Inside Trent Richardson's rise from near rock bottom back to the NFL

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A primary issue, Richardson said, was losing the structure he had thrived under at Alabama.

Considered one of the hardest workers on the team throughout his time with the Tide, Richardson struggled without that structure and admittedly didn't work as hard after reaching the NFL.

"It's very easy to get lazy in the NFL — not having everything scheduled and not having everything like at Alabama where it was so structured," Richardson said. "We had study hall or we had to get a workout in in between classes and had five classes a day. It was just so structured. In the NFL, everything's on your own."

There were also the family members and friends constantly asking for money to the point, Richardson said, that it became mentally exhausting and took away from his focus on football.

There were countless texts and calls each day. Richardson bought cars for people, somehow got stuck with paying for five funerals that were each at least $12,000 and treated people to unnecessary things like week-long trips to places like Disney World.

"And people still had the nerve to complain about the trip," Richardson said.

With Hall's help, Richardson has cut out many, if not all, of the family members and friends that so consistently asked for money and caused so much stress.

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