. 

The Colts are currently 7-point underdogs against the Patriots Sunday.

The following players have been deemed inactive for the Packers in Sunday's NFC Championship Game: DuJuan Harris, Demetri Goodson, Carl Bradford, Garth Gerhart, Justin Perillo, Jeff Janis and Bruce Gatson.

The Packers are currently 8-point underdogs against the Seahawks Sunday.